Rebecca K. Graf

Rebecca was born in Germany, and grew up in Switzerland. From an early age she's had a passion for theatre and the arts, which led her to being part of youth theatre groups and theatre summer camps all throughout her childhood and teenage years. After studying acting in Vancouver, Canada she worked in the industry for a year, before moving to London in 2015. Because of a deep curiosity to learn more about theatre she went on to get her BA in Theatre and Drama Studies from Birkbeck University in 2018.

After working as an assistant director in professional, as well as amateur theatre for several productions, including a large open-air production in the Swiss Alps just beneath the Matterhorn, she became fascinated by the impact art and art-making could have on the human mind and soul. Especially this last experience let her to apply for the MSc in Creative Arts & Mental Health at Queen Mary University, which she graduated from in the Fall of 2020.

Her final thesis "Implementing Drama Therapy into Open Dialogue: What are the possibilities and limitations when looking at physical space, distancing and role and shared language?" was inspired by a fascination for the Open Dialogue approach to mental ill health, and the realisation that drama therapy could have a positive impact. Whilst Open Dialogue is a mostly verbal approach it allows for other approaches to join in.

Currently Rebecca is living and working in London. She is the duty manager for an arts & events space, and has created her own podcast, where she speaks with individuals who work in the world of art in mental health to open up conversations and hopefully help mainstream a more creative and humane approach to mental ill health and wellbeing.