Frequently asked Questions, Roleplay-
How do you define Roleplay?
Role-play when used effectively is where delegates explore and develop, in a practical way, the skills passed on to them as theory during a training course.
It is an opportunity for delegates to get on their feet and simulate the reality of their working environment. Trainers will find that through the commitment of the delegates and the skill of the professional role-players, situations within any working environment can be convincingly replicated.
Why is Roleplay beneficial to training?
It is a chance for delegates to test the skills they will go on to employ in the workplace in an environment that accurately mirrors that workplace, but is in reality a safe training environment where making mistakes is part of the learning process.
It is also the perfect opportunity for Trainers to observe in detail the behaviour and performance of the delegates and to monitor how effectively they are interpreting and applying the training objectives.
The Trainer has the option of replaying any or all of the role-play scenarios having passed on thoughts and advice from earlier attempts. Many trainers choose to video the role-plays and watch them back with the delegate. This often proves a valuable and unique method of learning, as the delegate can observe their own performance and discuss it with the Trainer.
What area is Roleplay best suited to?
The beauty of Roleplay is that it can be effectively applied to a wide and varied range of training courses, including the following:-
Customer Service Skills
Compliance Procedures
Business Influence Skills
Coaching Skills
Recruitment & Interviewing Skills
Diversity & Equal Opportunities
Corporate Social Responsibility
Management & Staff Development
Assessment Centres
Bullying/Harassment in the workplace
Whether the actor is called upon to portray a dissatisfied customer in basic customer service training, an employee undergoing appraisal for management training, right through to playing a stakeholder in detailed dialogue simulations for Social Reporting programmes, Roleplay is an essential tool adaptable to any training process requiring inter-personal skills theory to be put into practice.
What is Forum Theatre and how can it be used in Training?
Invented in the early seventies by Augusto Boal, Forum Theatre is a form of interactive theatre where the audience share or recognise the concerns or obstacles that face the central character, or protagonist, in a short drama. After watching the drama for the first time, the audience, mediated by a neutral facilitator, will discuss how the protagonist might have changed events through a differing course of action or words. The drama is then re-run from the start with the ability of the audience, or ‘spect-actors’, to stop the action, and then re-direct it, or take the protagonist’s place, either way trying out their own ideas. The other characters in the drama react as they feel their character truly would and, in this way, it can be established as to whether the protagonist’s new strategies are effective in overcoming those obstacles. This, in turn, can lead to a sense of empowerment for both the protagonist and audience.
This process is ideal for training, in that delegates can directly identify problems and obstacles and in a practical manner, can learn how to face and change them in a way that can be transposed to their workplace.
Why not just undertake Roleplay ‘in-house’?
There are disadvantages in undertaking Roleplay ‘in-house’. In some instances, delegates may collude with colleagues to the detriment of the process, especially if for appraisal purposes. Delegates may also find that, when role-playing together, their familiarity with one another undermines the credibility of that process.
Why use professional actors?
Professional actors can be integral to the Roleplay process for a number of reasons. Being unknown to the delegate, the trained actor is able to bring a sense of realism to the Roleplay session which, in turn, aids the delegate in taking the exercise seriously. Additionally, the actor is able to maintain a commitment, consistency and professionalism to any character that they are required to play and can realistically convey emotions essential in particular scenarios. Finally, the professional actor is well-placed to offer objective, constructive feedback on delegate performance.
Do you provide training?
Yes, we can work with you to assess and evaluate your training needs and, together with our Associate Trainers, provide you with a bespoke package which can, as required, include the development and production of scenarios and/or scripts for role-play or Forum Theatre Exercises.
Why use ProActive Roleplay?
The Partners of ProActive Roleplay, Mark Delaney and Julian Chaloner, understand that your business is of paramount importance to you and, for that reason, we believe in providing actors who also appreciate that fact. Our team of hand-picked, highly skilled professional actors have a real understanding of how the modern business world operates, either through personal corporate experience or as a result of their wealth of Roleplay participation. By using ProActive Roleplay, we can assure you that your training process will be significantly enriched, thereby enhancing the development, effectiveness and performance of your personnel.
How much will it cost?
Our charges per actor start at £225. To establish precise fees that relate to your specific requirements, please contact us.