LA Playback
Theatre Company
Theatre of Connection
What is Playback Theatre?
Playback Theatre is improvisational theatre where audience members share true feelings and stories and then our actors and musicians re-enact these feelings and stories on the spot. Playback Theatre was originally created by Jo Salas and Jonathan Fox in the 1970s and now it’s practiced in over 70 countries for community building, post-trauma repair, conflict resolution, and just for fun!
Playback Theatre Helps to
Define Your Identity
Sharing your story affirms your identity and empowers that identity.
Gain Perspective
Playback Theatre allows you to look at your experience outside of yourself and gain new perspective. This process helps you to make meaning of your experience, allowing you to integrate and move forward in your life.
Create Community Through Empathy
A Playback Performance can bring warmth and intimacy to any event. It is a genuine, non-judgmental, and meaningful way to connect a group of people quickly. Playback Theatre is often referred to as the “theatre of compassion” or the “theatre of kindness.”
Offerings
Workshops (90 Minutes - Several Days)
We combine experiential learning with any theme or topic you need addressed. An introductory workshop focuses on physical improvisation, deep listening, and learning Playback short forms. Longer workshops delve into long form.
We can adapt our workshops to many settings, such as a large classroom, multipurpose space, hotel conference room, or auditorium, depending on the needs of your organization.
Build confidence and public speaking skills
Learn the skills of collaboration
Cultivate role diversity: try on different roles to practice new options for expression.
Performances (60-90 Minutes)
Social Gatherings / Parties / Significant Life Events:
Birthdays
Retirements
Reunions
Weddings
To accompany workplace workshops on a theme:
Improving relations in your group/organization
Solving problems/resolve conflicts
Enhancing organizational efficacy
Strengthening team performance
Improving your equity quotient: break down barriers created by bias and
stereotypes to reveal the diversity of human experience
Core Training
This 4-day course provides a solid foundation in Playback Theatre with instructors accredited by the Centre for Playback Theatre. Students learn basic skills, long and short performance forms, and gain experience in all Playback roles: acting, conducting, and playing music.
Students learn:
Basic Playback skills
Long and short performance forms
All Playback roles: acting, conducting, and playing music
History of the form and ethics
Playback Theatre in Schools
We offer an anti-bullying curriculum originally developed by Hudson River Playback Theatre Company in school environments to engage personal stories with the intention of:
Fostering empathy
Strengthening deep listening skills
Building the capacity to use one’s voice responsibly
Creating a school culture where everyone feels welcome and respected.
Our work is informed by current best practices in Transformative Social Emotional Learning and the curriculum is based on: Big Apple Playback Theatre Company’s No More Bullying program; the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program; and the Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support program.