Creating art from research: a theatre play based on research interviews with senior therapists

Abstract

The growing scope and influence of qualitative research methodologies has generated an interest in the use of art-informed approaches to disseminating research findings. In the present article, our aim is to present a methodological case study of the development of a theatre play based on a qualitative study of senior therapists' life and work. Lessons learned from this project are presented in relation to ethical issues, the process through which qualitative data are transformed into a theatre performance, and the distinctive perspective afforded by a dramaturgical approach. Implications for research practice are discussed.

Integration of Arts and Health Sciences in Developing an Opera on Veteran Resilience and Recovery

“…Articles on qualitative research for creating theater emphasize using narratives to identify emotional meaning and creating empathy ( Beck et al, 2011 ; Rabu et al, 2020 ). Similarly, musical composition and flow of harmony and melody convey emotional meaning.…”

“…In this case example, research interviews from follow-up of a randomized trial were used to create characters and storyline and inform composition for an opera on Veteran resilience and recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder and homelessness, highlighting equity in recovery for Black and Latinx Veterans. This example illustrates how strategies identified for blending science and art for theater ( Beck et al, 2011 ; Rabu et al, 2020 ) can be applied to opera. We highlight how ethical considerations were addressed through deidentification, mixing stories or changing details, and merging participants to create characters illustrating common themes, with quotes in the libretto and the composer’s personal family experience, illustrating how research and personal experience inform narrative and composition style.…”

“…Studies of arts impact on mental health stigma suggest short-term effects in quantitative and long-term effects in qualitative studies ( Mango et al, 2018 ). There is an emerging literature on the use of research interviews to inform theatrical projects, for example, illustrating the process and impact of psychotherapy, using ethical principles to construct characters and storylines, developing performances, and describing audience impact as emotionally salient and the creative team’s experience ( Rabu et al., 2020 ). Beck et al (2011) describe a spectrum of research-based theater framed by the research continuum, from rigorous to informal uses of research data, and the performance continuum from specific audiences (e.g., medical staff) to the public.…”

“…The opera’s development blending personal, clinical, and research experience is described in a commentary ( Wells, 2021 ), but how data informed characters, libretto, and composition has not been described. To do so, this project uses the framework by Rabu et al (2020) to describe data review, ethical considerations, effects on character selection and storyline. After Beck et al (2011) , this would be considered as systematic research with an aesthetic performance for public and professional audiences.…”

Impact of Veteran Journeys opera on audience member attitudes related to veterans with posttraumatic stress or unstable housing.

“…Multimethod studies can combine quantitative and qualitative assessments. Quantitative studies indicate that arts events may have significant but short-term impact on knowledge and attitudes, while qualitative studies suggest longer-term effects (Råbu et al, 2022). When applied in community arts programs, these approaches may demonstrate positive impacts on both individual eudaimonic well-being (Swindells et al, 2013) and on collective capacity to improve mental health care (Chung et al, 2009).…”