Treehouse Theatre: Process and Rationale�Catherine Maguire-Donvito�School Counsellor Holroyd High School and Director Treehouse Theatre�Updated 13/5/22
CAST FROM THE STORM
6 October, 2015
9:30 pm ABC TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRF-yDMVYdk
Our beginning….
In early 2000s I was struggling to work with asylum seeker and refugee students who needed advocacy as well as counselling.
Ruth was using drama and performance of students own stories to teach English.
Refugee students seemed to feel empowered by being given a voice. This inspired the formation of Treehouse Theatre
Treehouse Theatre
with digital marketing
What does Treehouse Theatre actually do?
Twice a year we take about 20 young refugee students from Holroyd HS (Semester 1) and Miller Technology HS (Semester 2).
Teenage refugees tell stories in group counselling sessions.
We convert these stories into scripts and create movement pieces.
What does Treehouse Theatre actually do?
The result is a 90 minute production of about 25 -30 individual vignettes, each of about 3 minutes duration.
Performances are presented in major theatres
We encourage every student to share their trauma and other stories to perform in the show.
What does Treehouse Theatre actually do?
Each student during the rehearsal phase, modifies and corrects their story so that it entirely truthful.
Students read their script to their families and get feedback.
Some students choose not to tell their trauma story, but most do.
For psychological safety students generally, do not act their own parts in their trauma story
The Process
Narrative Therapy
The Tree of Life Project
(Ncube, 2006)
The Suitcase Project (Clacherty, 2006)
Framework for Treehouse Programs
Performance Framework
Format for each show is:
2012
Tree of Life 2013
Suitcase Stories, 2012
Survivors, 2021
Flyers over the years!
1. Omid and Rahim’s Story: Resettlement story
2. Shayla’s Story: Missing: Trauma Story
3. Effects of Trauma: Trauma Story
Links to examples of our performances:
Our goals:
For the cast:
For the audience:
How does it work?
The Psychological Rationale
Trauma Recovery Goals
The program aims to meet these goals
Judith Herman, 1993
Young Refugees Suffering from Trauma
Exposure Therapy
Storytelling circle and rehearsals - helps to process the trauma (exposure therapy).
Schauer, Neuner & Elbert (2011)
Fragmented memories are transformed into a coherent narrative
The traumatic event(s) become contextualised and can be recalled normally as a past event - rather than as a flashback or panic attack.
Outsider Witness
Carey and Russell (2003)
We share stories in a story circle. Some stories are developed into performance pieces.
Outsider Witness - Audience Response
Performing true life experiences, especially traumatic ones, is an empowering experience.
To hear the audience gasp, cry and laugh makes the students feel truly heard, valued and respected.
Building an accepting society
Is the program effective?
Akeel - Iraq
“Theatre performance that ‘Treehouse’ provides, gave others and myself the chance to interact and break the ice between us refugee students and Australian general public. On the stage I am able to be who I am, and let the audience know who I am, what I feel, and what I stand for, then wait if they would accept me, and they surely did. This was my second birth, one here in Australia. I was born again as a new person that appreciated his difficult past yet was optimistic about the future.”
Akeel Abbas, 27 February 2013
Treehouse Evaluation:
Collaboration with STARTTS
The Treehouse program was evaluated in collaboration with the Service for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)
Data included:
Tests used were:
Treehouse Evaluation:
Collaboration with STARTTS, Con’t
From student audience members:
“You guys did so, so, so, so, so well. Believe in yourselves and let the past go. Australia is now your home and I am so glad you guys made me change the way I think and speak to people like yourselves. Well done.” (Aussie student from Liverpool Girls High School)
“It makes me feel like I am not the only one who suffered… It was a wonderful show that even made me laugh and cry at the same time….God bless you all.” Refugee student, Evans Intensive English Centre (IEC)
“I have so much more respect for them and a wider variety of understanding.” (Aussie Student from Liverpool Girls High School).
Comments from adult audiences
“The message of horror told with pathos and humour.”
“It opened my eyes to the experience of refugees.“
“That’s no matter if you are Muslim or Christian but the only matter is humanity.”
“Proud to have these young people in our country.”
“I work with refugees and have been disheartened about it all – this has restored my faith about why I do this.”
Achievements:
Acknowledgements
Treehouse Committee and volunteers
Miller Technology High School
Holroyd High School
STARTTS
Liverpool City Council
The Sisters of St Joseph, North Sydney
Casula Powerhouse Performing Arts Centre
The Seymour Centre
The Funding Network
Treehouse Cofounder & Director
Ruth Hartcher- O’Brien
www.treehousetheatre.org.au
Shows in 2022:
Casula Powerhouse Theatre, June 22 & 23
The Seymour Centre, Nov
Cast From the Storm – link from our website
References
Clacherty, G. (2006). The world in a suitcase: psychosocial support using artwork with refugee children in South Africa, Participatory Learning and Action, Vol 54, April.
Carey, M. & Russell, S. (2003) Outsider witness practices: some answers to commonly asked questions. The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work. Vol 2003, Issue 3.
Herman, J. 1993, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror, (Revised Ed.) Basic Books.
Haidt, J. (2013) The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religions. Vintage Books.
Ncube, N. (2006) The Tree of Life Project. The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work. Vol 2006, Issue 1.
Westen, D. (2008) The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation. Public Affairs.
Schauer, M., Neuner, F., Elbert T. (2011). Narrative Exposure Therapy: A short Term Treatment For Traumatic Stress Disorders. (2nd edition). Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe Publishing
Van der Kolk, B, (2014), The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma, 1st edition), Penguin Random House UK.