ABSTRACT:

We are among the first trainees to hold the title of “Assistant Sociodrama Group Leader” in Hungary. One of our pioneering projects involved an experiment that combined the methods of sociodrama and playback theater—both developed by Jacob Levy Moreno.

The roots of playback theater trace back to Jacob L. Moreno’s Stegreiftheater, which operated in Vienna from 1921 to 1923. In this innovative theater, personal stories were vividly brought to life. The fusion of sociodrama and playback theater is particularly intriguing due to the profound role stories play in the fabric of human existence. Stories possess the remarkable ability to unite and connect us, erode the barriers between individuals and their life experiences, and facilitate healing for individuals, families, and even entire societies. Stories represent an ancient and integral aspect of universal culture. By passing them on, we forge traditions and customs, transmit values, educate future generations, and gain a deeper understanding of both ourselves and the world around us. Stories also serve as mirrors to the collective unconscious, the part of our psyche shared by all of humanity and inherently ingrained within us. The goal of our workshop is to explore the sociodrama community and its dynamics through the lens of socio-playback methodology.

We aim to discover our shared narratives and integrate our collective experiences from the sociodrama conference. During the session, participants will engage in a playback performance, where the focus will be on a group, a collective experience, and a shared story. They will come to understand that playback theater can be harnessed to reenact collective stories as well.

Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to discern the distinctions between traditional playback and socio-playback. Together with fellow participants, they will demonstrate the enactment of a collective story on stage, further strengthening their understanding of this powerful approach.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: