Workshop Overview

Improvised music is a crucial element in Playback Theatre. However, not all theatre practitioners have formal music training. For performers unfamiliar with music theory, connecting with the audience through song and using music to fully present stories on stage can be a significant challenge. To address this, we have invited an experienced Playback Theatre practitioner from Singapore to Macau. Through an experiential and experimental workshop, we will teach Macau's theatre and music workers how to use various instruments and their own voices as performance mediums, opening their hearts in the theatre to begin a journey of music creation and performance.

This workshop offers 18 hours of training. A professional instructor will introduce Singapore's Playback Theatre training methods, using five training modules to enrich the creative and performance experience of Macau's theatre and music practitioners. The instructor will help participants start from their own favorite music genres. By understanding different musical styles and vocabularies, participants will experiment with vocal sounds and text, create rhythms and melodies through improvisation, build atmosphere and soundscapes, and experience using rhythm to match stories, thereby enhancing the power of Playback Theatre performances.

Instructor

Anne Chua (蔡莉莉)

A Singaporean educational therapist and graduate of the US Playback Theatre Centre. She founded the Singapore Tapestry Playback group in 2002. With eleven years of experience in Playback Theatre performance and instruction, she has served as the Secretary-General (Asia Region) of the International Playback Theatre Network and led her Singapore group to Cambodia to teach Playback Theatre to NGO social workers. Anne views music as a special language. She firmly believes that a musician who truly understands the core of a story can use their singing voice to bring out different layers and express certain elements within the story. Therefore, she always seizes every inspiration, letting her singing voice move her and allowing music to become the spring of her life.

Workshop Details

• Duration: 18 hours
• Dates: January 9, 10, and 11
• Schedule:
  • January 9 (Thu): 18:00–22:00
  • January 10 (Fri): 18:00–22:00
  • January 11 (Sat): 10:00–13:00; 14:00–18:00; 19:00–22:00
• Location: Gathering Point (Block A, 7th Floor, Po Fong Industrial Building, Rua de Manuel de Arriaga, Macau)
• Fee: MOP 900
• Quota: 20 people
• Target Participants: Individuals aged 18 or above who have completed at least 30 hours of basic training or have obtained the instructor's consent, and are interested in how musicians and actors use music on stage. No prior music experience is required.

Workshop Content

1. Introducing My Music

   • Understanding personal music preferences.
   • Understanding different musical styles and vocabularies.
   • Using music as a medium to create stories.

2. Finding My Rhythm

   • Understanding different music styles (folk, nursery rhymes, jazz, pop, new age, rock, reggae, hip-hop, classical).
   • Attempting to create atmosphere and soundscapes through improvisation.
   • Experiencing the use of rhythm to match stories.

3. Creating New Melodies

   • Vocal experiments (sound and text).
   • Creating rhythms and melodies to match free-form performances.
   • Learning operatic-style Playback Theatre.

4. Creating New Songs and Singing Sessions

5. Enhancing the Power of Playback Theatre Through Different Forms Using Music

Preparation Required

1. Participants need to prepare 2 MP3 format music/songs to share how that music genre has influenced their life.
2. Participants need to bring a favorite poem to share with other participants.
3. Participants need to bring a recording device (e.g., a phone with recording function) for use during the song creation session.
4. Participants should wear comfortable clothing for the activities.

Registration & Enquiries

For registration and enquiries, please call Ms. Tai at 66660863.