Artistic Directors
Based in Totnes, Devon, Playback Theatre South West is directed by Amanda Brown and Alison Fairlove, who are both Playback Theatre Trainers accredited by the Centre for Playback Theatre, New York. Amanda has a background in choreography and education. Alison has a background in counselling and theatre in education.
Since 2001 they have established four performance companies: Four Winds and Fire, Mirror Mirror, RedEarth (formerly Tarte Noire) and Dart a community company in Totnes, Devon. They offer training locally, nationally for the UK School of Playback Theatre and internationally.
Alison and Amanda run training in Playback Theatre for established actors and community members with little or no experience of theatre work, and for people with special needs such as people with learning disabilities.
Both Amanda and Alison completed their leadership training in Playback Theatre in 2008, as recognized by the Centre for Playback Theatre. Their combined expertise and dedication have significantly contributed to the growth and development of Playback Theatre in the UK and beyond.
Playback Theatre South West has a track record of effective work with a range of organisations including work with mental health and well-being, refugee community members, BAME community members, carers and young carers, women who have experienced domestic abuse, dementia, death and dying, birth, suicide, children in care and many others. See the full list here …
Alison and Amanda began training in Playback Theatre in 1995 with Veronica Needa in Devon and were part of the first Totnes Playback Theatre Company. They then did Core Training with Jo Salas in 1998 and attended the International Playback Theatre Conference in York in 1999. Here they were able to learn from Francis Batten (chorus) and Deborah Pearson (conducting). They have, over the years, worked with many inspirational teachers in short courses. They did ‘Practice’ with Jo Salas (2001) and ‘Leadership’ with Jonathan Fox (2008). With many thanks to their teachers for their guidance and support over the years – thanks to:
- Veronica Needa
- Jo Salas
- Jonathan Fox
- Francis Batten
- Deborah Pearson
- Heather Robb
- Aviva Rosenthal-Apel
- Bev Hoskings
- Josef Paradi