ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates what characterises actions between students in role, the use of role to develop and explore content in a process drama, and what implications the form of the process has. The chapter draws on Leontiev’s activity theory and dialogism (Bakhtin) and uses the metaphor of macramé as a tool to analyse filmed process dramas. From an activity theory perspective, process drama is understood as two activities – temporary fictional and educational – with two different motives/objects. The critical difference is that a new motive/object is under construction through a playful format in the temporary fictional activity and is given in an educational activity. The actions also differ where in-role actions have a forward direction and include both expectations and hope that the contribution given will be received and reciprocated, but in a new form. The writer suggests a new concept for this unique form of agency that is developed through collective in-role-actions: expectagency, a form of ‘expectation and hope agency’ that increases one’s capability to deal with uncertainty and change. Such a capability, with its collective dimension, should be of great importance for handling uncertainty and change together and is crucial in the world right now, given the challenges we face.
