relationships, team building and playback theatre

We recently performed for a corporate client in the financial sector. The team of about 30 staff were working with the founder of the Critical Management Group, Marc Stigter on a longer program designed to guide them through what Tuckman might call the ‘forming and storming’ stages of their development. We were brought in early on in this process to do two main things; to model high performance teamwork and to provide an opportunity for the group to reflect and share their ideas about the team.

Our facilitator opened the invitation for stories simply by asking the participants to reflect on a time where they witnessed or were part of a high functioning team. We then heard stories from several members of the group. What struck me was a common theme that ran through each of the stories; the importance of strong personal relationships to teamwork.

One story was of a high-functioning team from a previous workplace. The team was full of talented individuals and senior management decided to split them up in an attempt to pollinate the rest of the organisation with the ‘magic’. The woman who told the story reflected that management failed to realise the magic of this team was based on strong working relationships more than the talent of the individual team members. Another participant spoke about a strong friendship that she had built with a colleague and how that had enhanced her engagement and motivation at work.

But perhaps the most surprising and powerful story shared as part of our performance was the one that hit most at the humanity and heart of us all. The man who shared the story had been managing a new team that was geographically spread across the country. Within a short space of time, coincidentally three members of the team were diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed was a very moving account of how the entire team came together to support the women. Despite the geographical distance, close personal relationships were formed and the group found a meaningful bond. Tragically, one of the three women lost her battle with cancer and the team found themselves grieving together for a friend and colleague. The work team had become a family. Significantly, the man told us, this challenging time was followed by a period of very high performance teamwork and staff turnover remained at zero for an unprecedented number of years.

After this story had been shared and we had performed it back for the group, I could tell that something significant had occurred in the room. It was clear that the story had had an emotional impact on everyone and that the group had gained a new insight into one of their colleagues. This story and others shared within our performance had played a role in building trust and understanding within the team. It had also allowed the group to articulate something that they crave for the future of their own team; stronger personal relationships.

In my time as a performer with Melbourne Playback, I’ve noticed how playback theatre has a knack for connecting people in this way and helping build relationships. When someone shares a story and the group is encouraged to listen and reflect on the story in a deeper way, a shared understanding is created. Through story we learn about each other. We reveal our values and identify what motivates each of us.

I’ve seen friendships form between audience members at our public performances and between participants in our workshops. Similarly, the stories that we share as part of our rehearsal process help build a deeper understanding between our own ensemble members. I believe that the strong personal relationships developed through this process play a critical role in our own success as a team, both on the stage and behind the scenes.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Welcome to our new actors!

We are pleased to publicly welcome three new performers to the company!

Rachael Dyson-McGregor, who joins the performing ensemble this year, has a natural flair for the Playback Theatre form. Rachael trained at Unitec, Auckland and has worked with NZ theatre companies: Potent Pause Productions, Auckland Theatre Company, Massive, and Tim Bray Productions, as well as co-founding chor:us collective and the Peripeteia Players. Since she moved to Melbourne in 2007, Rachael has worked with Underground Cinema, 24 Hour Play Festival and devised and produced a theatre and dance collaboration, Neon Toast, for Melbourne Fringe Festival 2009.

Trainee Program

And in a first for Melbourne Playback, in 2010 we are excited to launch a new 12-month trainee program for two emerging performers, Tom Harkin & Diana Nguyen.

Diana Nguyen is an actor and community development worker in the South Eastern Suburbs. She currently works with The Song Room, Her Productions and SEAAC for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Diana went to NYC to study The Theatre of Oppressed with Julian Boal and has performed in various community projects with young people. Diana’s recent performances include Silence (La Mama 2009), Translations Generations (Big West Festival 2009), Miss Saigon (CLOC 2009).

Tom Harkin was a member of St.Martin’s Youth Ensemble 2005 and has trained at Eric Morris’ acting studio in LA. Tom works full time as a Senior Learning & Development Facilitator at The Reach Foundation using his passion for the dramatic performance space and acting techniques to work with teenagers in freeing their natural impulses and inherent potential.

The traineeship will offer Diana & Tom the opportunity to rehearse and participate in the life of the company and benefit from a mentorship with a senior member of the Melbourne Playback ensemble.

We are inspired by the energy, enthusiasm and diversity of experience that each of these three actors have already brought to our rehearsal room! Welcome.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Summer Workshops

Playback Theatre Workshops

We are offering two workshop series in late January 2010. Places are limited, book early.

  • Summer Weekend Intensive (29-31 January)
  • Presentation & Public Speaking Workshop (30-31 January)
Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Public Performances – 28 & 29 Nov 2009

What stories has the Carlton Courthouse heard in it’s lifetime?

Let’s add some more.

This weekend we invite our audiences to have their own stories heard and brought to life in this beautiful theatre.

We hope you’ll join us as we continue the conversation here. Use this space to share your thoughts, describe your experience and discuss the show with other members of the audience and the ensemble.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

2009 Spring workshops – the garden of story

Ian David & Mike McEvoy will facilitate this weekend’s workshops and are looking forward to sharing the journey into “the garden of story” with a great group of talented and passionate people.

We invite participants to use this space to continue the discussion and discoveries made throughout the weekend’s workshops.

To start, let’s see how many ways we can complete the sentence,

“The best stories… ”

To complete, see if you can capture the weekend’s story in 5 words.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Awakenings Festival, Horsham

Melbourne Playback performed at the Awakenings Festival in Horsham on Friday 23 October.

There were lots of performers in the audience from mixed-ability groups that were performing at the Festival, and their enthusiasm was highly infectious! The excitement and fun of performing at the Festival was a dominant theme that emerged from the audience in our performance, along with some of the challenges of getting a show together and on to the stage. The beautiful venue (Wesley Performing Arts Centre) and great support from the Festival co-ordinating and technical staff helped things along too.

Were you there? Please feel free to continue the conversation here by leaving a comment.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Celebrating Story Conference 8-9 Oct 2009

Melbourne Playback Theatre Company will open the ‘Celebrating Story’ Conference at the Abbotsford Convent tomorrow. Ian David & Andrew Gray will also facilitate a workshop on day one.

Please feel free to share your comments and continue the conversation here.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

young lives – courageous stories

We’ve performed and run workshops for lots of young people recently. We’ve been struck by the courage these audiences have shown as they discuss the challenges and successes in their lives.

Whether it is the young leaders of the Mitchell Shire in Seymour, teenagers living in Whittlesea, year 9’s from MLC, participants in the MTC scholarship program, or one of the other playback events for young people, we have been regularly inspired.

If you’re a young person and you’ve been part of a playback performance or workshop recently, feel free to ask us a question or tell us what you thought.

Share:Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
  • Categories

  • Contribute

    Please make a comment on posts that pique your interest.

    And if you have a 'memorable moment' from our performances or workshops share it here.

    If you would like to contribute a short article for discussion, email the blog editor.

    Get the Latest

    Join our newsletter for upcoming events, workshops and exclusive ticket offers.