Drama therapy workshops use improvisation and role-play to help young people navigate anxiety, conflict and their search for connection.

As soft meditation music filled the room, several young participants lay down, closed their eyes, and began to move slowly, imagining they were trapped in a sleep they could not wake from. Moments later, they were asked to picture themselves as children again — loosening their bodies and letting their faces settle into the most innocent, carefree expressions they could remember.

This was not a performance rehearsal, but a drama therapy workshop at the Galli Theater in Beijing, where stage-based exercises are used as tools for self-exploration and emotional growth.

Founded by German philosopher, actor, and playwright Johannes Galli, the Galli Theater combines theatrical techniques with psychological training.

The organization launched its training program in China in 2013, and its Beijing center became fully operational in 2019.

As a space for psychological growth for children, families, and adults, the Beijing center has produced 20 fairy-tale musicals, eight plays for adults, and seven preventive behavioral theater programs, along with a wide range of workshops and seasonal camps.

Zhang Xin, co-founder of Galli Theater China, said that what sets drama therapy apart from traditional theater is the close interaction between the stage and the participants.