Playback Community Theatre South West charity
A board of six Trustees Playback Theatre South West (PTSW) is governed by a board of six trustees who oversee the work of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Two freelance artistic directors are engaged to run the day to day business of the charity.
The Objectives of the CIO are
- To promote social inclusion by supporting those who are, or are at risk of becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them in integrating into society, to include but not be limited to, children and young people, asylum seekers and refugees, people who have experienced domestic violence, people affected by mental health issues and people with learning difficulties.
- To promote equality and diversity by undertaking activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds and enabling people of all genders to engage with issues of gender difference and inequality.
In particular, but not exclusively by providing the opportunity and environment for people to share their enlightening stories, ideas, emotions, and experiences, principally through the medium of Playback Theatre, for the public benefit in Devon and beyond. Playback Theatre is a participatory improvisational theatre form designed to strengthen communities, build resilience and enable positive change.
Playback Theatre advances social inclusion and promotes equality and diversity through project work and public performances.
PTSW delivers Playback Theatre opportunities through two performing companies; Mirror Mirror – a company of six freelance performers and Tarte Noire – a women only company of fourteen members.
PTSW is associated with the School of Playback Theatre UK (SPTUK), which is affiliated with the Centre for Playback Theatre in New York. PTSW is a member of the International Playback Theatre Network (IPTN). PTSW is a local and independent organisation with wider links to Europe and beyond. It works in collaboration with statutory and third sector organisations, universities, other charities and statutory organisations including NHS, British Psychological Society, Students and Refugees Together (START), Torbay Youth Trust, CVS and Plymouth University.
Benefits to the public
a) advancement of community development
Playback Theatre South West aims to strengthen communities by enabling the respectful sharing, witnessing and honouring of individuals’ stories of life experiences, both within and across social groups. In this way Playback Theatre can contribute to both bonding and bridging social capital.
b) advancement of the arts
Playback Theatre South West enables people previously untrained in drama and theatre work, as well as experienced actors and theatre practitioners, to produce artistic work of beauty and personal as well as social integrity, aiming always for high standards of artistic excellence.
c) advancement of individual and community health and well-being
Playback Theatre South West supports positive change in individuals and communities through acknowledging, reflecting and giving meaning to the real life experiences of the people who participate. By drawing people together as they witness their common humanity through Playback Theatre, we hope to build individual and collective resilience in dealing with adversity and challenge in life, as well as celebrating success and recovery. Although it is not offered as a specific therapy, we believe, and the feedback from audience members supports this belief, that participating in Playback Theatre is a healing process that enhances personal and social well-being.
