... NEWS FLASH !! ...

Noel McDermott is doing some interesting work in Edinburgh. He is working in healthcare and social work as a drama-therapy sessional worker with people with learning disabilities and is currently

chairing SATF, pending the formation of its committee and the passing of its constitution.

Playback, in brief, is a form of theatre where the story tellers are members of the audience. They are invited to tell their story and watch it being re-enacted for them by a small group of actors. For a full low-down on the conference itself, see the next issue of The Prompt but suffice it to say that this incredible festival of creativity and fun arose out of the hard work and dedication of a team of Playbackers from York.

The Scottish contingent (myself, Genevieve, Maggie, Zoe and Elinor Kirk (Dramatherapy students on the Manchester Course) and Robin (from the Findhorn Therapeutic Community)) enjoyed the experience greatly - albeit in different ways - and I certainly found it both intellectually as well as creatively stimulating.

For those of us who attended York, there is the possibility of an Autumn Playback follow-up to help develop on the skills work at the conference. I will keep you posted on details.

Also, there is a possibility of the York Playback company coming to the Dundee Rep Theatre on Feb. 10th 2000 to do staff training and a performance for Tayside’s Mental Health Sector.

Elinor V.

If you have any news about what you’re doing, drop me a line!

Important Dates !

Just to let you know, each year BADth gives

Dramatherapy Scotland’s Link Person, a grant of £200

to support Dramatherapy in Scotland - this is our core

budget. Currently,our balance is £304.29 including subs

from members. Any spending ideas? Possibles are a

BADth information pack, devising our own leaflets.

Genevieve Smyth went on a sabbatical to US courses and conferences in the Autumn of 1998 and has detailed her experiences in an extensive article published in the most recent edition of the British Association of Dramatherapists Journal.

* Glasgow Association for Mental Health has a one day conference promoting the development of policy and practice titled: ‘Personality disorder, a dangerous label?’ Date: Thurs 30th Sept. 1999.

Contact: Laura Jarvie - 0141 204 2270

* BADth AGM and Symposium titled: ‘Dramatherapy at the Crossroads’. Date: Sat. 2nd Oct. 1999. Venue: Central School of Speech and Drama, London. Contact: Mark Turner - 0171 681 4915.

* The Forensic Arts Therapies Advisory Group is holding the 7th Arts Therapies Forensic Seminar Day with a presentation by Penny Coulthard on Dramatherapy within a sex offender

programme. Date: 15th Oct. 1999 10am to 4.30pm. Venue: Mary Ward House, London. Contact: Tobias Arnup - 01603 828601.

* The Association for Psychoanalytic Psycho-therapy in the NHSpresents the APP Scottish Day

Conference, theme: ‘Working with

Perpetrators’. Date: Sat. 30th Oct. 1999. Venue: Glasgow. Contact: Annabel Thomas - 0181 349 9873.

* The Royal College of Psychiatrists (Scottish

Division) Psychotherapy Section present a residential conference, titled: ‘Borderline

personality disorder’. Dates: 11th to 13th Nov. 1999. Venue: Scotland’s Hotel, Pitlochry.

Contact: Dr Anne Patterson - 0141 554 6267.

* A conference on ‘The Sorrows of Young Men: Exploring their increasing risk of

Suicide’. Date: Sat. 13th Nov. 1999. Venue: Centre for Theology and Public Issues New

College, Edinburgh. Contact: the above

department.

* Study days in ‘Authentic Movement’ offered

by Kedzie Penfield. Dates: Sundays 17/10/99,

21/11/99, 12/12/99, 20/02/00, 19/03/00 and

23/04/00. Venue: Salenside on the borders.

Contact: Kedzie Penfield - 01750 32213.

* British Psychodrama Association Annual

Conference, titled: ‘Welcoming and Celebrating

Diversity’. Date: Fri. 14th to Sun. 16 April 2000.

Venue: University College of St Martin,

Lancaster. Contact: James Scanlan - 01436 831838.

* For information on a series of Brief Therapy

International Presentations from Nov. ‘99 to Oct. ‘00 contact me (Elinor V) ‘coz I can’t fit them in

here!

International Playback Conference

York, August 1999