Speaking, Workshops, and Coaching

Rich and Joyce Swingle have been presenting around the world for decades. This is a sampling of things they've done before, but they'll work with you to come up with a great approach for your group. 

​​Improvisation: Viola Spolin, author of several books on improvisation, believed it to be as powerful a training technique for actors as Stanislavski's Method. Rich has taught improv for years, and uses it, along with sociodrama (explained next) to coach actors for roles, especially those that require actors to access their emotions. It's also a great form of acting all on its own! It encourages actors to take risks, expand their creativity and spontaneity, and to trust fellow actors. For non-actors it's a great way to gain confidence for public speaking (the number one fear over death!). Rich creates a safe environment for participants to explore. 

​​Sociodrama: This dynamic technique can be used on its own or in conjunction with any of Rich's plays or presentations. Rich leads groups in an exploration of a theme which the group helps define. Individuals act out the theme in a specific scenario. Rich uses several techniques to direct the action in ways which explore the theme most valuably. Once the action is completed, Rich leads a discussion of what was learned through the process. Rich's master's thesis was based on a sociodrama program he taught. 

For examples of how Rich has used sociodrama, click here. 

I've witnessed your work in sociodrama a few times over the years and each time I am stretched.  Thank you for your sensitivity and agility to float so easily among various communities, all children of the Lord.  You also have a gift at facilitating.  You're wise to know when to sit back and when to interject.  You also have a great toolbox of techniques to help folks dig deeper.  Great work. 

--Marlene Dickinson 

Choreographer, Dancer and Teacher 

Atlanta, GA 

www.MarleneDickinson.com

Thank you again, Rich. I feel so uplifted myself and I am happy to see how you transformed and healed the residents. I certainly felt God’s presence and action in your work with them and their response. 

--Retta Blaney 

Head of Marketing EastView Independent Senior Living Residence 

Owned and operated by The Salvation Army, New York City

Observation after Rich led residents in a sociodrama

​​Sociodrama for Playwrights (Devised Theatre): Plots and dialogue can be created and reworked using this technique. The playwright can see the characters moving, hear them talking, and even know their thoughts, and then take that back to the keyboard. Attendees are encouraged to take what was discovered in the workshop and use it as a springboard for their own work. The following piece was created by the enactors with Rich as the playwright/director at the Applied Theatre Conference in Greenville, SC. All that was given was the theme of dealing with addiction. Rich asked who wanted to play someone addicted to a substance. An enactor stepped out of the audience and Rich interviewed him. As the character mentioned people in his life Rich asked other audience members to step into those roles. Once the piece was generated, Rich directed the piece using sociodrama (see the next class), exploring backstory and subtext and bringing some of that into the main production. Here's what we developed:

There were two endings created and rehearsed. The enactor playing Jeff was instructed to make his decision between the two endings in the moment of reflection on the "voices" he heard at the mirror. 

Rights are granted to show the above as a film and/or generate a script and perform it. If it is used for commercial purposes, please send 5% of any gross income to the Applied Theatre Center.