Being known, branching out: troupes, teams and recovery

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reach beyond existing research into the mental health benefits of arts-based or educational opportunities, to discover the particular impact on members’ recovery processes of being part of a committed, long-term troupe or community – specifically focussing on specialist theatre companies. Design/methodology/approach Following a literature review investigating the growing number of theatre troupes for mental health service users, qualitative research was conducted into one such company. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with six company members. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was then cross-checked and enriched through a group interview with six other members. Findings Two overarching themes emerged: the importance of “being known” within the company (key sub-themes included “intuitive democracy” and the “paradox of reliability”), and the ways in which individuals “branched out” from this secure basis into artistic, professional and voluntary roles, while remaining company members. Research limitations/implications The findings from this small-scale study, while not necessarily generalisable to other long-term communities of care and learning with a “troupe” or “team” structure, would provide valuable starting points for a larger-scale investigation. Practical implications If generalisable, institutions in the mental health and educational worlds should place more emphasis on developing and resourcing long-term models of support. Social implications The specialist theatre company model contrasts with prevalent individualised, time-limited services for those experiencing mental ill health. Originality/value The study provides compelling narrative evidence to amplify understanding of how “connectedness” is experienced within a troupe, and may enable individuals with mental illnesses to progress further in their recovery journey.

Community arts, identity and recovery: A realist review of how community‐based arts activities enables the identity change recovery process from serious mental illness

“…For example, community arts provide an opportunity to interact with other people with SMI in a non-judgemental setting, enabling self-comparisons to occur without stigma. The current findings found that positive interactions helped to validate the self, which mirrors the process of internalisation within the Social Identity Approach to Health (Best et al, 2016;Haslam et al, 2018;Heinemeyer & Rowe, 2019;Williams et al, 2018). The arts activity also provided an alternative shared experience away from SMI, which allows individuals to compare themselves with others through a different, and often positive, lens.…”