The history of Biodrama

Learn to see the deep significance of your life experience

Biodrama was developed in the 1970s by Lorenzo Ostuni using the research of classical scholars and scientists and through the experimentation of students and young professionals.

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Interpreting the ritual practises in the Orphic and Eleusianian Mysteries, bioadrama practitioners used mime, dance, archetypal imagery and symbolism to develop an understanding of the mythological representations of Life, Love and Death.

From this experimentation the team slowly developed a structure and methodology to practise their own Active Imagination through this form of theatre. These repeated experiences in depth psychology, in physical theatre and archetypal imagination brought about the creation of Biodrama; the ritual dramatisation of a Life Story, the historical understanding and the retelling of that person’s myth, to reveal their soul’s journey.

Early practitioners include Frederico Fellini. Directors and dramatists were fascinated by the way their own life stories had become part of their work and sought to identify and prevent harmful cycles and patterns.

​Biodrama became an established Analytical Psychological Practice in the 1980s in Italy. Then in the 1990s it was taken to the United States and taught mostly in California. Today, after the publication of Jung’s Red Book, we discover that it represents unconsciously a surprisingly similar re-enactment of Jung’s own personal practice and spiritual approach to Active Imagination.

If you would like to find out more about how Biodrama can help you, please get in touch.