A Scoping Review of the Impact of Theatre-Based Techniques in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

(1) Background: The present scoping review sought to map the characteristics of theatre-based interventions and their reported effects on social interactions, social communication, anxiety, and broader psychosocial functioning of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). (2) Methods: A search was conducted in the Scopus, ERIC, and PubMed databases, and manually with specific terms under PRISMA guidelines and the PCC framework. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. (3) Results: Most of the studies were conducted in the United States over the past 15 years. The interventions were categorized according to the method used in each study. All the studies included children and adolescents as samples, with only one study including adults. The SENSE Theatre Program was the most frequently applied method. There was some heterogeneity in the duration and number of sessions applied. Improvements were observed in social cognition, behavior, interaction, social and psychological functioning, language-related areas, and the maintenance and generalization of acquired skills, with a reduction in anxiety levels. (4) Conclusions: Although the studies were limited, theatre-based interventions and dramatherapy appear to be a promising therapeutic approach that remains largely unexplored. Further research is crucial to enriching the existing literature, filling current gaps, and establishing a protocol that integrates the aforementioned interventions into clinical practices for both children and adults with ASD.