Towards Community Resilience: Theatre for Young Audiences and the Mental Health Crisis

The mental health crisis is thought to affect 10-20% of children and young people in the world (World Health Organisation, 2019). It is clear that this is something that needs addressing in many ways, but importantly in schools. So, how can Theatre for Young Audiences make a contribution? In this paper, Danny Braverman and Ava Hunt explored how visiting theatre companies can regain a foothold in schools, focusing on the specific example of Hunt's most recent project, 'Journeys of Destiny' and Braverman’s Dialogue-Across-Difference framework. Chiefly, the authors were inspired by the pioneering work of the late Theatre for Young Audiences pioneer, David Johnston. Johnson’s work as Artistic Director of Theatre Centre from 1977 to 1986, presents an approach that can act as an inspiration for today.