Coming home to the arts: theatre with military veterans and families

Abstract

Purpose A significant number of military veterans and family members are living with post-traumatic stress, unmet mental health needs and isolation. There is growing interest in the potential of theatre and the expressive arts as a positive intervention with this population. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Coming Home programme which aims to create opportunities for military veterans and families to develop an ongoing engagement with the arts and through that engagement to access new ways of regulating and expressing complex emotions. Design/methodology/approach This case study shares reflections from Re-Live’s current theatre programme, Coming Home. The programme methodology uses reflective writing, theatre and choral singing to develop participants wellbeing and reduce isolation. Findings Initial feedback suggests that this programme has significant potential as a way of reconnecting veterans and families with their community and improving their wellbeing. The emotional release of group singing and performing together has been powerful. Participants report that the Coming Home programme is connecting them with parts of themselves they thought had gone forever: humour, spontaneity, fun – and having a positive impact on their wellbeing. Originality/value This case study contributes to the literature from the exciting and emerging field of the use of the creative arts with military veterans and families.

The theatre as therapy for military veterans? Exploring the mechanisms which impact psychosocial well-being and social connections during theatre-based programmes

“…These findings align themselves with the results of other theatre programmes designed for military veterans in motivations to participate in theatre programmes to educate others (Belliveau, 2017;Belliveau et al, 2019;Belliveau & Nichols, 2017;O'Connor, 2017). Belliveau and Nichols (2017) specifically examined the impact of the Contact!…”

“…There are arts-based theatre programmes for members of the armed forces community across Canada, the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). Most of these programmes aim to act as trauma therapy, particularly for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ali & Wolfert, 2016;Ali, Wolfert, Lam, & Rahman, 2018;Belliveau, 2017;Belliveau, Cook, McLean, & Lea, 2019;Belliveau & Nichols, 2017;O'Connor, 2017).…”

“…Also, working with the Drive project, Bravo 22 company, is the Royal British Legion's Recovery Through Art programme, and has, over the last eight years, produced plays that recount the real life experiences of military veterans from the UK (Royal British Legion, 2014a). Re-Live is another UK based organisation that has worked with military veterans (O'Connor, 2015;O'Connor, 2017).…”