Building Strong Community Connections through Playback Improv Theatre

Scene from the Tell Tales Collective Playback Improvisation Theatre Troupe performance

In times of challenge, the strength of a community plays a crucial role in how we cope and thrive. One of the most powerful ways to build that strength is through creating deep connections among people, and fostering understanding and empathy. That’s exactly what I’ve been enjoying doing with the Tell Tales Collective, using Playback Improv Theatre as a vehicle for bringing people together in the Nelson-Tasman region.

Playback Improv Theatre is a unique form of performance where the audience shares personal stories, and the actors “play back” those stories in an improvised performance. What makes this process so powerful is that we don’t just re-enact the events; we focus on the emotions of the storyteller—how they felt at that moment in time. This allows the community to connect on a deeper emotional level, learning things about each other’s lives that might never have come up in everyday conversation.

Each time we perform, we witness incredible moments of commonality, empathy, and shared celebration—or sometimes mourning—of life’s significant events. The collective experience of watching these stories unfold on stage fosters a greater sense of understanding and unity within the community. After each performance, we hold a discussion where the audience can reflect on how the stories made them feel, further opening up conversations and connections around themes of identity, emotions, and shared experience.

But the work doesn’t stop at just performances. We are also passionate about running workshops that help people rediscover their creative expression, their joy, and their own sense of empowerment. Our very first workshop, held in Motueka in February, was a success! Participants shared how much fun they had exploring their creativity and expressed how the skills they learned in the workshop could be applied in many areas of their lives. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that people want more of these opportunities to play, learn, and express themselves.

We’re excited to announce that we’re currently putting together an Arts on Tour funding proposal, and we would love to take this experience on the road!  In addition, we’re developing a service for organisations and companies to offer this art form to enhance their conferences, strategic planning, teambuilding or year-end celebrations.  We also offer a similar service for people celebrating birthdays, wedding, funerals, and the like.

If you’re interested in having the Tell Tales Collective perform or run a workshop for your team, group, organisation, or community, please reach out to Zola via email.

By building stronger connections and fostering spaces for creative self-expression, we’re helping to empower individuals and communities alike to navigate challenges, celebrate joys, and grow together.