From Stage to Study: Using Drama to Facilitate Inclusive Focus Groups

Eligibility Criteria

This programme is open to people and organisations based in the North East and North Cumbria, as well as those from the following organisations:

  • NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)
  • NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)
  • NIHR Innovation Observatory (IO)
  • NIHR Research Support Service (RSS)
  • NIHR Policy Research Unit (PRU)
  • NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN)
  • NIHR HRC in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation (HRC)

Course Description

From Stage to Study: Using Drama to Facilitate Inclusive Focus Groups

Join Claire for a truly unique and energising research training session where you’ll dive into the world of facilitated, accessible focus groups—designed to genuinely answer research questions in depth. This isn’t your typical training. With Claire’s background as a drama facilitator, theatre maker, and specialist in learning disability arts, you’ll explore how creative methods can break down barriers and bring research to life.

Sometimes, questions fall flat. That’s where Claire’s dynamic, interactive techniques come in—helping you reframe, rephrase, and reimagine how you engage with participants. After launching Research Abilities with the Lawnmowers Theatre Company, Claire is carving a path as a leading voice in co-produced, arts-based research.

Expect to get involved, get creative, and leave inspired with alternative ways to conduct research that can be applied to your own work in a considered and ethical way. This session is all about transforming how we approach research—making it more inclusive, more expressive, and a lot more fun.

Don’t miss this chance to rethink research… dramatically.

Course Information

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify creative methods and their contribution to creating deeper meaningful responses
  2. Emphasise the need to hire in expertise around facilitation when it comes to leading focus groups
  3. Awareness of accessible tools that will help make research more relatable to general public and community contributors

Course Dates

Course Start Date:  Thursday, February 5, 2026 10:00 AM

Course End Date :  Thursday, February 5, 2026 11:00 AM

Enrolment Dates

Enrolment Start Date:  Monday, October 13, 2025 8:00 AM

Enrolment End Date :  Monday, February 2, 2026 11:30 PM

Course Location

Newcastle University

Course Tutor/s

Claire Hills-Wilson

Course Delivery Type

Face to Face in-person icon

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Course Fees

This is a free course.