ABOUT PLAYBACK THEATRE

Moments of our lives can be touchstones, full of power and significance. Playback Theatre transforms personal stories told by audience members into theatre pieces on the spot using movement, ritual, music and spoken improvisation. Sometimes a story becomes myth, sometimes a realistic enactment: some stories are tragic; others are funny or illuminating.

THE WORKSHOP

Workshop participants will learn the subtleties of the Playback Theatre form, refine acting and improvisation skills, and share in the often profound experience of hearing each other's stories and bringing them to life. The Playback process develops intuition, insight, creativity, and effective communication. It also creates community and connection among people by honoring the dignity, drama, and universality in their stories. This workshop is for actors, teachers, therapists, or anyone interested in creating art from the specific and universal in our experience.

PLAYBACK THEATRE A-Z

Founded in 1994, Playback A-Z is the most prominent playback theatre company in Japan, producing over 30 performances a year for a variety of social causes and at diverse venues. In addition, they are frequently invited by schools, government agencies, and corporations to perform and conduct trainings. With the actors’ interests in theatre, education, medicine, and social activism, the company is known for its capacity for deep empathy and sensitivity. In 2003, Playback A-Z successfully hosted the International Playback Theatre Network (IPTN) world conference.

THE FACILITATORS

Kayo Munakata: Kayo discovered playback theatre as an innovative corporate training method. Graduating from the School of Playback Theatre in New York in 1995, and being the first Japanese national to do so, she founded Playback A-Z as well as the School of Playback Theatre Japan. She performs in addition to conducting playback trainings for colleges, corporations, and government organizations.

Kumiko Sato: Kumiko was an elementary school teacher who discovered playback theatre in 1994. Since then, playback theatre has been her life’s work and Kumi has been a pioneer in bringing playback to schools in Japan. Trained in nature games, group work, vision psychology, and art therapy, she finds that these disciplines, with playback theatre, provide a great benefit in improving education for children. She teaches at the School of Playback Theatre Japan and is frequently invited to teach the form at schools and organizations.

Makoto Tange (Tama): Makoto Tange started his acting career in 1978 in contemporary theatre and has enjoyed roles in the theatrical classics of East and West, as well as in avant-garde and improvisational pieces. He has performed extensively throughout Japan and overseas. In 1998, he added the playback genre to his theatrical skills, and since 2000 he has taken a major role in Playback A-Z. He enjoys traveling within Japan and abroad, making personal connections through the work of playback theatre.

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