Playback Theatre and Its Social and Community Functions
Playback Theatre, founded by Jonathan Fox in 1975 in the US, is an improvisational theatre which audiences’ stories are being performed. In a Playback performance, volunteers from the audiences share their own stories and the stories would be immediately recreated by a small group of actors without pre-planning and rehearsals.
Usually in a performance, there would be a conductor, a musician, the actors and most importantly, the teller as well as the audiences. The conductor leads the whole performance and gives instructions to the actors of the forms being used. After giving instructions to the actor, the conductor will then say “Let’s watch!” and the actors play back the story to the audience, especially to the teller. There are different forms to perform in Playback. These forms are mostly derived from mime, dance and music etc. The performance is usually symbolism and actors only use fabric to make costume, props and sets.
As the founder of Playback Theatre, Jonathan Fox said, “There are many people who are not always listened to. Even more numerous are the people whose stories in one way or another are too terrible for others to want to hear. If oppressed persons can be defined as those who have nowhere to tell their story, our mission has been to provide a space for anyone and everyone to be heard.”(adapted from Acts of Service: spontaneity, commitment, tradition in the nonscripted theatre.) Playback is a good chance for people to share their own ideas and experiences with others since it provides a comfortable atmosphere for one to share and ensures the stories would be heard. For example, the people having low social status may not have chances to express their feelings and give out their say in the community, or they do not have this courage to voice out. Playback grants them the opportunity to be heard and be respected, no matter their stories are delightful or upset, ordinary or extraordinary.
On the other hand, since Playback Theatre welcomes all kind of stories, it allows different points of view to exist at the same time. Therefore, there would be an exploration of issues or concern, that audience can have chances to see an incident or situation from many different angles through hearing and seeing the experience of others. This enables people to know how their views are different from the others and to learn accepting different points of view in the community.
Respect and accept are the main concerns of Playback Theater. It is a show of respect to the teller that his/her story is being valued and treasured in the community since every story is being heard carefully and played back. Since the performances are based on the stories told, and the actors are supposed to reflect as fully and faithfully as possible, the uniqueness of each person is being honored and the dignity of personal experience is also affirmed.
Each performance in Playback Theatre is an outcome of the cooperation of the teller, the conductor, the musician and the actors. In other words, a dynamic communication process is present in the performance. Therefore, through Playback theatre, the barriers between people can be broken easily and trust between each other can also be developed. Witnessing others’ stories fosters understanding among people in the group and hence it can help to build group spirit and a sense of community.
As mentioned above, Playback Theatre let the audience, including the teller, to look at things from another angle. This makes people to learn more about themselves each other and may help them to due with personal and community conflicts. Though not aim at helping one to solve problems, Playback may also gives inspiration to the audience that they may find out other ways of interpretation for the same issue.
Besides treating an incident in another perspective, Playback Theatre also act as a mirror of individual’s life. This helps people to have a better self-understanding and can be more reflective, so that they can improve or make changes in life towards a better one.
Through the telling of stories, social or common personal problems may be raised out since people are guided by the conductor to share similar feelings each time. Therefore, it is easy to find common feelings or topics in each time. The existence of this phenomenon shows the importance of the issue thus reminds the audience as well as the performers that they have to aware of and pay more attention to these problems.
Playback can be used in many different fields in the community. For example, as said before, it can be used as a way for the oppressed to voice out. Oppressed people, such as those who are disabled, abused or having low social status may find it difficult to have someone to listen to their say. Playback provides a place for them to share and to be heard, so that they can feel that they are being respected and can feel their existence as a member of the society.
Since it can let people to look at an incident from different points of view, and so strengths and weaknesses become apparent without criticism, and people of the groups can develop a vision or purpose for themselves. With this function, Playback can be used as a counseling tool which helps self-discovering of people. For example, it can be use for the prisoners, through playing back their stories, it is possible that they would discover their wrong doings since they can see the past in another perspective.
Playback crafts a view or mirror of the community and individual, however, it only aims at reflecting the truth but not moving the community or anyone towards something. The mirroring effect brings questions or values which may be long hidden to the surface and to people’s awareness. Therefore, it is a good method to arouse awareness of social issues and phenomenon, especially in the time which people seek for social changes. It is because it is powerful and easy to gather voices and opinions through Playback.
Playback Theatre is a work in the community, for the community and about the community. All the stories told are affirmation of lives and human in a particular culture. It also brings people back to the roots and purpose of theatre, which is to share stories and to create community, and by doing so, appreciate human experiences and values as well as connecting people universally.
References:
Books
Community Theater: Global Perspectives by Eugene van Erven
Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal
Theatre and Everyday Life: An Ethics of Performance by Alan Read
Fluid Sculpture: Playback Theatre in Hong Kong (流動塑像: 一人一故事劇場的香港經驗)Asian People’s Theatre Festival Society亞洲民眾戲劇節協會
當代台灣社區劇場 林偉瑜著
Essays or Speeches
Playback Theatre as a Methodology for Social Change by Bev Hosking and Christian Penny
Framing Stories: Playback Theatre with children in education and therapyby Jo Salas
“Who Is Your Neighbour?” Playback Theatre and Community Developmentby Mary Good
From Artistic to Humanistic by Janet Tam Mei Hing
Websites
http://www.playbacknet.org
http://www.playbackschool.org
http://home.vincet.net.au/~playback/
http://www.riversedgeplayback.org/
http://www.artashealing.org/ahfwpaul.htm
http://www.bellingen.com/playback/whatis.htm
http://hunterplayback.tripod.com/playback.htm
Usually in a performance, there would be a conductor, a musician, the actors and most importantly, the teller as well as the audiences. The conductor leads the whole performance and gives instructions to the actors of the forms being used. After giving instructions to the actor, the conductor will then say “Let’s watch!” and the actors play back the story to the audience, especially to the teller. There are different forms to perform in Playback. These forms are mostly derived from mime, dance and music etc. The performance is usually symbolism and actors only use fabric to make costume, props and sets.
As the founder of Playback Theatre, Jonathan Fox said, “There are many people who are not always listened to. Even more numerous are the people whose stories in one way or another are too terrible for others to want to hear. If oppressed persons can be defined as those who have nowhere to tell their story, our mission has been to provide a space for anyone and everyone to be heard.”(adapted from Acts of Service: spontaneity, commitment, tradition in the nonscripted theatre.) Playback is a good chance for people to share their own ideas and experiences with others since it provides a comfortable atmosphere for one to share and ensures the stories would be heard. For example, the people having low social status may not have chances to express their feelings and give out their say in the community, or they do not have this courage to voice out. Playback grants them the opportunity to be heard and be respected, no matter their stories are delightful or upset, ordinary or extraordinary.
On the other hand, since Playback Theatre welcomes all kind of stories, it allows different points of view to exist at the same time. Therefore, there would be an exploration of issues or concern, that audience can have chances to see an incident or situation from many different angles through hearing and seeing the experience of others. This enables people to know how their views are different from the others and to learn accepting different points of view in the community.
Respect and accept are the main concerns of Playback Theater. It is a show of respect to the teller that his/her story is being valued and treasured in the community since every story is being heard carefully and played back. Since the performances are based on the stories told, and the actors are supposed to reflect as fully and faithfully as possible, the uniqueness of each person is being honored and the dignity of personal experience is also affirmed.
Each performance in Playback Theatre is an outcome of the cooperation of the teller, the conductor, the musician and the actors. In other words, a dynamic communication process is present in the performance. Therefore, through Playback theatre, the barriers between people can be broken easily and trust between each other can also be developed. Witnessing others’ stories fosters understanding among people in the group and hence it can help to build group spirit and a sense of community.
As mentioned above, Playback Theatre let the audience, including the teller, to look at things from another angle. This makes people to learn more about themselves each other and may help them to due with personal and community conflicts. Though not aim at helping one to solve problems, Playback may also gives inspiration to the audience that they may find out other ways of interpretation for the same issue.
Besides treating an incident in another perspective, Playback Theatre also act as a mirror of individual’s life. This helps people to have a better self-understanding and can be more reflective, so that they can improve or make changes in life towards a better one.
Through the telling of stories, social or common personal problems may be raised out since people are guided by the conductor to share similar feelings each time. Therefore, it is easy to find common feelings or topics in each time. The existence of this phenomenon shows the importance of the issue thus reminds the audience as well as the performers that they have to aware of and pay more attention to these problems.
Playback can be used in many different fields in the community. For example, as said before, it can be used as a way for the oppressed to voice out. Oppressed people, such as those who are disabled, abused or having low social status may find it difficult to have someone to listen to their say. Playback provides a place for them to share and to be heard, so that they can feel that they are being respected and can feel their existence as a member of the society.
Since it can let people to look at an incident from different points of view, and so strengths and weaknesses become apparent without criticism, and people of the groups can develop a vision or purpose for themselves. With this function, Playback can be used as a counseling tool which helps self-discovering of people. For example, it can be use for the prisoners, through playing back their stories, it is possible that they would discover their wrong doings since they can see the past in another perspective.
Playback crafts a view or mirror of the community and individual, however, it only aims at reflecting the truth but not moving the community or anyone towards something. The mirroring effect brings questions or values which may be long hidden to the surface and to people’s awareness. Therefore, it is a good method to arouse awareness of social issues and phenomenon, especially in the time which people seek for social changes. It is because it is powerful and easy to gather voices and opinions through Playback.
Playback Theatre is a work in the community, for the community and about the community. All the stories told are affirmation of lives and human in a particular culture. It also brings people back to the roots and purpose of theatre, which is to share stories and to create community, and by doing so, appreciate human experiences and values as well as connecting people universally.
References:
Books
Community Theater: Global Perspectives by Eugene van Erven
Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal
Theatre and Everyday Life: An Ethics of Performance by Alan Read
Fluid Sculpture: Playback Theatre in Hong Kong (流動塑像: 一人一故事劇場的香港經驗)Asian People’s Theatre Festival Society亞洲民眾戲劇節協會
當代台灣社區劇場 林偉瑜著
Essays or Speeches
Playback Theatre as a Methodology for Social Change by Bev Hosking and Christian Penny
Framing Stories: Playback Theatre with children in education and therapyby Jo Salas
“Who Is Your Neighbour?” Playback Theatre and Community Developmentby Mary Good
From Artistic to Humanistic by Janet Tam Mei Hing
Websites
http://www.playbacknet.org
http://www.playbackschool.org
http://home.vincet.net.au/~playback/
http://www.riversedgeplayback.org/
http://www.artashealing.org/ahfwpaul.htm
http://www.bellingen.com/playback/whatis.htm
http://hunterplayback.tripod.com/playback.htm
posted by 敖然 @ 4:30 AM
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