A Fight for Honesty: The drama pedagogue Gill Dowsett and her quest to let children be free to be who they are

Sammendrag

This article explores how efforts to promote honesty can be applied within a drama pedagogical setting to create a free space in which children and young people can express themselves and be recognised as independent individuals. The article draws on experiences from encounters with Gill Dowsett, an esteemed drama pedagogue with a lifelong commitment to forum theatre and strong values of equality and truthfulness. Her unwavering dedication to embodying these ideals—even in the face of challenges and conflicts with young participants—made a profound impression during our meeting. The drama pedagogical space presents a complex dilemma, balancing participants’ active involvement with the educator’s role and responsibility. On the one hand, it encourages unique stories, perspectives, and voices to emerge; on the other, it may demand unconditional participation, potentially giving rise to feelings of pressure and vulnerability. In this article, these dilemmas are discussed in relation to Gill Dowsett’s methods and intentions to create an honest and free space for both herself and her students.