How do we go about devising the drama content to meet a typical training objective?

Our first step starts with a research process or dialogue with our clients' appropriate personnel to thoroughly assimilate the initial brief, its context and the cultural backgrounds involved. Once these are clear with the issues and objectives identified and agreed, we ensure that any drama component relates directly to the training goals and that it is both relevant and accessible to its audience.

We will produce:

• A report detailing our perceptions, the defined objectives and our initial proposals.
• A plan for the programme showing how any drama component will be integrated.
• An engaging play, highlighting the issues. This may be self-contained or presented in several episodes during the programme. It might change its format, altering from a formal presentation at the outset to one where interaction is encouraged later on. It may change its medium, where characters introduced through video 'come to life' in subsequent theatre pieces.
• A series of improvised scenarios or short scripts to look more closely at issues that will emerge. These are likely to be the basis of interactive workshop sessions. They may perhaps be used to inspire role-play or 'forum' theatre, where spectators can dictate events.
• A first draft of all the material, read by professional actors, for consideration by our client.
• Final scripts and a complete plan of the programme for client approval after is working closely with our client on the revisions. (Clients are also welcome to attend rehearsals.)

We often set scenarios within fictional organisations where we can draw parallels. This allows delegates to concentrate on the issues without being distracted by details and without feeling threatened.

The option to improvise in response to the delegates' initiatives is often a powerful and exciting device. Facilitators can steer debate around the drama towards the identified and agreed learning points. They can encourage interaction between the 'characters' and the delegates. We will identify the issues when necessary, but allow delegates to make their own discoveries and draw their own conclusions as much as possible. Theatre can never preach.

"The best of theatre appeals to our emotions, our intelligence and our innate sense of joy."
(Peter Brook - the UK's leading international theatre director and writer)