Subject: VVIX retreat a success
From: "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: 13 Oct 2014 18:00:39 -0400

Dear VVIX performers and parents:

Thank you for taking the time out of your schedules today to participate in the VVIX retreat with Friendly Rewinders Playback Theatre from Upper School.  It was a huge success!  (Anna, Kamil, &  Indie:  we'll fill you in on Wednesday.)

I've pasted below a write-up about the experience --- attached are some photos.

See you at Wednesday's rehearsal!

Tim Reagan

US students train MS students in all-day Playback Theatre Retreat

Thirty-three Middle and Upper School students spent five hours of their Monday Fall Break at an all-day Playback Theatre retreat in the MS Drama Studio.  The US troupe Friendly Rewinders Playback Theatre (FRPT) led the program which began with a performance for Vertical Voices IX (VVIX), the ninth generation of the 8th grade Playback troupe in MS.

Playback is about storytelling and story listening; it embodies Quaker values and is an integral part of the 7th grade course “Quakerism and the Arts.”  Nine years ago Vertical Voices was formed as a result of student interest in sharing Playback outside the classroom.  Friendly Rewinders, a US club formed in 2012, provides students in grades 9-12 with the opportunity to bring Playback to the wider community.

The retreat focused on students from both divisions teaching, learning, refining, and practicing Playback Theatre techniques.  Playback Theatre invites audience members to share personal stories which are replayed by a company actors. It gives voice to people in a community and honors the human experience by bringing personal stories to life on the stage through artistry, ritual, and social interaction.  .

Comments by MS & US students:

“It was fun learning the new drama warm-ups like the Samurai group game and scorpion.”  David Hacker, 8th grade

“The Friendly Rewinders performance was very memorable today.  I learned a lot from it” Harry Kay, 8th grade

“Going into small groups and working on Playback was really fun” Dean Mazlish, 8th grade

“Bonding” Caleb Freeman, 8th grade

“This experience was very helpful, plus this is motivating me to continue with Playback after Vertical Voices” Tess Harvey, 8th grade

“Seeing the chemistry of Friendly Rewinders during their show was really impressive” Jacob Walters, 8th grade

Comments by US students

“It was really cool to see how much interest and appreciation the 8th graders had for Playback and for our comments and lessons, but I also really enjoyed seeing how much we learned from them. There were a number of things that the 8th graders did and opinions they expressed that we had not really thought of: for example, they spent more time checking in with teller after the story, making sure the teller felt comfortable and appreciative of the portrayal of their experience. I think the act of teaching anything to other people helps you understand it better yourself, and I know this was definitely true for me personally, as explaining Playback to less experienced students made me think about it in a completely different way. The 8th graders brought new perspectives and fresh energy to the forms of Playback we had been doing ourselves. I think this workshop was very beneficial for both the Vertical Voices and the Friendly Rewinders troupes.” – Sadie Coffin

“I loved the dedication both troupes brought to the retreat. It was a long, packed day, but everyone was committed to teaching, learning, and offering helpful feedback all around. Everyone was supportive of each other as they picked up new skills and improved old ones.” - Sofia Campoamor

“I loved being able to spend time with a class that I normally would have no interactions with. These 8th graders were thoughtful in their feedback and collaborations, generous with their time and attention, and open to new ideas and experiences. We learned as much from their fresh take on Playback as they did from our experience.” – Jerome Walker

Comment by Tim Reagan

“It was great to witness students from both divisions making this kind of connection.  Personal stories and experiences were listened to and replayed with honesty and integrity.”

Tim’s key words from the retreat: Affirmation, acceptance, being heard, recognition, permission, respectful, and imaginative.</