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PLAYBACK THEATRE

 

 

 

" Illiterate bards sang tales which involved repetition, concrete narration, and performance that encompassed both the traditional and the improvisational. Furthermore, while the experience was most definitely designed to be fun, there was a higher purpose involved, centering on the importance of remembrance and the transmission of a community's most important truths " (Jonathan Fox, Founder of Playback Theatre)

What is Playback Theatre?
Playback Theatre is created through a unique collaboration between performers and audience. Here the audience shares a feel, moment, or a story from their life, and then these are enacted the the actors on the spot, the audience get to watch their story is immediately recreated and given artistic shape and coherence.

There are 3 main section under playback: Fluids, stories, and conflicts. There are newer sections introduced in playback theatre such as echo, encounter and chorus.

Rhythm of a performance
It starts with ice breakers to make audience feel comfortable. Then few warm up questions are asked to audience which actors then act spontaneously, after which the audience is asked to share a incident from their lives which is then acted out spontaneously by the actors.

There is no script, but there is a rhythm and sequence to a Playback Theatre performance. The Conductor is the host and facilitator of the process. After a period of introductions and warming up, someone will volunteer to tell a story. It could be a short moment, or about a longer event. They may be past, present or future stories. They could be about a very special time or about something that happens everyday. In the course of a performance 3, 4 or 5, maybe more, people will come forward to tell a story in this way. Towards the end of a performance, the conductor may invite reflections on the process, and the team will create some sort of closure appropriate for the event.

This form of theatre is very entertaining and interactive. Audience feel very important as the play is from their lives. They can connect to it so it becomes a very enjoyable experience which they cherish for the rest of their lives.
Playback Theatre is a process that can be adapted to many settings. Playback Theatre exists in three forms: (a) artistic, (b) therapeutic, and (c) social/development

Past theme-based Playback Theatre performance by Yours truly
Dreams
Spooky tales
Utsav - celebrating life (utsav in Hindi means festival)
100 miles away from home
18 till I die
Dollar Dreams
Friends are forever
Travelogues

Anubhav series (anuhav in Hindi means experiences)
Anubhav @ Bangalore
Anubhav @ Auroville
Anubhav @ Mysore
Anubhav @ Vijayanagar

Relive series: Our current playback theatre series

"Re-live 15th August 1947": We invited senior citizens of Bangalore who were part of the Indian Independence Struggle, freedom fighters, to share their stories. The crowd comprised of audience with an age group between 18-85 a great mix. This show performed on August 11, 2007 turned out to be high in intensity

 

 

 

 

Yours Truly is a registered member
of the International Theatre Playback Network (ITPN)

Yours Truly Registered Playback Theatre Practioners:
Nandini Rao
Ranji David

 


For more details call us at 98452 43051 or mail us at yourstrulytheatre@gmail.com