Enjoy the »interplay« journals recent issue !

The December 2012 issue of Interplay is now online. Exploring the theme of playback theatre and reconciliation it aims to contribute to contemporary debate about arts and reconciliation. Playback Theatre has featured in reconciliation projects from the outset and as it spread to developing countries often found application in conflict transformation, intercultural dialogues and peace building. Similarly, from its earliest development playback practitioners have grappled with the tensions of playback theatre for dialogic purposes. Significantly some of the most thoughtful writing about playback theatre practice emerged as very experienced practitioners reflected on their own involvement in peace building and reconciliation projects including Bev Hosking, Mary Good, and Jonathan Fox. The last issue of Interplay contained a review of the double volume Acting Together: Performance and the Transformation of Conflict edited by Cynthia E. Cohen, Roberto Gutierrez Verea and Polly O Walker (New Village Press, CA.) which featured a chapter by Jo Salas who writes about a number of playback projects in war zones. See page 26 for more specific information about this reflective writing and where it is published.

This issue of Interplay continues this tradition and presents recent writing about the kind of projects that are currently possible. Fr Benny SJ and Cymbeline Buhler write about the Theatre of Friendship Network that has become possible in Sri Lanka after years of hard work. North American playbacker, Jen Kristel documents the care and attention required to prepare her arts team in her recent project work in Bangladesh where an unexpected tragedy within the community complicated what is already a challenging context.

Also in this issue, we follow the progress of an award-winning project by Margaret Meixner and Theatre SOG in Austria which sought to document women‘s experience of industrial work in regional Austria. Margaret‘s paper recalls the tensions and ultimate success along the way.

There are two 'second-parts' inside as we continue to follow the development of Jan Platander and also continue the report from the inaugural World Playback Week in London with Veronica Needa and Claudia Vau and featuring Larry Ng.

Writing for the first time for the International Playback Theatre Community Petros Theodorou (Greece) and Alice Faber (The Netherlands) report on key events from their year. Petros writes about a four-group meeting in Thessaloniki where Italian and Greek companies came together, while Alice writes of her personal triumphs throughout 2012.

My own short essay offers some thoughts about playback in response to a world in crisis and suggests that playback practice must support compassion. Finally there are some recommended resources to support your own work in this area.

See also the IPTN Board announcement about the next International Event in Montreal in 2015.

Happy Christmas and Good Traveling into 2013,
Rea Dennis