Drama theory: dispelling the myths

Drama theory is little more than a decade old and has already proved a versatile tool for analysing collaborations and conflicts. However, its widespread use has, it is argued here, been inhibited by a number of factors, some trivial, others more substantial. Following a resume of its emergence and a sketch of the ways that it has thus far been used, this paper sets out to examine and dispel the mist of prejudice, ambiguity and misinterpretation that has accumulated. Some specific application pathways are described, demonstrating how the strengths of the drama theory framework can be most effectively exploited in practice. The paper includes some pointers for future development and exploitation.