"It Feels So Real": The Value of Using Elements of Theatre to Rehearse a Profession

Abstract

Abstract:In partnering with occupational therapy (OT) degree programs to enhance students' preparedness for the field, the applied theatre in education company, Theatre in Tandem, implemented sessions utilizing the applied theatre forms of structured improvisation and role-play to rehearse the profession. This piece documents learning possibilities found in the unpredictability of these theatre conventions: supporting the classroom curriculum, navigating realistic interactions in simulated scenarios, and creating space for the students to negotiate ambiguity as they made connections between the classroom learnings and the professional field.