A forum theatre approach to interview performance

This HECSU-funded research shows that forum theatre workshops are an effective way to educate students about job interviews

Key findings

• The workshops successfully helped to develop first-generation HE undergraduates' interview skills, improved their confidence and helped with their performance at job interviews.
• Of the 35 students that took part in the forum theatre workshops for this study, all but two obtained a placement.
• Students felt that attending a forum theatre workshop was more effective than looking at YouTube videos, online advice sites, and getting mock interview support.
• Some felt that mock interviews could be hampered by concern about individual performance, which made it difficult to reflect on how well their session went.
• In contrast, the forum theatre approach allowed students to focus more on watching and directing an interview performance.
• The importance of understanding the subtleties and nuances of interview performance, such as body language and tone of voice, emerged as a key theme in the focus group.
• Students felt that further help with other recruitment methods such as Skype, video interviewing and assessment centre activities would be valuable.

About the report

This HECSU-funded research report examines the use of forum theatre workshops as a method of developing the confidence and success of first-generation higher education students who are attending interviews for graduate placements and jobs. In 2017/18 the University of West London's (UWL) careers team piloted 30 forum theatre workshops across academic disciplines to explore the idea of using forum theatre as a social justice style approach to 'teaching' interview skills.

The authors are Jacqueline McManus and Catherine Taylor from the University of West London.