AVOIDANCE TACTICS - No.1 thru to 25*


Absence of Pursuit





Louise Brodie’s section

Learned Helplessness is a condition characterised by a sense of powerlessness. It has arisen due to persistent failure. Learned helpless people explain these failures by blaming themselves. For example “I failed because I am dumb” as opposed to “I didn’t study enough! It is believed this style of explaining failure is linked to the parents, however learned helplessness can be affected by criticism by those around us.

There is a traditional practice amongst elephant trainers in Asia. The untrained elephant is chained with a large shackle to a sturdy tree. Rage as the elephant will, it is impossible for her to break free from the heavy chain that is shackled around her ankle.

After some time has passed when the elephant is tired of fighting, the trainer will return to replace the shackle and chain with a heavy rope. The elephant will kick and jerk a few times but believing she is still shackled will give up very quickly.

Next, the elephant trainer will replace the thick sturdy rope with a piece of heavy cord. This time the elephant will give a half-hearted tug and give up believing that the struggle is futile.

The trainer will return one last time to swap the heavy piece of cord for a symbolic length of ribbon. This time and each moment after the elephant will wait patiently for her master to untie the ribbon before she feels free to move.


Directed by Donna Rutherford

Co-Devised & Performed by RSAMD Contemporary Theatre Practice (Honours year students 2003)

Performed in Chandler Studio, RSAMD & The Arches NRLA