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Feet First Playback Theatre
Our troupe of players from Kamloops is excited to bring more playback to the community. We are passionate about learning to listen deeply and grow as players, embracing childlike freedom of movement and an empathic maturity.
While our troupe continues to evolve, we have had the honour of playing back stories around equity, diversity and inclusion, climate change, cultural roots, and many others. We strive to introduce playback within pedagogy, while also serving our community.
What is playback theatre?
Playback theatre is a form of applied and improvisational theatre. Audience members share moments from their lives and watch them enacted on the spot by trained actors using music, movement and dialogue, embodying the heart of the story. Welcoming laughter, tears, curiosity — the full range of emotions. There is no story too big or small to be told and honoured. Performances privilege many voices, and clearly demonstrate and remind us of our common humanity.
Versatile in its approach, playback can be used with any population. Settings can encompass schools and universities, organizations and community groups, or specific groups like hospice care workers, refugees and immigrants, formerly incarcerated people, and many others.
How to book a playback experience
If you would like to host our troupe for a performance, please reach out to Jay Goddard at jgoddard@tru.ca with any inquiries or questions. We would love to honour your stories!
Upcoming performances
How to join us
If you are curious about playback and would like to experience it for yourself, come to one of our rehearsals. We hold an open rehearsal every second Sunday (dates listed below) from 1 to 3 p.m. and welcome you to share stories and improv alongside us as you learn the forms, but participation is completely optional.
Moreover, if you find yourself enjoying rehearsals and if you show interest in joining our little theatre family, we would love to welcome new members into our troupe. Come and check us out in the most beautiful and safe space to play at 975 Singh Street.
- Feb. 25
- March 10
- March 24
- April 7
- April 21
Contact Jaida Barker at jaidabarker@gmail.com if you have questions or need directions.
Directed studies and research opportunities
Students at TRU who are interested in researching playback or applied theatre may contact Jay Goddard at jgoddard@tru.ca, Andrea Brassard at abrassard@tru.ca or Bala Nikku at bnikku@tru.ca.
