Launching into drama as a pedagogy of hope

Abstract

This is a published version of the Conference Keynote from "launch" the Drama Queensland State Conference, March 15-16, 2013. The author was invited to submit to DATEAsia for publication. The presentation draws on Paulo Freire's "Pedagogy of hooe" (1992) and his belief that we need hope in the way "a fish needs water". In this book Freire charges us with the task to "unveil opportunities for hope, no matter what the obstacles may be". Living through the first part of the 21st century has included us in many experiences that we may consider challenges to hopefullness. Madonna proposes drama as a pedagogy of hope and suggests our role, today and tomorrow, is to work in drama alongside our students to imagine, to hope, to empathise, and attempt to understand ourselves and others.