Healing Theatre: How Plays Change Lives

Why do we go to theatre? Why do actors act? If it's only "escapism", what is it we are escaping from? This book sets about answering these questions.

I was born in Manchester in 1934. After school I trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and worked for seven years as a professional actor, with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop and London Old Vic Company, touring extensively in Europe (including two seasons at the Moscow Arts Theatre). I still act occasionally on TV.

In 1963 I became an Anglican priest, and worked from 1973 to 1990 as wholetime Chaplain of a large old-fashioned psychiatric hospital in the North of England. During this time I wrote several books, mainly about Christian ritual - being both an actor and a clergyman - and life in a mental hospital - being both staff member and ex-patient: My work as a liturgiologist gained me a Higher Doctorate at London University, and I also hold doctorates in Sociology (Leeds), Implicit Religion (CNAA) and Dramatherapy Research (Leeds Metropolitan University). Currently I am working privately as a psychotherapist, and I am on the British Psychological Society's 'Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy' (Senior Practitioner).