Theatre enriching social work with immigrants—the case of a Finnish multicultural theatre group

Abstract

This paper is based on a research project at Helsinki University for practice development in social work and a recent study dealing with the issue of the potential role of theatre in social work. This article analyses and explores the possibilities of using theatre for facilitating the integration of immigrants into society. It seeks to bring a new perspective to social work and to the discussion on integration through a theatrical point of view by considering the concept of integration as an act of solidarity. It opens up a more holistic view of integration and emphasizes reciprocity. This article is formed around a case study on a multicultural theatre project, the Kalevala project, in Helsinki in 2005–2006. It was found to promote integration, both through cultural interchange within the group, and also by giving the immigrants both visibility and the opportunity to show their wish to participate in Finnish culture. In return they would like the majority to show some genuine interest in them and what they can bring to the mainstream culture. The research results challenge social workers to see the potential in immigrants, instead of primarily seeing them as victims or as objects that need to be integrated.