Playback theatre is a unique, original and invigorating form on improv theatre centred around life stories. An audience member
tells a story and the actors turn it into a scene on the spot. It
builds communities, brings people together and gives you a chance to see
you story come to life in a creative and imaginative way.
When I was first getting into impro I was also going along to Playback Theatre classes and found them amazing at finding the truth and honesty in a scene. I've often wondered why there wasn't a stronger link between the improv scene and Playback Theatre, so when I met Victoria Howden from the new Playback Theatre company Plays of our Lives I was keen to support them and find out more. We're getting her in for a workshop on Saturday 14th February, and our interview is below. I hope this is the start of more crossovers between impro and Playback Theatre.
How did you get into Playback Theatre?
I was looking desperately for a theatre project when someone suggested Playback theatre to me. I didn't even know what it was but I wrote to all the Playback theatre companies in Israel (where I was living at the time) and one replied and told me to come and see a show. I was blown away right from the start , I could't understand how the actors hear a story and turn into theatre without rehearsing. The facilitator asked for a story from childhood , I don't know what came over me but I put my hand up and told a hard story from my childhood. The way the actors played it back completely changed my life , they gave me strength and made me see other sides to my story. It was at that moment that I decided that is what I want to do. The theatre's director told me they where not looking for actors , I didn't care , I knew I was going to be part of that group , I took their playback theatre course and 2 days after we finished the Director called me and asked me to join the group.
I was with the ensemble for 3 years , heard some amazing stories and have had the privilege of helping people along the way.
How is Playback different to impro?
The main difference is that Playback is based on true stories , which the actors must stick to, while in impro you can start with an idea and go anywhere with it. In playback you are true to a story, we improvise with guidelines .
Doe Playback Theatre and impro help each other?
I think it most definitely can and I believe that if you take the sensitivity, active listening and staying true to a story from playback and the sense of freedom and playfulness from impro you have yourself an amazing thing.
What's your big dream for Playback Theatre in England?
My dream is to make it as popular here as it is in Israel, my dream is give people here from all strokes of life a place where they can come and share stories , see their life stories come to life and by doing that bring people closer together. My dream is that in a few years there will be 50 playback groups in the UK that go into the communities and bring people together because we are all made up of our stories. How amazing would that be?
What can Playback Theatre offer the audience that nothing else does?
It offers them a chance to be heard, seen and their stories validated, it is a unique collaboration between the actors and the audience that exists only in Playback. It gives the tellers a chance to laugh at themselves, to have closure and see them selves as we the actors see them.
What does Playback Theatre offer the actor that nothing else does?
Playback actors are not just improvisers , we are also listeners, the teller has given us a gift, their story and we have to treat it with great care. Playback offers the actors the ability to read between the lines, listen actively to the teller and to the other actors, find the freedom and stay true to a story at the same time.
What kind of stories do people tell?
I have heard so many stories over the years: Two kids playing in the sand dunes outside their house found a baby in a box , they wanted to know now 20 years later what happened to him , of course we don't know but we could give them a reunion. A little girl who had pet cockroaches and we made a roach musical, people telling about people they have lost, trips gone wrong and many many more. Any story is welcome whether happy or sad , big or small, happened today or 50 years ago.
Victoria Howden and Jane Beavis from Plays of our Lives are running a one day workshop with us on Playback Theatre on Saturday 14th February: http://www.hooplaimpro.com/playback-theatre-classes.html
Plays of our Lives facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/playsofourlives
Bristol have now got a proper improv venue, and The Bristol Improv Theatre Festival is coming up on 6th - 14th March. So we interviewed Andy Yeoh from The Bristol Improv Theatre to find out what's happening in this improv hot spot.
Bristol Improv Theatre Festival: www.bitfestival.co.uk
The Bristol Improv Theatre: www.improvtheatre.net
How's it going Bristol?
It’s going great! So much happening and so much to do. It really feels fantastic to be in at the ground floor of a burgeoning improv scene as it takes off.
Have you got a venue now and everything? How did that happen?
Yeah! We’re working in partnership with a local venue which has essentially become the Bristol Improv Theatre’s home base, as it were. It was essentially just a slow process of doing a few nights there, getting to know them and letting them get to know us. Now that we’ve built up a relationship of trust, we’re really making the space our own.
What advice would you give someone wanting to start their own improv venue?
Start small, make lots of plans, and don’t overcommit before you find out what’s going on! Almost the exact opposite of performing improv. Never give up hope and don’t be afraid to ask for help there’s an amazing improv community out there.
How do you manage to get decent audiences when Bristol is smaller than London?
Cross pollinate with other art forms! We’re putting on evenings of science communication, standup, etc, with an improv twist. Audiences come for what they know, and get hooked on
the improv element.
What's the big plan for improv in Bristol?
Now we’ve got a home base in bristol, we want to send out our improvisers as tendrils into the wider bristol community, bringing more and more people to the theatre and improv in general. Like some kind of gigantic improv octopus.
What would be your big improv dream?
When someone asks ‘What do you do?’ you can say you do improvised theatre without following up by explaining what improv is. More than that even! When you say you’re an improviser at a party, someone should overhear you and come and tell you that they improvise too ‘hey, we should do a show together!’
Who have you got performing this year?
We’re delighted to say that we have such luminaries as Austentatious, Music Box, and the Maydays performing at the festival this year. It feels really great to know that such big and successful groups are up for working with us and we’re incredibly excited.
What is missing from the uk improv scene?
A fulltime dedicated improv theatre... but we’re getting closer! Also the kind of exposure and celebrity that you might get on, say, the standup circuit. That’s an artform that’s very mature and well established. Sometimes that’s not to standups benefit but mostly it’s amazing to think that 40 years ago it basically didn’t exist (in its current modern form).
If people are coming from outside Bristol where's a good place to stay?
Our house! One of the great things about the improv scene is that no matter where in the world you go, someone will be willing to put you up or help you out. Post on our facebook group, send emails, make phone calls! Someone will come to your aid.
Where are the after show parties at?
Well, we have our own bar... what can we get you?
Bristol Improv Theatre Festival: www.bitfestival.co.uk
The Bristol Improv Theatre: www.improvtheatre.net
Blog
by Steve Roe,
co-founder of Hoopla Improv, courses, shows and improv club. Twitter: @HooplaImpro. Facebook: HooplaImpro.
Website: www.HooplaImpro.com. Email: hooplaimpro@gmail.com.
Here's a list of improv friendly rehearsal spaces in London that don't cost too much:
The Rag Factory, ragfactory.org.uk: Lots of different rooms. Silas the owner is very supportive of improv groups and sometimes discounts on smaller rooms or off-peak nights. Good location near Brick Lane too.
The Nursery Training Centre, thenurserytheatre.com: Two lovely rooms. Very supportive of improv as it's run by Jules Munns, who runs both The Nursery and The Slapdash Improv Festival. Great location in London Bridge.
The Miller, themiller.co.uk: The pub where we run our shows, also has a smaller basement studio for rehearsals and the upstairs room can be rented during the day.
Calder Bookshop Theatre, calderbookshop.com: Surprisingly cheap space considering it's so close to Waterloo.
Theatre Delicatessen, theatredelicatessen.com: Lots of rooms in Farringdon, various improv groups practing there.
The Cockpit Theatre, thecockpit.org.uk: Various rooms and good prices in Marylebone.
The New Diorama Theatre, newdiorama.com: I haven't used this yet but I've heard it's reasonably priced.
Sitting Rooms: If you have understanding neighbours, or no neighbours, you can always rehearse in one of your team's sitting room. It works quite well and can be more sociable, bring some snacks and drinks over.
Office Space: Using one of the team member's office space meeting rooms after hours is also a popular choice.
Rooms above pubs: Many pubs have spare rooms you can sometimes get for free or cheap so it's worth asking around.
There are lots more but I thought I'd keep it simple and just include the ones that tend to get used most for improv. If I've missed any please let me know (hooplaimpro@gmail.com).
Blog
by Steve Roe,
co-founder of Hoopla Improv, courses, shows and improv club. Twitter: @HooplaImpro. Facebook: HooplaImpro.
Website: www.HooplaImpro.com. Email: hooplaimpro@gmail.com.
