The beginning of the end

Abstract

The author of this paper compares the theory of psychodrama with the practice of psychodrama as it is done today. He criticises the excessive academic approach of Brazilian psychodrama training organisations in their formulation of this theory, arguing that this restricts the creativity of our psychodramatists, and also that there is an impoverishment of the psychodrama practice due to a decrease of actual group work, especially protagonist centred group work. He also argues that psychodrama practice has become more and more superficial and stereotypical, often mistaken and distanced from its most basic theoretical foundations.