Theatre of the Lost and Found
Drama Education with Marginalised Youth
1st Edition
Published on 29. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
174 pages
978-1-032-95063-1 (ISBN)
Description
Based on a longitudinal study with disadvantaged youth, this book provides an auto-ethnographic perspective on the complexities of working as a practitioner within marginalised communities.
The author tells the story of the Penwithen Boys project, highlighting the power of drama intervention at a critical time in the participants' adolescence. It explores the impact of excluding young people from mainstream education and how young people can respond differently in a drama environment, compared to other formal educational or institutional settings. It also comments on the decline of drama education and raises questions about who has access to applied drama projects. Coyne also shares her 17-year quest to track down the boys and understand what, if any, effect the drama project had on their lives. Through the authentic voices of the boys, now men, the book shows that applied drama can have life-changing effects.
Providing authentic insights, this important text offers invaluable guidelines for drama educators for working safely and sustainably with deeply challenged, marginalised and resistant participants and provides a look into the challenges for applied drama practitioners touching on some of the author's work with other groups including refugees and Travellers.
The author tells the story of the Penwithen Boys project, highlighting the power of drama intervention at a critical time in the participants' adolescence. It explores the impact of excluding young people from mainstream education and how young people can respond differently in a drama environment, compared to other formal educational or institutional settings. It also comments on the decline of drama education and raises questions about who has access to applied drama projects. Coyne also shares her 17-year quest to track down the boys and understand what, if any, effect the drama project had on their lives. Through the authentic voices of the boys, now men, the book shows that applied drama can have life-changing effects.
Providing authentic insights, this important text offers invaluable guidelines for drama educators for working safely and sustainably with deeply challenged, marginalised and resistant participants and provides a look into the challenges for applied drama practitioners touching on some of the author's work with other groups including refugees and Travellers.
Reviews / Votes
"Sharon Coyne's Theatre of the Lost and Found is a profound testament to the transformative power of applied drama. Building on the robust empirical foundation of the DICE research, Coyne skilfully interweaves her autoethnographic narrative with the journey of the Penwithen boys, her youth theatre group, from the 'shadowland' of exclusion to a 'liminal space' of hope and heroism. The book brilliantly bridges global research with heart-wrenching practice, depicting a trip to Latvia as an allegory for how drama can serve as an emotional 'passport'. Coyne's work demonstrates that drama not only builds skills, but also reclaims lost lives and fosters vital dialogue for social change."Adam Cziboly, Professor of drama and applied theatre, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Coordinator of Theatre SPACEs (Theatre in Social, Participatory Art, Community and Educational contexts Erasmus Mundus Joint Master), Leader of the DICE research project
"This unique, heart-felt study of the long-term effects of engaging with drama demonstrates with conviction and courage how much society is in need of such practices. This book is a vital resource for practitioners and academics alike. Yet its most important place should be on the shelves of every politician whose brief encompasses community development, cohesion and offering an improved life chance to the excluded and forgotten. Coyne's determination and belief shines through every page of this powerful advocacy for the key role of the applied arts in enabling human potential."
Tim Prentki, Emeritus Professor of Theatre for Development, University of Winchester, UK
"Honest, brave, insightful account by a gifted applied drama practitioner about creating a play with excluded teenage boys. It's rare to hear the reflections of participants almost two decades later and discover how the journey has affected them all. Engrossing - and a valuable contribution to debates on inclusion in education and society."
Dr Beverley Naidoo, Carnegie-winning author of The Other Side of Truth
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate and Professional Reference
Illustrations
27 s/w Abbildungen, 27 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder
27 Halftones, black and white; 27 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
300 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-95063-1 (9781032950631)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
04/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€230.65
Shipment within 10-20 days
E-Book
04/2026
Routledge
€45.99
Available for download
E-Book
04/2026
Routledge
€45.99
Available for download
Person
Sharon Coyne is artistic director of Vita Nova, a community theatre group for those in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. For many years, she was also co-director of Bournemouth Theatre in Education, delivering TIE programmes across all age ranges and devising large-scaled community theatre projects. Her work with marginalised communities has included refugees, Gypsies, Travellers and excluded young people. She sees theatre as a way of celebrating those who have often been left behind and is Theatre Officer for National Drama.
Content
Chapter One: The accidental case study of a drama facilitator
Chapter Two: An accidental case study of a group of anarchic boys
Chapter Three: Flight
Chapter Four: The lost boys
Chapter Five: Guides
Chapter Six: Making sense of it all
Chapter Seven: Landscape
Chapter Eight: Lost and found
Chapter Two: An accidental case study of a group of anarchic boys
Chapter Three: Flight
Chapter Four: The lost boys
Chapter Five: Guides
Chapter Six: Making sense of it all
Chapter Seven: Landscape
Chapter Eight: Lost and found