The 8th International Dramatherapy Conference
European Federation of Dramatherapy
Organized by: SPID – The Italian Association of Dramatherapy
with DESU University and Fondazione Famiglia Sarzi ETS
Reggio Emilia, Italy | 7-9 May 2027
The 8th International Dramatherapy Conference will take place in Reggio Emilia, Italy, from 7 to 9 May 2027, with side experiences and EFD activities, beginning on 6 May.
THE CONFERENCE THEME
“Opposition is True Friendship“
Contrast, Conflict, and the Balance of Contraries in Dramatherapy
Inspired by William Blake’s baffling proverb ‘Opposition is True Friendship’, this eighth European Conference of Dramatherapy invites us to dwell in the fertile space where contraries meet. Blake, in his visionary work The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, does not urge us toward discord, nor does he romanticize conflict. Rather, he reveals that creative energy springs from the interplay of opposites: paired forces that, though seemingly at odds, are in fact essential to one another: ‘Without Contraries is no Progression’. It is in this dynamic tension that movement, thought, and understanding are born.
This theme resonates deeply within dramatherapy, evoking contrasts such as those between dramatic reality and daily life, between self and character, role and counter-role, hyper-distancing and immersion. These are not mere oppositions to be suppressed, but vital dynamics whose interplay, when carefully managed, is essential for therapeutic progress. In our daily practice, we encounter further polarities: mind and body, emotion and thought, chaos and order. If therapy seeks mediation, it is through learning to navigate contrasts, not to silence them.
Yet the theme also points toward another dimension: that of creativity, which flourishes through the recombination of disparate elements. In this light, we wish to pay tribute to Gianni Rodari, whose connection with the city of Reggio Emilia was both profound and enduring. Rodari conceived the ‘fantastic binomial’, a method for story-making that draws upon the random pairing of two words from contrasting conceptual spheres, sparking unexpected associations and imaginative leaps.
Finally, there is another facet of our title’s phrase that resonates within the reality of dramatherapy: it is often called upon to stand in opposition to outdated and regressive notions of care and health. Dramatherapy, in its practice and philosophy, challenges rigid or obsolete frameworks, advocating instead for approaches that honour complexity, diversity, and the evolving nature of human experience. In doing so, it not only fosters progression within the therapeutic realm but also contributes to the broader reimagining of well-being in contemporary society.
| As we contemplate these ideas, several questions naturally arise that invite us to reflect more deeply on our work as dramatherapists: ■ How do we harness the energy of opposition in our practice? ■ In what ways can conflict and contrast become sources of creativity and transformation? ■ How do we mediate between the many dualities – self/other, chaos/order, body/mind – within the therapeutic space? ■ What new forms of ‘friendship’ might emerge from embracing contraries, both within ourselves and our communities? We would also like to invite reflections on the meeting of different disciplines or techniques: ■ Might any dramatherapists wish to share research or developments in dramatherapy that have arisen from the combination or intersection of diverse methodologies? |