Playback Theatre: Improvisational Theatre
Chelsea Jackson
Mrs. Anna Broussard
Speech 391 5T
April 17, 2016
Playback Theatre Research Paper
Playback Theatre is a form of interactive improvisational theater performed in six continents. Playback Theatre picked up momentum when it was first created in the 1970s and quickly spread to other countries. This form of improvisational theater that has a specific stage layout and performance styles, and is powered by social interactions. The form of improvisation can be used in many contexts, such as bringing about social dialogue and changes. Playback theatre “promotes the right for any voice to be heard.”
Jonathon Fox and Jo Salas are the co-founders of the original Playback Theatre Company that open in 1975 in New York. Fox was inspired …show more content…
in 1973, after attending a Psychodrama Conference in New York. Fox wanted to create a form of improvisational theater that would continuously develop and gain momentum. In 1980, the original Playback Theatre Company was invited to expanded in Australia and New Zealand. After, a few years the company spread worldwide and there were companies created across the globe. The International Playback Theatre states they were created to “further the development of Playback Theatre among practitioner worldwide.” The School of Playback Theatre, later renamed the Centre for Playback Theatre, was created to meet the demands for proper training in the art form.
Playback theatre is a form of improvisational theater that interacts with an audience or group member by having them tell stories about their lives. It is then performed by actors with the help of the Musician(s)- who will play music to accompany or to act out the scene, the Emcee/Conductor- is the host, and the Teller- the audience member who comes to tell a personal story. The audience then watches their stories being reenacted on stage. There is a specific stage layout that is prefer during performances.
Actors sit on boxes or chairs with the audience facing them, the Teller and Conductor sit on one side, and the Musician(s) sit on the opposite side.
The School of Playback Theatre UK states that playback theatre is "Inviting personal stories from the audience, and re-enacting them with artistry and respect, Playback Theatre has the power to enable dialogue, generate empathy, and build bridges of understanding between people.”
This form of improvisational theatre is performed in a ritualized process, actors use mime, music and spoken scenes to reenact the narrative story of the teller. They begin with a theme and the stories follow the theme presented, but sometimes no theme is presented to the audience and they create the underlying bases of the performances as show continues. Then, the Teller begins their interview by deciding which actor plays them, and perhaps assigned the other actors. The actors then stand and the story is told by the Teller, then the Conductor will say “Lets watch.” This is the cue for the actors to set up and to start the enactment of the story using different types of artistic formats and theatrical possibilities. All while trying to present the heart and essence of the story of the Teller. Music may play to set the tone or ambience of the story. When, done performing the actors will give acknowledgement to the Teller by looking at them. The conductor then facilitates the closure …show more content…
with the Teller, which allows the Teller to offer their opinions and/or emotional reactions. Also, it occasionally offers the Teller to correct a scene and then the actors will reenact it according. The Conductor may also ask the audience to see how the story connected to them. The Teller then returns to their seat and then the next Teller is seated and the process is repeated. This is the core of Playback Theatre and form each performance follows, as a part of the rituals. The rituals are the rules that are followed within Playback Theatre companies. The rituals are the framework of the process. While, the performances are spontaneous and unpredictable this sets a standard that all companies follow. It also forms a sense of security and safety for the audience. Playback Theatre is such a personal performance for both the actors and the audience, there has to be a safe setting to welcome honesty and respect.
Art, is another fundament principle of Playback Theatre. Art is when the story is captured in a way that the heart of the story is exposed. Leaving the audience profoundly impacted and can lead to transcendences and healing.
In, the early developments of Playback Theatre the performances were only for friends and family.
Two terms, “Fluid sculptures” and “Pairs”, were created to reflect on the development of brief moments. As, the development of the form continued new vocabulary was created. “Chorus”, and “Story”, also known as, “Free Form” or “Scenes” were added to the terms “Fluid Sculptures” and “Pairs.” These are universal terms used within the communities, known as the, classical performance forms. Vocabulary varies between companies and types of performance forms vary as well. Each company has their own set of house rules, but every company follows the
rituals. The rituals and art principles allow for social interaction between the audience. Playback Theatre performances are only as good as the awareness and social changes it brings about. This form of theatre promotes social dialogue and change, and can bring about healing and understanding between others. By coming together people, discover who they are by telling their stories. It can be a form of therapy, because it stimulates discussion and growth for the Teller and the audience. Over the years, Playback Theatre’s main focus has been opening a dialogue between all types of people from all walks of life. And the promotions of social change, education, acceptance, respect and healing. The two fundamental principles, ritual and art, set a framework and an artistic tone for the performances held across the globe. These principles create a bond and similarities between performances, which creates a sense of security for the audience. Which, opens the audience to honest socially interact among each other. Playback Theatre is promotion of every voice having the right to be heard.
Works Cited
Fox, Hannah. "Chapter 1: Playback Theatre." Playback Theatre. N.p., 5 Sept. 2008. Web. 19
Apr. 2016.
IPTN. "What Is Playback Theatre?" What Is Playback Theatre. International Playback Theatre
Network, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Needa, By Veronica. An Introduction to Playback Theatre (n.d.): n. pag. Dec. 2015. Web. 16
Apr. 2016.
Playback Theatre. "Playback Theatre." Centre for Playback Theatre. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr.
2016.
Playback Theatre. "Playback Theatre." Playback Theatre RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
School of Playback Theatre UK. "About Playback Theatre." School of Playback Theatre UK. Squarespace, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Mrs. Anna Broussard
Speech 391 5T
April 17, 2016
Playback Theatre Research Paper
Playback Theatre is a form of interactive improvisational theater performed in six continents. Playback Theatre picked up momentum when it was first created in the 1970s and quickly spread to other countries. This form of improvisational theater that has a specific stage layout and performance styles, and is powered by social interactions. The form of improvisation can be used in many contexts, such as bringing about social dialogue and changes. Playback theatre “promotes the right for any voice to be heard.”
Jonathon Fox and Jo Salas are the co-founders of the original Playback Theatre Company that open in 1975 in New York. Fox was inspired …show more content…
in 1973, after attending a Psychodrama Conference in New York. Fox wanted to create a form of improvisational theater that would continuously develop and gain momentum. In 1980, the original Playback Theatre Company was invited to expanded in Australia and New Zealand. After, a few years the company spread worldwide and there were companies created across the globe. The International Playback Theatre states they were created to “further the development of Playback Theatre among practitioner worldwide.” The School of Playback Theatre, later renamed the Centre for Playback Theatre, was created to meet the demands for proper training in the art form.
Playback theatre is a form of improvisational theater that interacts with an audience or group member by having them tell stories about their lives. It is then performed by actors with the help of the Musician(s)- who will play music to accompany or to act out the scene, the Emcee/Conductor- is the host, and the Teller- the audience member who comes to tell a personal story. The audience then watches their stories being reenacted on stage. There is a specific stage layout that is prefer during performances.
Actors sit on boxes or chairs with the audience facing them, the Teller and Conductor sit on one side, and the Musician(s) sit on the opposite side.
The School of Playback Theatre UK states that playback theatre is "Inviting personal stories from the audience, and re-enacting them with artistry and respect, Playback Theatre has the power to enable dialogue, generate empathy, and build bridges of understanding between people.”
This form of improvisational theatre is performed in a ritualized process, actors use mime, music and spoken scenes to reenact the narrative story of the teller. They begin with a theme and the stories follow the theme presented, but sometimes no theme is presented to the audience and they create the underlying bases of the performances as show continues. Then, the Teller begins their interview by deciding which actor plays them, and perhaps assigned the other actors. The actors then stand and the story is told by the Teller, then the Conductor will say “Lets watch.” This is the cue for the actors to set up and to start the enactment of the story using different types of artistic formats and theatrical possibilities. All while trying to present the heart and essence of the story of the Teller. Music may play to set the tone or ambience of the story. When, done performing the actors will give acknowledgement to the Teller by looking at them. The conductor then facilitates the closure …show more content…
with the Teller, which allows the Teller to offer their opinions and/or emotional reactions. Also, it occasionally offers the Teller to correct a scene and then the actors will reenact it according. The Conductor may also ask the audience to see how the story connected to them. The Teller then returns to their seat and then the next Teller is seated and the process is repeated. This is the core of Playback Theatre and form each performance follows, as a part of the rituals. The rituals are the rules that are followed within Playback Theatre companies. The rituals are the framework of the process. While, the performances are spontaneous and unpredictable this sets a standard that all companies follow. It also forms a sense of security and safety for the audience. Playback Theatre is such a personal performance for both the actors and the audience, there has to be a safe setting to welcome honesty and respect.
Art, is another fundament principle of Playback Theatre. Art is when the story is captured in a way that the heart of the story is exposed. Leaving the audience profoundly impacted and can lead to transcendences and healing.
In, the early developments of Playback Theatre the performances were only for friends and family.
Two terms, “Fluid sculptures” and “Pairs”, were created to reflect on the development of brief moments. As, the development of the form continued new vocabulary was created. “Chorus”, and “Story”, also known as, “Free Form” or “Scenes” were added to the terms “Fluid Sculptures” and “Pairs.” These are universal terms used within the communities, known as the, classical performance forms. Vocabulary varies between companies and types of performance forms vary as well. Each company has their own set of house rules, but every company follows the
rituals. The rituals and art principles allow for social interaction between the audience. Playback Theatre performances are only as good as the awareness and social changes it brings about. This form of theatre promotes social dialogue and change, and can bring about healing and understanding between others. By coming together people, discover who they are by telling their stories. It can be a form of therapy, because it stimulates discussion and growth for the Teller and the audience. Over the years, Playback Theatre’s main focus has been opening a dialogue between all types of people from all walks of life. And the promotions of social change, education, acceptance, respect and healing. The two fundamental principles, ritual and art, set a framework and an artistic tone for the performances held across the globe. These principles create a bond and similarities between performances, which creates a sense of security for the audience. Which, opens the audience to honest socially interact among each other. Playback Theatre is promotion of every voice having the right to be heard.
Works Cited
Fox, Hannah. "Chapter 1: Playback Theatre." Playback Theatre. N.p., 5 Sept. 2008. Web. 19
Apr. 2016.
IPTN. "What Is Playback Theatre?" What Is Playback Theatre. International Playback Theatre
Network, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Needa, By Veronica. An Introduction to Playback Theatre (n.d.): n. pag. Dec. 2015. Web. 16
Apr. 2016.
Playback Theatre. "Playback Theatre." Centre for Playback Theatre. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr.
2016.
Playback Theatre. "Playback Theatre." Playback Theatre RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
School of Playback Theatre UK. "About Playback Theatre." School of Playback Theatre UK. Squarespace, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.