What is Playback Theatre?

Playback Theatre is an original form of improvisational theatre in which audience or group members share moments from their lives and watch them enacted on the spot by trained actors using music, movement and dialogue that embodies the heart of the story.

Building Community Through Personal Stories

Playback Theatre creates a space where any story - however ordinary, extraordinary, hidden or difficult - might be told, and immediately made into theatre. And where each person's uniqueness is honoured and affirmed while at the same time building and strengthening our connections to each other as a community of people.

What happens in a Playback performance?

The Theme - We choose our show themes carefully, basing these around topical events, or the wider theme of the festival, conference or programme we are performing within. Whatever the topic, our use of ritual and structured techniques provide safe boundaries for all concerned, and a solid basis from which to share your stories.

During performance we usually see an emerging thread - common themes or issues that enable us all to explore fresh, potentially surprising connections or differences between us.

The Playback Team - This consists of 3-4 actors, a musician, and a Conductor. It is the Conductor’s role to guide the audience through the performance, from welcome and warm-up, to small initial sharings, longer life stories, and final reflection. The team often start the show by introducing themselves through short shared moments that resonates with the show’s theme.

Warming up the audience - The Conductor will offer a gentle invitation to the audience to share brief moments and experiences - this enables people to start exploring how the theme resonates for them, and to connect with others in the room. Similarities and differences in experience may start to emerge.

The heart of the event - The team begin to play back the moments, feelings and stories shared. Longer stories are told from the ‘teller’s chair’, a place from which tellers have a unique view of the action. We use a range of improvisational techniques, ensuring sensitivity to the heart of the moment or story.

The audience are invited to stay afterwards to continue connecting; people usually feel sparked by what they have witnessed.

What are the Applications of Playback Theatre?

Education

Used in schools both by classroom teachers and by visiting performers/leaders in classrooms or assemblies on issues such as bullying. (students tell stories about their experiences in relation to bullying, watch them played back, and then explore ways to create a respectful and safe school environment).

Social change

Used to provide a forum for the exchange of diverse experiences in such contexts as examining racial tensions and reconciliation; plight of migrant workers and refugee organizations, as well as current events and gender movements.

Organisational Development

Used as an effective tool in workplace training of subjects such as management and communication skills and diversity awareness. Playback actors "replay" events which gave rise to conflict or difficult feelings that have taken place in the workplace and the facilitator orchestrates discussion about the replay, from which many participants describe valuable learning outcomes

Behavioral/ Emotional Therapy

While not primarily a therapeutic technique, it is adaptable for use by therapists who are also trained in Playback Theatre. Clients can gain insight, catharsis, connection, and self-expression through telling their stories and participating in enacting stories of others

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