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Project

The Other Side of the Wall

A three-day training course exploring Geese's use of theatre and drama

All work

The Other Side of the Wall focuses on some of the basic principles behind Geese’s use of theatre and drama with people in secure and community settings, offering participants effective and widely applicable techniques in order to:

  • ‘Cross over the wall’ and explore service users’ experience of the world.
  • Assist them in identifying patterns of behaviour and exploring strategies for change.
  • Identify and assist in the development of interpersonal skills.
  • Create an environment where safe and relevant experiential learning can take place.

Participants will have an opportunity to learn and practice:

Active exercises

Active exercises for building group cohesion, promoting trust, problem solving and co-operation. Thematic exercises to explore themes such as triggers to offending, perspective-taking and goal-setting, through parallels with the experience of the exercise.

Scenes and images

Fictional stimulus scenes to highlight particular themes at ‘one step removed.’ ‘Anti-model’ scenes as stimulus for ‘foruming’ new responses and skills practice. Frozen images to explore themes such as motivation for, or consequences of, particular behaviours.

Processing techniques

Structures for ‘processing’ thematic exercises, images, scenes and metaphors. Questioning techniques to explore thoughts, feelings, beliefs and their impact on behaviour. Underpinning theory to ground these techniques.

We limit the number of participants to ten per course so that everyone has the opportunity to try the techniques they have been exploring and to practise integrating them into their own skills base.

No previous drama or theatre experience is necessary, however a willingness to actively explore new methods of working is an essential requirement.

The date and venue for the next course has not yet been confirmed but it will definitely run in 2025/26. To register you interest please email: admin@geese.co.uk

  • “I feel confident because of the time spent practicing – will definitely recommend to others.”

    – Participant
  • “It is the best training course that I have accessed for a long time. Excellent level of skill… Brilliant.”

    – Participant
  • I now feel more confident being able to open up conversations about offending and behaviour with people in prison. I think that talking about experiences with the activities is a great and simplified way to start those conversations and gives a lot of scope.

    – TOSOW Participant – March 2025
  • Fantastic few days expertly delivered and thoroughly enjoyed.

    – TOSOW Participant – March 2025
  • [The facilitator] was fantastic. Taking us through the 3 days incrementally. Gave us lots of practise time. Made me feel like it was OK to not get it right first time. Each day I grew more confident to push myself. I’m so glad I did this course . It’s has lifted me out of a stagnant place. I have a lot of ideas moving forward .

    – TOSOW Participant – March 2025
  • My expectations were wholly fulfilled. I was hope to gain practical experience of leading and implementing the the Geese methodology and see how it might transfer across to my own.

    – TOSOW Participant – March 2025

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