This article forms part of a broader practice-led investigation into the experiences of applied drama and theatre practitioners in South Africa and their relationship to place and space. Empirical accounts of eight practitioners who have experienced working with communities in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape is offered as an attempt to illuminate what it means to conduct applied drama and theatre in South Africa. Findings were generated through semi-structured interviews with participants, and observations of applied drama and theatre processes in a diversity of settings. Reflections on these findings are framed through the theoretical lenses of dilemmatic spaces and emotional labour, which reveal the complexity of competing forces that practitioners may experience within their respective environments. Existing theories on the role of the applied drama and theatre practitioner are discussed as context for understanding the complex demands associated with doing such interpersonal work and inviting possible avenues towards offering the support necessary for practitioners through an aesthetic of care. The article briefly outlines the project then discusses its main findings, namely: how place plays a role in the practitioners' experience, reflections on fatigue, and benefits and limitations of working online. It concludes with possibilities for further research.
Lireko Qhobela (Sun,) studied this question.