Using Playback Theatre to Explore Diversity & Inclusion at Different Organizations
Radhika Jain · 2021-07-09
This article reflects on First Drop Theatre’s use of Playback Theatre as an organisational intervention around diversity and inclusion. Drawing on work across different organisational cultures, it examines how real-life stories can surface assumptions, missing voices and different experiences of the same workplace situation.
The piece considers gender dynamics, allyship, leadership, psychological safety and the importance of creating conditions in which people can speak honestly. It also reflects on how Playback Theatre can move a conversation beyond abstract discussion by allowing participants to see lived experiences enacted, reconsider familiar situations and encounter perspectives different from their own.
A recurring theme is the role of careful facilitation: building an atmosphere that invites participation, protecting the teller and the audience, and making room for a diversity of voices. The article argues that the experiential and spontaneous nature of Playback Theatre can support reflection, empathy and more nuanced organisational conversations.