What Is an Applied Theatre Facilitator? Reintroducing Myself

Been connecting with lots of new people recently, so thought I'd reintroduce myself!

Hi everyone, I'm Elana! I'm an applied theatre facilitator and creative learning specialist. So, what do those fancy words mean? In essence, I’m passionate about bringing people together through joyful, #creative #learning #experiences. I specialize in the intersection of creative practices and embodied learning, facilitating interactive spaces where teams, educators, and communities can meet their targets through collaboration and shared purpose.

How did I begin my theatre journey? As a Taiwanese-American third culture kid - born in Houston, raised in Shanghai, and later living in London and now Barcelona - I carry a rich tapestry of cultural experiences that constantly fuels my #curiosity about how people from different places and backgrounds connect. I found that #connection within theatre.

Theatre, as a tool to develop vital #21stcenturyskills like #criticalthinking, #collaboration, and #communication, is immensely powerful. Through this creative journey:

🌸 I’ve seen children who once lacked confidence blossom into the loudest voices in the room. 💡 I’ve worked with teachers who felt stuck in rigid school systems suddenly experience that “lightbulb” moment as they discovered how to empower their students to use their own knowledge as a resource. 🫀 I’ve had the privilege of watching teams in leading organizations become vulnerable with one another, forging deeper connections and transforming their work environments.

These are the moments that make me feel so honored to do what I do, and why I love it so much.

As of 2025, this is me: 👉 a facilitator for 10+ years, 👉 a trainer for 5+ years 👉 collaborated with 1000+ participants from 🌍 26+ countries around the world.

Wow, even calculating those stats, it has made me reflect on what a journey I've been on. To do what I truly love for work, that's something I never take for granted.

For me, #theatre is not just about the final performance. What excites me the most is the process, and the learning that goes hand in hand with it. The process is filled with small moments of transformation, learning not only about performance but also about ourselves and how we relate to the world around us.

If you're curious about creative learning, come say hello!