Perspectives on Drama, Or, How to Solve Global Problems Through Drama

This one is on Process-based Drama vs Performance-based Drama
Repeatedly we hear, "Isn't drama about performance?" By this, what most people mean is "public performance", so when I respond with, "Yes, sure, my students perform in almost every lesson that we have," I get a wondering look. I can almost hear their thoughts: "Sure, they perform in my classes too - so what's so special about drama lessons?"
Obviously, this is no one's fault. We are, at the end of the day, products of our experiences; and most people of our generation have never had the opportunity to study drama as a process-based subject.
So, what is the process and why is it important to help others, especially fellow teachers, to understand (and if possible) use it?
The term “drama therapy” is not alien to most of us. However, few people have either been through it or know what it can really do for us.
Imagine a room full of people who are meeting for the first time and have been given a near-impossible task; let’s give them a really big task – say, save the world from global warming. Let’s, in fact, raise the stakes and say that they have 24 hours in which to do this.
What do you think they should do first of all?
Beginning making plans to save the planet? Well, if there are 10 people, they are likely to have 10 distinct plans which they really believe is the only way to go about the task. Furthermore, they are more than likely to completely disagree with each others’ views.
What are the possible scenarios that could emerge?
First, Mr Stern Regulatory Measures would get into an argument with Ms Free-Market Economy. Then, conflict would break out between Mr Long-term Measures and Ms Short-term Gains. Somewhere in another corner of the room, Ms Reduce Reuse Recyle would be seen trying to cajole Mr Progress Before All into considering the benefits of shutting down polluting industries. And of course, there would be an endless debate in progress between Mr Third-World Nation and Mr Capitalism. Needless to say, Ms Socialist would not agree with Ms Enterprise.
Let us introduce a drama facilitator into this room. I choose the term “facilitator” as opposed to “teacher” after careful thought. The reasons for this will, hopefully, become clear without obvious explanations.
The very first thing Mr Drama Facilitator is likely to do is … you guessed it… organize everyone into a “warm up” exercise. He would probably choose one that was heavy on the “bonding” bit, perhaps with a peppering of “mental and physical alertness”. So, how does a “warm up” help you bond with someone else? The aims of the game itself are likely to help you forget your own distinct personality, subsume it to accommodate the needs of the game, and add a large dose of FUN. Someone said, “The team that plays together, stays together,” and they didn’t mean the Indian cricket team.