When history comes to life: women, theater, and storytelling for emotional teaching

Abstract

This paper presents an educational approach that intertwines theatre and the rediscovery of female figures in history, aiming to make the teaching of this subject in lower secondary school more vivid, participatory and deeply engaging. The goal is twofold: to bring to light the often-forgotten women of the past and to offer students a historical experience that speaks to the heart as
well as the mind. Through the Drama in Education methodology – particularly the strategies of Teacher in Role and Mantle of the Expert – the classroom is transformed into a theatrical space where women from history, through the teacher's performance, come on stage, share their stories and interact with the class. Figures such as Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I and Marie Antoinette step out from the margins of textbooks to offer their perspectives and spark new reflections. Theatre thus becomes a tool for hearing
historical voices, understanding their contexts and feeling their human resonance. This is not merely about learning history but about living it: the teacher’s body becomes an embodied memory; students become explorers of documents, interpreters of characters and creators of meaning. Each lesson turns into a lesson-performance, capable of stirring emotions, stimulating critical thinking and leaving a lasting impression. This experience demonstrates how theatrical language can enrich the teaching of history: it not only restores visibility to long-neglected experiences but also invites a broader, more inclusive and conscious form of storytelling. Telling history through women’s perspectives today means offering everyone the chance to feel part of a shared narrative – one that embraces complexity and gives value to differences.