There is a myth about Japanese swordsmen that states a sword cannot be taken out of its scabbard without blood being shed. Therefore, a swordsman who takes his sword out to hone the blade or to practise his swordsmanship, will have to cut himself with the sword before sheathing it again.
The traditional Japanese war sword is the katana and it was made by craftsmen who would fold the metal and hammer it, fold and hammer, fold and hammer until the blade consisted of a thousand layers of the finest carbon steel, capable of slicing through armour, flesh and bone.
Many companies today use a blanket approach to training. A sort of one-size-fits-all that is akin to using a cudgel in battle. It's very effective if you hit your target, but heavy and unwieldy, and not very precise.
The sword, on the other hand, is a flexible, light and precise tool. It can penetrate to the exact target and it is layered to increase strength and sharpness. In exactly this way, Industrial Theatre can cut to the particular challenge faced by employees of the company. The emotionally layered nature of drama will speak to a variety of attitudes and mindsets while still addressing the core challenge.
Perhaps your company is facing a particularly difficult training challenge? Then it is time to unsheathe the sword of Industrial Theatre and put away the boring classroom cudgel. And the best part is that you can use this very effective tool without having to cut yourself!
