Playback Theatre is spontaneous – it is theatre created through a unique collaboration between performers and audience. Someone tells a story or moment from their life, chooses actors to play the different roles, and then watches as their story is immediately recreated and given artistic shape and coherence. Whether in the classroom, hospital, at a business conference, community centre or theatre, there is always the familiarity of this basic set-up for Playback Theatre.
為「即興劇場」，在香港廣被稱為「一人一故事劇場」。它是一個沒有劇本的劇場，觀眾會即場獲邀公開講述關於自己的故事、片段，甚至一剎那的感覺，說故事人又可隨意指定演員所擔演的角色。傾刻間，故事的內容會提昇成為藝術素材，由演員即時演繹。無論演出場地是在課室、醫院、商務會議、社區中心，基本結構是不變的。
This is the essential structure for a Playback Theatre performance. There is no script, but there is a rhythm and sequence to a Playback Theatre performance. The conductor is the host and facilitator of the process. 
After a period of introductions and warming up of the audience, someone will volunteer to tell a story. It could be a short moment, or about a longer event. They may be past, present or future stories. They could be about a very special time or about something that happens everyday.
上述排位佈局對於「一人一故事劇場」是不可或缺的。這劇場具有獨特的規律：引領員在整個過程中負責主持和穿針引線，先會一段簡介和熱身，然後觀眾便可自願到說故事人的椅子坐下來講故事。內容可繁可簡，可以是一個小片段，也可以是複雜的事件，可以是關於過去、當下、將來，可以是深刻難忘的事，又或日常瑣事。
In the course of a performance maybe 3, 4, or more people will come forward to sit in the Teller’s Chair to tell a longer story. The enactments may take many different forms, but always aiming to capture the essence of the story with as much truth and artistry as possible. 
In this way we weave the threads of our stories together, 
creating a tapestry of our communal experience – hoping to catch a glimpse of the eternal in the spontaneous moment, and the universal through individual voices.
通常一場演出大約有三至四名的觀_講故事，有時可以更多。演出的形色多樣，但宗旨是要捕捉故事的精髓，盡可能忠於事實，並將之賦與藝術生命。結果這些故事會交織在一起，把我們共有的經驗和感覺串連，編織成一幅動人的錦_。我們期望在電光火石一刻一瞥永恆，藉個人經_體會共鳴。
Playback Theatre was first created in the mid 1970s by Jonathan Fox with the original Playback Theatre Company in upstate New York, USA. Since that time, Playback Theatre has now spread to six continents of the world and is now practiced in many countries serving a variety of contexts, from community events to crisis situations.
More about Playback Theatre founders and its applications…
TEDx Talk by Jo Salas, one of the founders of Playback Theatre http://youtu.be/R-UtiROCm6E
Read this – INTRODUCING PLAYBACK THEATRE – Sept 2018
Read this – Dialogue at the Great Divide – the McGill Tribune (Canada)
Look up the International Playback Theatre Network (IPTN) www.iptn.info for more information.
一人一故事劇場」於1975年在美國紐約由 Playback Theater Company 所創立，自此他們與世界各地的人分享，讓劇場的種籽撒播到不同的地方。有興趣者可到 International Playback Theatre Network (IPTN) 的網頁 www.iptn.info 瀏覽。
The School of Playback Theatre UK is affiliated to the CPT and offers equivalent training in the UK – www.playbackschooluk.org
Go to FACEBOOK page
The Centre for Playback Theatre (CPT) offers a comprehensive training programme and resources – www.playbackcentre.org
True Heart Theatre is a
Group Member of the International Playback Theatre Network
The True Heart Playback Theatre team has been serving communities in London since 2006.
As well as its open regular public performance / workshops (Open Sundays / AMC- Art for Multicultural Communities / Living Stories) True Heart has performed in a variety of venues on a wide range of themes and contexts.
Email info@trueheart.org.uk if you would like to commission us to work with you on your project or support your event.
