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Playback Theatre: Stories in Motion

$279.00

Playback Theatre is improv with a twist.

Each day we’ll begin Playback with a gentle physical and vocal warmup to loosen up our creative selves. Throughout the course we’ll build connection, play with elements of improvisation, develop movement vocabulary and creative self-expression, and learn the fundamentals of Playback before putting it all into practice as an ensemble. Course content includes a brief history of Playback Theatre; learning the fundamental Playback forms of Frozen, Fluids, Pairs, Tableau, Vignettes, and the principals of long form stories; stagecraft & how to work as an ensemble; and lots of practice “on the boxes” as we say. Each session ends with time for reflection and de-brief.

Playback ensembles co-create theatre with the audience – their stories enacted by the ensemble. There will be opportunity to tell your own stories for the team to work with – you get to experience Playback from all perspectives. We’ll learn about the ‘red thread’ running through Playback stories, shows, and the international communities.

At the end of five-days we will hold a mini-gig for an invited audience of family and friends.

Playback Theatre is improv with a twist.

Each day we’ll begin Playback with a gentle physical and vocal warmup to loosen up our creative selves. Throughout the course we’ll build connection, play with elements of improvisation, develop movement vocabulary and creative self-expression, and learn the fundamentals of Playback before putting it all into practice as an ensemble. Course content includes a brief history of Playback Theatre; learning the fundamental Playback forms of Frozen, Fluids, Pairs, Tableau, Vignettes, and the principals of long form stories; stagecraft & how to work as an ensemble; and lots of practice “on the boxes” as we say. Each session ends with time for reflection and de-brief.

Playback ensembles co-create theatre with the audience – their stories enacted by the ensemble. There will be opportunity to tell your own stories for the team to work with – you get to experience Playback from all perspectives. We’ll learn about the ‘red thread’ running through Playback stories, shows, and the international communities.

At the end of five-days we will hold a mini-gig for an invited audience of family and friends.

ESSENTIAL INFO

If you purchase a ticket for this course, all the information on this page will be emailed to you with your ticket.

👥 Ages: Adults only 18+

📍 Venue: Bellingen Public School

📈 Level: BEGINNER to INTERMEDIATE skill level

⏰ Schedule: Mon–Fri, 9am – 12pm (5 Half-Days)

🚗 Check your venue: If you are booking multiple courses, we are unable to provide transport between venues.

Required skills & experience

  • No experience required, but a willingness to be seen and heard an advantage.

  • Course involves physical movement, voice and communication.

Supplies that you need to bring to class

  • Notebook & pen

  • Water bottle

  • Hand towel

  • Wear comfortable easy to move in clothing

  • Small snack

  • For the final day - bring a Black or Dark Navy T-Shirt.

Learning outcomes

  • Students will leave with practical Playback skills, greater confidence in improvisation, and a strong sense of ensemble connection.

  • They’ll also receive a Certificate of Completion recognising their participation and the Playback skills they’ve developed.

WEEK PLAN

DAY ONE: Safety, Connection & Play

  • We begin by building a creative container through games, movement, and group expression.

  • Students explore “yes, and…”, making and accepting offers, and working with spontaneity.

  • Introduce the foundations of Playback and try out simple short forms.

DAY TWO: Creative Expression & Deep Listening

  • Explore embodied emotion and develop movement vocabulary for solo and ensemble work.

  • Students practice listening with all their senses and interpreting what they hear.

  • Playback short forms continue, including On the Boxes.

DAY THREE: Elements of Playback

  • The ensemble works with music, sound, and rhythm to support stories.

  • We explore metaphor, objects, and imagery as tools for shaping scenes.

  • Further practice On the Boxes strengthens timing, presence, and collaboration.

DAY FOUR: Golden Moments

  • Move into deeper layers of expression, exploring emotional truth and the social context of stories.

  • Students practice recognising and shaping “golden moments” within Playback forms and ensemble improvisation.

DAY FIVE: Stories in Motion

  • Bring all elements together, focusing on the arc of a Playback performance.

  • Students practice transforming real stories into short scenes with confidence, presence, and ensemble connection.

We finish the week with a relaxed sharing for invited family and friends, celebrating the skills we’ve developed together as we honour the stories they bring.

COURSE TUTORS

Michele Balharry

Michele Balharry is a performer and facilitator based in Bellingen, NSW, with a lifelong love of movement, music, and story.

She has trained extensively in Playback Theatre, including completing Advanced Practice with the New York School of Playback Theatre, and brings twenty years of ensemble improvisation and community storytelling to her teaching. Michele is currently the Artistic Director of Bellingen Playback Theatre Company and is an experienced actor, conductor, and trainer. She most recently appeared at the Woodford Folk Festival Streets Program, performing and conducting across seven shows with a dynamic eight person ensemble.

Michele’s workshops blend movement, voice, and play to develop creative expression and the improvisation skills particular to Playback Theatre, creating a focused and supportive space for exploring personal stories through spontaneity and genuine connection.

Benn de Mole

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“Thank you for a beautiful experience of Playback Theatre. I loved the gentle guidance as we explored different elements. I particularly enjoyed the warm-ups. We had so much fun together. There was such a sense of safety I felt I could dive into any process, including the performance for our loved ones. Looking forward to having another go.”
— Argnesh Rose
“Playback is such an interesting and accessible form of theatre; no acting experience is needed! The workshop I attended was fun and creatively inspiring. Michele and Nicole created a warm and safe environment for us to explore freely, all in a very short time-frame. I left feeling energised and I can’t wait to do another workshop!”
— Marcia Owen

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