Healing Theatre

Pallavi Chander is a Sesame trained Drama and Movement therapist and Arts-Based Therapist based in Bangalore, India. She works with neuro-divergent children and adults, caregivers and young people challenged with behavioral or mental health concerns. She currently practices under her initiative, ‘Turiya’ where she uses drama, movement, visual arts, storytelling, music, and play to facilitate creative processes for psycho-social and compassion-based interventions. She offers group and individual sessions to integrate creativity and imagination in learning spaces, for therapy and healing with various grassroots organisations, and institutions in urban and rural set-ups. Pallavi is one of the representatives of Drama-Therapy India for the World Alliance for Drama Therapy (WADth). She is keen to explore research, education and indigenous approaches to mental health and well-being with a trauma-informed and anti-oppression lens. For more information visit – www.pallavichander.com / Instagram page – Turiya_dramatherapy

Evan Hastings has a passion for theatre as a vehicle for social change. His work illuminates the intersection of Drama Therapy and Theatre of the Oppressed, creating engaging performances that raise urgent issues, and stimulate conversation and action. Evan has had the honour of working across all four corners of the globe, from the fault lines of war zones to the halls of Harvard; from collaborating with prisoners in high security facilities to engaging families through open air performances in public spaces. He is the Founder of Shadow Liberation, a participatory shadow theatre initiative to end gender violence.