Hey dear Playbackers,
This is our first big update since the Gathering last November. It has some important info about where we’ve got to with creating a Two Islands Playback Network, and where we might be headed. So strap in!
Network Purpose & Values
At the 2024 Gathering, we held a session on the future of the Network, exploring its purpose and values. We have consolidated the discussions, and – whilst we are still getting a sense of the Network’s purpose – we have put a summary of the values and purposes up on our website, have a look!
Training Survey
We’re wondering if and how the Two Islands Network can support people to deliver and access playback training in Ireland, the UK and further afield. Please help us by completing this survey to let us know your thoughts and training needs.
Two Islands Gathering 2026
We are planning to hold the next Gathering in March or May 2026. This is in part to accommodate the European Playback Theatre Gathering this October. We are currently exploring venue options and will have more to update you with in June.
Huge thanks to all those that completed the feedback form from the last Gathering – your thoughts have been really useful in helping us plan and improve!
Sharing your Playback event via the Network Calendar
We now have an event calendar on the Two Islands website, where you can see upcoming Playback events across the Two Islands, and in Europe too. You can upload your Playback event to this calendar using this form. We have a team approving calendar submissions, and will only approve Playback-related events.
Upcoming events will also be announced to the Network via our news blog (see below), so please ensure you include plenty of detail when completing the form.
Network News (and how to get it!)
To receive updates from the Network – about upcoming training, events, gatherings and opinion surveys – please join the mailing list here. You will then be notified whenever we upload a news blog onto the website. If you don’t want to subscribe, you can still access this news blog here.
News blog posts will also be announced via our Whatsapp Community (join here), our Facebook page (follow here) and our Instagram (follow here).
You can submit something to be announced in the News Blog – please email your submission, including all details to twoislandsplayback@gmail.com with NEWS BLOG as the subject. Please note that Playback events submitted to the calendar will automatically be included in the blog – no need to submit these twice.
Two Islands Committee
At the 2024 Gathering, there was an invitation in Sunday’s network session to step up as a network “superhero” – as in, someone prepared to give a fair amount of consistent time to setting up and maintaining the network, including organising the next gathering. 11 people responded to the call, and we 11 are currently the Two Islands Committee. A further 22 people signed up to be “sidekicks”; people prepared to give a little, focused time to something in particular. Thank you, sidekicks, the superheroes will be in touch over the coming months to check in as to what you’d like to offer. You can find out who the Committee are here.
Two Islands CIC
In order to deliver the 2024 Gathering, we set up a Two Islands CIC (Community Interest Company). The CIC directors are currently Andy Yau, Bel Sherlock, Ivy Favier and Steve Nash. This means we have a formal (but light touch) business structure as a ‘not for profit’ organisation which will help with arranging events and possibly, in the future, with fundraising. If you have any questions about this just get in touch.
COMING UP…
Playback Process Group – Tig Land is offering to facilitate regular Process meetings online (every six weeks), where people can explore and reflect in greater depth, their own personal practice and relationship within the Playback theatre forum. The group would be 12 people maximum in order to give enough quality time for all individuals to share. To express your interest please email Tig at tigland@yahoo.co.uk where further details will be given.
Sunday 11th May, London: True Heart Theatre’s Playback Improvers Network. More details here.
Friday 16th May, Newcastle: Growing the Seeds – Playback Theatre Workshop Series. See calendar for details.
Friday 16th May, Cork: Speak Out! Theatre for Transformation – Public Show. More details here.
Saturday 17th May, London: Training with Gerry Orkin – The Stories of Some of Us (on social justice in Playback Theatre). More details here.
Sunday 18th May, London: Training with Gerry Orkin – Rock and Water (on conducting in Playback Theatre). More details here.
Monday 19th May, Hebden Bridge: Threadbear Theatre Open Session – All Welcome. See calendar for details.
Friday 30th May, Newcastle: Growing the Seeds – Playback Theatre Workshop Series. See calendar for details.
Sunday 8th June, London: True Heart Theatre’s Playback Improvers Network. More details here.
Sunday 8th June, London: London Playback Theatre presents: Stories of Change. More details here.
Saturday 14th June, Manchester: DJ Jomo’s Taster into Digital Playback Theatre Musician. Details below:
That’s all for now. Remember you can keep in touch the following ways:
- Join the mailing list
- Whatsapp Community
- Email: twoislandsplayback@gmail.com
Hugs,
Agi, Andy, Anna, Alexus, Bel, Ferran, Ivy, Lou, Marcin, Sarah & Steve
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