“The Way” : The creation of a performance to reconcile social divisiveness

Abstract

Objectives: The stage play titled “The Way” aims to suggest ways to reconcile present social conflicts.

Methods: The methodology can be divided into 10 steps: 1) data collection, 2) designing a questionnaire for the tests, 3) conducting a pre-test, 4) organizing a workshop and synthesizing data for a stage play, 5) designing visual elements, 6) rehearsing and recording the performance, 7) conducting a mid-test, 8) PR and performing the play, 9) conducting a post-test, and 10) analyzing data and writing the conclusion. The target group of the project were youths between 18 and 22 years old.

Results: As for the creative aspect of the performance, there was the creation of a stage play titled “The Way”, whose important theme was to point out ways to reconcile conflicts in the current society.  As for the achievement evaluation of the research, there were 2 processes.  First, a group conversation was conducted with 20 youths who participated in the workshop.  A change in their attitude was detected.  They saw that the current social and political conflicts were surmountable. Secondly, an evaluation of satisfaction was conducted with 108 youth viewers. The results showed that the average satisfaction of the experience, the content, and the idea gained from the play was 91.66 %, while 92.22 % found that the experience, the content, and the idea from the play could lead to reconciliation in the current social conflicts.  These figures demonstrate that “The Way” is a performing art which was thought by the audience to have the potential to lead to the reconciliation in the current society.  The reconciliation requires that adults communicate with youths openly, listen actively, be understanding, prioritize public interest, and learn to forgive one another.

Application of this study: “The Way” can provide the audience with values and morals which can be applied to their daily life, physically and mentally. The target group was able to realize, understand and accept different opinions which corresponded to the purposes of this research project.