Glimpse on The DDU Playback Workshop for Beginners

DDU’s Playback Workshop for Beginners aims for recruiting new members for the playback group. The four days workshop is design around basic acting training, group dynamics and introductions and forms of Playback theatre. Through the games and activities, the workshop members have experience the importance of concentration and the deeper meaning of “give” and “take”.

        The drama instructor, Hsin Chen, led the group through series of games. She explains the difference between playing games for fun and playing games mindfully, “Drama is playing while games are for playing also, however, they are not the same. People can enjoy and laugh as much as they want while playing games, but playing  on the stage is a different story. In drama training, games are played for a meaning to search into, in other words, how to go beyond simply playing is the key.” 

Through the series of the games, and drama activities, the workshop members learn the basic artistic skills in drama and also build up a genuine group dynamic and team spirit. Together, they learn the means of concentration, mindfulness and endurance from within. 

        The focus for the last two days of the workshop was the introduction and forms of Playback Theatre. It was instructed by one of the DDU Playback Theatre coaches, Jester Lee. Jester pointed out the essential spirit of the Playback Theatre to the members, which is respectfulness, security, and safety. In this part of the workshop, members went through many activities and games in practicing to become a playback actor; gaining the skills of getting in and out of the stories, opening senses always, and being ready and concentrate in each moment.

        Before the closing of the workshop, a practice on the basic forms of the Playback theatre was performed with Jester as the host and some members as storytellers, actors and musicians. At last, certificates were handed out to the members from DDU’s Professor. Gu honoring them for the participation for the workshop. As the workshop ends, the journey for the DDU Playback Theatre begins.