newsletter

* * CHANGE OF ADDRESS DETAILS * *

Any ideas or information that you want to share? Jot it down and send it to me:

Elinor Vettraino, BADTh Link Person (Scotland),

email: elinor@vettraino.freeserve.co.uk

Members of Dramatherapy Scotland

Management Committee are:

* Genevieve Smyth - Chairperson

* Maggie Morgan - Membership Secretary

* Elinor Vettraino - Treasurer/Secretary

* Sharon Hall - Newsletter Co-editor

Please contact E.Vettraino if you want to contribute to this group - all help welcome!

Welcome to Dramatherapy Scotland’s 6th Newsletter issue! As always, this issue is packed with information. As well as training and events we have contributions from a number of Dramatherapists working throughout Scotland - many thanks indeed to them for sharing their valuable experiences. On a more sombre note, we also mark the passing of Gordon Wiseman, a pioneer and founding member of the profession of Dramatherapy in this country whose death has shocked the Dramatherapy community nationwide.

Elinor Vettraino

A Tribute to Gordon Wiseman

(died 19th January 2002)

Alongside Dr Sue Jennings, Gordon Wiseman pioneered early developmental work in Dramatherapy in the UK and Europe and was a founder member of The British Association of Dramatherapists (BADTh). Among many jobs, he also tread the boards as an actor playing a diversity of roles. Such diversity was later reflected in his work as a dedicated Dramatherapist trainer, supervisor, therapist and, most recently, Vice Chair of BADTh. Attending his funeral revealed the love that men and women from many different walks of life and generations had for this man. They remembered his sparkling eyes, his keenness for informed debate and a sharp wit kept in check by geniality and humility. I had sent a tribute to Gordon’s

family remarking on what a unique combination of qualities

in a therapist these were and this was made reference to at

the funeral. Given that Gordon’s earlier life was in Scotland,

where many of us had the pleasure of his company as trainer

at Dundee Rep. Theatre in 1995 for one of his delightful

Augusto Boal workshops, it seemed fitting to link his

qualities to the place he described to me once as his

homeland. Gordon Wiseman was indeed a wise man, and

one who will be sorely and deeply missed by his friends

and colleagues in the Dramatherapy world.

Genevieve Smyth Gordon at the BADTh Conference 2001