Playback Theatre is an original form of improvisational theatre and community ritual, in which audience members are invited to tell stories from their lives and watch them played back, on the spot!
Playback Theater was created in 1974 by Jonathan Fox, as his response to some of the dehumanizing aspects of mainstream theater. He wanted to create a theater that would affirm rather than alienate; one connected to the origins of theater as a participatory ritualistic event bringing the community together in celebration. Playback Theater is now performed all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, England, France, the U.S.A., and Canada.
Every story, like every person, is both unique and filled with wisdom for us all. In a Playback performance, we create a safe space for you, the tellers, to share your stories. We awaken our hearts to hear your story and through the art of our bodies and immaginations, we reflect back to you what we have heard. Our aim is to get as close to an understanding of where you are coming from, as is humanly possible. In so doing, we share in your experience and make it a part of ours. This is how together, we create a collective understanding, a sense of community.
Here is a short clip about Playback Theatre that features some of our present and past troupe members:
Playback Theater was created in 1974 by Jonathan Fox, as his response to some of the dehumanizing aspects of mainstream theater. He wanted to create a theater that would affirm rather than alienate; one connected to the origins of theater as a participatory ritualistic event bringing the community together in celebration. Playback Theater is now performed all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, England, France, the U.S.A., and Canada.
Every story, like every person, is both unique and filled with wisdom for us all. In a Playback performance, we create a safe space for you, the tellers, to share your stories. We awaken our hearts to hear your story and through the art of our bodies and immaginations, we reflect back to you what we have heard. Our aim is to get as close to an understanding of where you are coming from, as is humanly possible. In so doing, we share in your experience and make it a part of ours. This is how together, we create a collective understanding, a sense of community.
Here is a short clip about Playback Theatre that features some of our present and past troupe members: