Playback is a form of theatre where real stories are mirrored to a teller using different forms and techniques.
Fluid Sculpt - The actors come forward one by one. They do repeated sound-and-movements, always adding to what's already there. The actors create an organic, moving shape, each one expressing an aspect of the teller's feelings. Music plays. The sculpture ends when the first actor freezes.
Floating Heads - A pair reflects the experience of having two feelings at the same time. The actors stand back to back with one facing the audience. Each represents one of the teller's contrasting feelings. The one at the front goes first. They slowly turn and stop talking when it's their turn to face away from the audience.
3 Part 3 Sentences - The conductor can chose to fit the story into three sentences. Or they can invite the teller to choose three sentences.
An actor uses voice, body, movement, fabric, space, to convey an essence of first sentence, then freezes. The second actor does same for second sentence. They may interact with the frozen first actor, who doesn't respond. The third actor does same with the third sentence. Actors can play any character in the story.
Narration V - The actors stand in V-formation. The person in front narrates the teller's story in the third person, using gestures but not enacting story. Other actors echo gestures and occasionally sounds without looking at the narrator.
Clump Chorus - A clump of actors (two or more) uses voice and body together as one entity. One person makes an offer immediately accepted and developed by the others, until a new offer is made. A Chorus may depict a whole story (as a short form) or it may be an element in a long-form scene. An actor may step out to become a different character, then melt back into chorus.
Free Form - This a free improvisation. Actors can create any world they want to tell the tellers story. The piece ends when the music from the musician starts.
Fluid Sculpt - The actors come forward one by one. They do repeated sound-and-movements, always adding to what's already there. The actors create an organic, moving shape, each one expressing an aspect of the teller's feelings. Music plays. The sculpture ends when the first actor freezes.
Floating Heads - A pair reflects the experience of having two feelings at the same time. The actors stand back to back with one facing the audience. Each represents one of the teller's contrasting feelings. The one at the front goes first. They slowly turn and stop talking when it's their turn to face away from the audience.
3 Part 3 Sentences - The conductor can chose to fit the story into three sentences. Or they can invite the teller to choose three sentences.
An actor uses voice, body, movement, fabric, space, to convey an essence of first sentence, then freezes. The second actor does same for second sentence. They may interact with the frozen first actor, who doesn't respond. The third actor does same with the third sentence. Actors can play any character in the story.
Narration V - The actors stand in V-formation. The person in front narrates the teller's story in the third person, using gestures but not enacting story. Other actors echo gestures and occasionally sounds without looking at the narrator.
Clump Chorus - A clump of actors (two or more) uses voice and body together as one entity. One person makes an offer immediately accepted and developed by the others, until a new offer is made. A Chorus may depict a whole story (as a short form) or it may be an element in a long-form scene. An actor may step out to become a different character, then melt back into chorus.
Free Form - This a free improvisation. Actors can create any world they want to tell the tellers story. The piece ends when the music from the musician starts.