Open invite to try improvised theatre

A LOCAL performer is looking to bring a different kind of theatre to the region.

Supported through the Creswick Theatre Company, Shel O’Toole is hosting a taster workshop to show people the ins and outs of playback theatre.

Having participated in the artform off and on for nearly 30 years, she said the region’s arts scene can benefit greatly from having a playback theatre outlet.

“It’s a form of theatre all about community,” she said. “It’s about bringing people together, sharing stories, and finding the connections we all have.

“For me, it’s a particular artform that can be really healing for communities. It’s been used in situations like after weather events like floods and bushfires, and after COVID, where companies did performances around that.

“It’s a great way to build connections within community and I think there’s definitely a need for it.”

Playback theatre was established in the 1970s by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas, and is a form of improvised performance where audience members can recount their stories and performers enact the experience on the spot.

O’Toole was previously involved with the Out of the Box playback theatre company in Sydney before moving to Ballarat almost four years ago, and led training initiatives with the troupe.

Prior to that she has been a part of companies in Darwin, Hobart, Brisbane, and Hunter Valley.

“If people are interested, my goal would be to create a playback theatre company for the Goldfields region,” she said.

“Playback is magic because the actors and musicians don’t speak to each other. They just listen to the person’s moment and step out and act.

“The creators refer to it as an act of service. It can be healing and people can really feel heard.”

The taster workshop will take place from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday 12 October at the Creswick Theatre.

Tickets range from $20 to $60 depending on the attendees’ wage and concession situation, and can be booked at bit.ly/3TSpWzo.