Recent researches and documents by the World Health Organization demonstrate a correlation between arts and health (Fancourt & Finn (2019)), with clear results from a psychological (increase of self-efficacy, coping mechanisms and emotional regulation), physiological (reduction of stress hormone levels, increase of immune response, improve of cardiovascular reactivity), social (reduction of isolation and loneliness, increase of social support and improve of social behaviour) and behavioural (increase of exercise, adoption of healthier behaviours, development of different skills) point of view.

Therefore, expressive arts have a value for the well-being of man, in the different phases of his life. Theater is one of them: it has ancient origins and has accompanied humans for centuries with a cultural, social but also health-related importance.

For this reason we considered the contribution of theatre to this training to be fundamental.

Theater gives the opportunity of knowing oneself and others through relationships and the use of the body: it is one of the cornerstones of theatrical activity and allows those who experience it to become familiar with themselves and their corporeity.

We have selected some of the exercises that are the basis of theatre laboratory activities to become aware of space, of the body in space and in relation to others.

The methods presented have different origins but take inspiration from Augusto Boal's theatre of the oppressed and the classical preparatory exercises that are performed by people that first approach acting. We decided to not include real “acting” exercises but we selected activities meant to deepen the perception of body, space and relationships with others. 

These activities are a “starting point” and inspiration for working with adults: it is important that the trainer chooses the activities to propose considering the features of the group members.

Theatrical activities have the great characteristic of being very "malleable" and adaptable to different contexts, spaces, times and recipients. We invite you to read our proposal carefully: they can be a seed in your mind and generate new and specific changes and suggestions for your group.

“We must all do theatre – to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become.” Augusto Boal