Improvising Real Life (20th Anniversary Edition): Personal Story in Playback Theatre

by Jo Salas

Improvising Real Life: Personal Story in Playback Theatre, written by one of its creators, describes the origins, practice and philosophy of Playback Theatre. Improvising Real Life is illustrated with dozens of real-life stories told in performances and workshops. Includes 15 photos and a glossary of playback terms.

Genres: Nonfiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

I write fiction and nonfiction. My new novel Mrs. Lowe-Porter comes out in early 2024 from JackLeg Press. My short stories have been published in journals and anthologies. Some have won or been shortlisted for prizes. My novel Dancing with Diana was published in 2015 by Codhill Press. Nonfiction writing is mostly about Playback Theatre, a form of improv based on audience members' personal stories. More at josalas.com.

Reviews

[Meg]

I read this book at just the right moment. I’d done about 2 months of rehearsal with a playback group and loved it. For someone with a small amount of experience, this book provides a quick background on philosophy, values, structure, ritual and opportunities associated with playback theater.

[Victoria Shyrchenko]

Reading the first paragraph I had a poem.
HAving read a book I want to play, play and play!

[ratherastory]

It's very hard to give a rating to what is meant to be half memoir, half factual description of what Playback Theatre is, without ever having experienced Playback Theatre myself. I found it a very interesting read, and am intrigued enough to try out the experience if the opportunity ever presents itself. The book was a clear and easy read, though a touch repetitive and the tone occasionally dry, in spite of the author's career in storytelling and theatre.

[Vadim]

Плейбек театр -- театр импровизаций, в котором актеры слушают истории зрителей и немедленно их инсценируют. Книга "Improvising Real Life" -- краткое введение в принципы и техники работы таких театров, написанной одним из основателей этого направления. Автор убеждена, что не просто вся жизнь театр, а каждый человек -- сцена, на которой происходят драмы. Плейбек театр наделяет такие драмы достоинством произведения искусства, того, к чему стоит приглядываться.

[Dev]

A very accessible and practical welcome to Playback Theatre by one of the founding members of the original company.

[Semi-Academic Eric]

Listed in the Bibliography on Play from The Art of Play by Adam Blatner.

[Kari Barclay]

A good overview to Playback. Doesn't necessarily elaborate on the ethical intricacies of Playback or provide a comprehensive theoretical framework.