Dorothy Heathcote

 Dorothy Heathcote is another important figure in the drama world. She was a drama teacher who used the 'teacher in role' concept as a way to utilise drama within the curriculum. The concept of teacher in role is that if the role of the teacher is to teach, then the role of the student is to learn. It is a way which uses critical thought, with emotion, moral values and factual data as a whole to broaden the learning experience.

Through her extensive time in the drama and education world Heathcote developed a technique called Mantle of the Expert, which is something she is most well known for.

'Mantle of the Expert is based on the premise that treating children as responsible experts increases their engagement and confidence. They can perceive a real purpose for learning and discovering together in an interactive and proactive way – providing them with skills and knowledge they can apply to their everyday lives. MoE encourages creativity, improves teamwork, communication skills, critical thought and decision-making.'(http://www.dramaresource.com/strategies/mantle-of-the-expert, accessed 5/5/2012)

This kind of role play in education not only offers the students drama skills, but it allows them with a different, creative and interesting approach to their learning, therefore encourages them. The website Drama Resource is a really useful site for breaking down lots of the theories I have been looking at and is good for getting an overview of Applied Theatre subjects. 

Heathcote also wrote a extesie book o the subject and her methods which I used a lot whilst writing my disseration in my third year of uniersity as it covers the subject of Applied Theatre but more in regards to Theatre in Education.

 

The RiDE journal has a great article about her, and in memory of her work over the years: 

Juliana Saxton & Carole Miller (2012): In memory of Dorothy Heathcote, MBE
(29 August 1926 to 8 October 2011), Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, 17:1