Short Form Story (Playback)
The main narrative form in Playback — actors enact the teller's full story, usually 3-5 minutes, with the teller watching from the chair.
Known for
- Distinct from long-form improv scenes — the story already exists in the teller's mouth; actors are reflecting it, not inventing.
- Standard beats: actors' entrance (they bow to teller), opening tableau, narrative, closing tableau, return-to-teller ('How was that?').
- Fidelity debate: how literal vs. how interpretive? Mature Playback ensembles lean interpretive — the point is essence, not replay.
Connected to
Sources
Referenced by
Concepts