The Theatre of Life
Collective Therapy & Workshops
I offer training in In Narrative Research & Methodologies. I am happy to provide training on The Theatre of Life which is a group designed by trans people for trans people. The trans community hoped the methodology could be shared with others facing hardship and oppression as a space to share stories.
Training can lean into the area of most interest for your service, such as the theraputic practice, anti-oppression practices and also as a means of using community-action narrative research and qualitative narrative data analysis which are hard to come by.
A Creative, Community-led training for Clinical Psychologists & Trainees
The Theatre of Life is a flexible, values-driven workshop that uses collective narrative practice to centre diversity, creativity and anti-oppressive learning from the very start of training. Developed through participatory work with trans communities, the approach treats identity and story as performance and invites trainees, communities and audiences to be active co-creators of meaning. Narratives of Us
What the workshop does
Makes diversity visible from the outset and places community experience at the heart of training.
Teaches narrative methods for listening, externalising problems, honouring survival skills, and re-storying.
Builds skills in creative, embodied facilitation that supports decolonising curricula and culturally responsive practice.
Offers a safe, witnessed space where stories become resources for learning, accountability and solidarity.
Core principles
Clear, universal goals that remain adaptable to local contexts
Decentralised participation, anyone can join and shape the work
Cohesion without uniformity, a travelling troupe ethos that keeps a shared ethical core while allowing local reinvention
Cultural adaptability and practical relevance to large cohorts and busy services
Formats & practicalities
Runs as a half-day or full-day pilot (“lite” version), or an extended 2–3 day training.
Delivered in-person or hybrid, with simple resources and a reproducible facilitation structure.
Outcomes include restorying exercises, cohort presentations, and a collaboratively developed charter for future practice.
Interested?
See photos and participant feedback from past Theatre of Life workshops below.
If you’d like to learn more please get in touch: Dane@NarrativesOfUs.co.uk
Staff Support & Training Course Workshops
Please see below some photos and feedback from Theatre of Life workshops with Trainee Clinical Psychologists in 2022 to give you a sense of this work.
