Up Close & Personal with Joanna Winchester

September 10, 2015

JoTwice
Old Globe Theatre San Diego, Times Square NYC

 

1. Where and when did you first come across Playback Theatre?
I was returning to Sydney after living away for a year and I was keen to get back into acting and working on my improvisation skills. I saw the advertisement for Sydney School of Playback (the Training arm of PlaybackTheatreSydney), and spoke to Johanna. I then came along to a public performance and the show moved me so much that I was even more inspired to be part of the troupe so I auditioned. I was so happy when I was invited into the ensemble.

 

2. What attracted you to it and when did you join the ensemble?
I joined in August 2007. Improvisation has always been a skill that I have been good at when it comes to acting due to a strong teacheratschool and some amazing fellow drama students. I was in a Theatresports team when I was at university but I got tired of the strong ‘gag’ factor. With Playback you are free to use the full range of human emotion and that is more attractive for an actor developing their skills. Also, I saw how Playback Theatre has a strong collaborative and social impact on the audience by opening up dialogue. This fitted nicely with my own work in community arts.

 

3. What’s the most outrageous character you’ve improvised onstage?
I have trouble remembering my parts once the show is over! But I always enjoy bringing to life feelings or inanimate objects. Recently in rehearsal I played a Sydney parking space (finding a parking space in Sydney is really difficult!) so I played it as a ‘hard to get’ seducing female.

 

4. Is there a story that moved you that you still think about today?
There were some strong stories in the August public performance, so they’re front of mind at the moment. A story of a young woman who worked hard to go on holidays and then got the news a close friend had died was particularly moving, especially since I was cast as the friend who died – it affected me a lot. I am also always moved by the stories that the ensemble share as they are very intimate.

 

5. What do you like doing when you’re not doing Playback?
I love to read! Crime fiction is my favorite genre. I try and go to the theatre as much as I can as well. Most of my time is spent though looking after/playing with my two sons Spencer and Fox. They have both shown me how early kids like to start performing. Spencer especially loves being on stage!

 

6. Where do you think Playback makes the greatest impact?
The Playback Theatre stories impact the audience, there’s no doubt about that, but for me, I think it has the greatest impact on the ensemble itself and it’s been an amazing place of inner growth for me. It has taught me how valuable an individual story is for our own learning. I have learned how to listen – really listen – to other people, and then to communicate back with true empathy. Playback has taught me how important honest and open relationships are to a functioning group. I have gained huge skills atmywork place in leadership because of my work in Playback Theatre Sydney. There is also huge potential for organisations to be impacted by Playback to change and grow. Last year we facilitated a major breakthrough in a big organization and that was extremely satisfying as a theatre company to be a part of their positive change.


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