Boncori, Ilaria and Schwabenland, Christina and Lax, Annecy (2025) Taming the radical: Domesticating forum theatre in leadership development. Leadership. DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/17427150251388597
Boncori, Ilaria and Schwabenland, Christina and Lax, Annecy (2025) Taming the radical: Domesticating forum theatre in leadership development. Leadership. DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/17427150251388597
Boncori, Ilaria and Schwabenland, Christina and Lax, Annecy (2025) Taming the radical: Domesticating forum theatre in leadership development. Leadership. DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/17427150251388597
Abstract
Arts-based approaches to leadership development are becoming increasingly popular because of their potential to highlight the symbolic, aesthetic and sensual dimensions of organizing, thus opening up new possibilities for insights and action. However, our study shows that such interventions can also surface complex dynamics and can be co-opted in ways that diminish their more empowering potential. Our focus is on one such leadership development initiative within a UK based education institution focussing on Forum Theatre, a specific form of dramaturgy typically used to challenge structures of power and oppression. We draw on semi-structured interviews with senior level participants and facilitators to ask whether the programme was effective as a means of learning and empowering the participants. Our findings suggest that the co-option of Forum Theatre to serve organizational interests raises significant concerns when it requires a domestication of its more radical potential.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | arts-based methods; forum theatre; leadership development; domestication |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts and Humanities Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, Department of Faculty of Social Sciences > Essex Business School Faculty of Social Sciences > Essex Business School > Organisation Studies and Human Resources Management |
| SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jan 2026 14:40 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jan 2026 14:40 |
| URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/41707 |
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