INTENSIVE INTRO TO PLAYBACK THEATRE

From 4pm on Friday 2nd May to 5pm on Monday 5th May 2025

Venue: Clean Break, 2 Patshull Road, London, NW5 2LB (step-free access)

Following on from our popular Introduction to Playback Theatre in 2024, we're excited to offer this intensive Introduction Course over 3.5 days!

If you're new to Playback Theatre, or are feeling rusty and want to revisit the foundations, this is for you. We will explore the core forms, theory and ritual of Playback Theatre, and you'll get to apply your new skills straight away through a relaxed playback performance for friends and family.

Over these 3.5 days we will:

• connect creatively as a group, developing playfulness and trust

• explore the foundational forms of playback theatre, and connect these to theory, context and applications

• practice the core playback theatre rituals

• share our own stories to gain experience as tellers and support the playback practice

• put your new skills into practice straight away, with a playback showcase for friends and family!

We are committed to creating a safe and supportive learning environment. As such, we will keep the training group to a maximum of 12 people.

Who will deliver the training?

Our training team at London Playback Theatre consists of Lillie Stoute, Andi Haase, Ferran Luengo and Belinda Sherlock - all experienced playbackers with varying backgrounds in theatre pedagogy, applied theatre and creative therapy. You can find more out about each of us here.

How much does it cost?

It costs £300, all in.

There are two scholarships available - at £200 each all in - for global majority applicants (who identify as Black, Brown, Asian, Indigenous and/or Mixed Heritage).

What are the timings each day?

• Friday 2nd May: 4pm-8pm (with a break)

• Saturday 3rd May & Sunday 4th May: 11am-6pm (with 1 hour lunch break)

• Monday 5th May: 10am-5pm (with 1 hour lunch break). The playback performance timings on Monday are to be confirmed (likely 3-4pm).

What will I get out of this experience?

• Connection with other playful, creative people

• Plenty of time for playful, creative expression

• Good knowledge and understanding of the core principles, forms and rituals of Playback Theatre

• An immersion into the power of community storytelling and community theatre for social change

• The opportunity to showcase your playback skills with your friends and family, and get some performance experience under your belt

• The foundation you need to access more advanced Playback Theatre training in the future

• A certificate of participation!

Is the venue accessible?

The venue and studio are wheelchair accessible. If you have further access needs, please let us know when you book.

I have other questions!

Great! Please contact us on londonplayback@gmail.com and we'll do our best to answer them.

What's the cancellation policy?

• If you cancel your place before and including Friday 28th March, you will receive a full discount minus transaction fees (these are minimal).

• If you cancel your place anytime from Saturday 29th March to Friday 11th April, you will receive a 50% refund, minus transaction fees (these are minimal).

• If you cancel your place after 12th April, we will not be able to refund your place.

CONDUCTING & SOCIAL JUSTICE IN PLAYBACK THEATRE: A weekend of workshops with Gerry Orkin

Saturday 17th May 2025, 10am - 6:30pm: The Stories of Some of Us (on social justice in Playback Theatre)

Sunday 18th May 2025, 10am - 5:3pm: Rock and Water (on conducting in Playback Theatre)

Venue: Steps Studio, 90 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL (step-free access)

These two stand alone workshops (which can be taken together) are designed to broaden your understanding of the social dimensions of stories in Playback Theatre, and of the complex role of the conductor, the holder of the beating heart of any Playback Theatre performance. See more details on each workshop below.

Why?
Playback Theatre offers a space to explore challenging, complex and sensitive topics with creativity, empathy, and support. Together, we’ll create a nourishing environment where difficult questions and diverse narratives and skills can thrive!

Who is this training for?
The workshops are suitable for those who have completed core training in Playback Theatre (or equivalent), or who have at least 6 months experience in an active Playback Theatre company.

Who will deliver the training?
These workshops are co-hosted by True Heart Theatre and London Playback Theatre, and facilitated by Gerry Orkin.

Gerry is an Australian playback practitioner whose involvement with Playback Theatre began in 1985. He was an actor, conductor and co-director of Canberra Playback Theatre over a period of 25 years. More recently he directed a Playback company in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Gerry has a special interest in training conductors, bringing artistry to the stage, and helping companies work with the social dimensions of stories. He has led workshops on those topics in Australia, Singapore, Greece, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, the UK and Portugal.

Gerry is a faculty member and board member of the Australasian School of Playback Theatre and is involved with community building in the region as well as internationally. He has a professional background in social policy and service development, and has worked on issues like homelessness, violence against women and child protection for government and non-government agencies.

How much does it cost?
Both workshops - £130

Both workshops Global Majority Scholarship* (4 available) - £110

The Stories of Some of Us (social justice) - £75

The Stories of Some of Us (social justice) Global Majority Scholarship* (4 available) - £65

Rock and Water (conducting) - £70

Rock and Water (conducting) Global Majority Scholarship* (4 available) - £60

*Global Majority Scholarships are available for anyone who identifies as Global Majority, Black, Brown, Asian and/or Mixed Heritage.

Is the venue accessible?

The venue and studio are wheelchair accessible. If you have further access needs, please let us know when you book.

I want more information on each workshop

Please follow this link to the ticket page, where each workshop is outlined in more detail.

I have other questions!

Please email londonplayback@gmail.com and we'll do our best to answer them!

Rosemary Branch Theatre

Thank you to our wonderful audience for the depth and breadth of your stories, for all the different moments that changed your lives!

From samba dancing, meditation, recovery and rugby to war, moving countries unexpectedly, family illness, indecision and setting healthy boundaries, you trusted us to enact so many facets of the human condition 🧡

This show reminded us what a heck of a privilege it is to do playback!

Photo credit: Lama Amine