Longer stories are at the heart of the Playback Theatre experience. In the classic long form known as Scenes or Stories, individual experiences unfold in their full complexity, allowing us to discover meaning, relationship, and shared humanity. This Level 2 training develops the craft, skills, and understanding needed for this crucial and challenging form.
Participants learn to listen deeply to the teller’s story, tracing its emotional arc and key turning points. The training strengthens ensemble awareness and responsiveness, enabling the group to hold the story together while leaving room for spontaneity and discovery. Participants also explore how to weave between abstract or poetic sequences and realistic enactments, allowing metaphor and naturalism to enrich one another.
Through practice, reflection, and feedback, the workshop deepens understanding of the long form and strengthens participants’ capacity to serve tellers and audiences through physical, aesthetic, and resonant enactments.
The workshop is open to those who have completed Core Training (or its equivalent) or have at least 6 months of regular practice in a Playback company.
Early bird price: till 15 March 2026
Workshop registration deadline: 28 April 2026
About
Course Objectives*:
- Deepen their understanding of the long form (Scenes) as a core element of Playback Theatre that fosters shared reflection and community dialogue.
- Develop the artistic and ensemble skills needed to sustain longer, emotionally resonant stories.
- Explore how abstraction, movement, and naturalism can be combined to enrich storytelling.
- Strengthen ethical and aesthetic awareness in serving tellers and audiences through long-form work.
*Course content offered is in line with the curriculum set by the Centre for Playback Theatre
What You’ll Learn:
By the end of this Level 2 training, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of the long form (Scenes) as a core element of Playback Theatre that fosters shared reflection and community dialogue.
- Cultivate greater sensitivity to story, emotion, and relationship within longer narratives.
- Explore how abstraction, movement, and naturalism can reveal different dimensions of human experience.
- Strengthen aesthetic and ethical awareness in how Playback Theatre serves tellers, ensembles, and audiences.
Pre-requisites:
- Has completed Playback Theatre Core Training (or equivalent) or
- Has been in regular practice with an active Playback Theatre company for 6 months.
Course Schedule
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Date
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Time
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Module(s)
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Venue
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1 May 2026 (Fri)
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9.30am - 5.30pm
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Foundations of Scenes
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Ensemble warm-up and review of Playback forms.
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Mapping teller narratives: arcs, turning points, emotional beats.
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Micro-Scenes: practising short fragments to sharpen timing and transitions.
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Reflection on how Scenes serve tellers and audiences.
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Goodman Arts Centre
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2 May 2026 (Sat)
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9.30am - 5.30pm
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Crafting and Sustaining Scenes
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Characterisation and ensemble collaboration.
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Weaving abstraction/poetry with naturalistic enactment.
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Uncast actor choices and interventions.
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Goodman Arts Centre
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3 May 2026 (Sun)
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9.30am - 5.30pm
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Integration
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Advanced scene work: pacing, shifts, resolution.
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Holding complexity and multiple characters.
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Ethics and care in long-form storytelling.
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Goodman Arts Centre
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*Includes lunch break
About The Facilitators
Principal Trainer: Michael Cheng
Michael Cheng is an applied drama practitioner and educator from Singapore. Over the years, he has initiated and facilitated socially engaged applied arts projects with a wide range of communities, including children and youth with disabilities, seniors, and at-risk groups. In addition, Michael teaches applied drama methods as both a freelance trainer and adjunct lecturer. As an accredited Playback Theatre trainer (APTT), he has taught internationally across all levels and is currently a faculty member of the Centre for Playback Theatre’s Leadership course. He is also an accredited trainer and guide of The Listening Hour. Michael holds a Master’s in Arts Pedagogy and Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London, supported by the National Arts Council (Singapore)’s Arts Scholarship.
Assistant Trainer: Renee Chua
Renee Chua is a theatre maker, educator, and applied theatre practitioner committed to creating interdisciplinary work that engages contemporary issues through community collaboration. She founded Her Playback Theatre in 2018 to amplify women's stories and has been a core member of Tapestry Playback Theatre since 2006, using theatre to foster dialogue and social change. Her applied theatre practice spans migrant workers, youth, and seniors, addressing mental health, climate crisis, and social justice issues. Renee is an accredited trainer (APTT) and teaches Playback Theatre locally and internationally. She is also a drama educator at local institutions. Renee holds an MA (Distinction) from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with support from National Arts Council (Postgraduate) Arts Scholarship and Diploma from the Centre for Playback Theatre.
Discounts, Funding & Subsidies
Early Bird Discount [end 15 Mar 2026]
Non-SDEA Members enjoy a 5% early bird discount on the standard course fee.
SDEA Members enjoy a 25% early bird discount on the standard course fee.
SDEA Membership Discount
All SDEA Members enjoy 25% early bird discount (till 15 Mar 2026) or 20% off standard price (16 Mar - 28 Apr 2026).
SDEA Membership is a 2-year renewable membership. A one-time fee of S$40.00 is required upon application. Membership renewal is baTina Sergeant Professional Development Initiative - Journeys on Stage: The Art of Scenes in Playback Theatresed on engagement in SDEA activities (ie. participate in at least 1 SDEA event within the 2 year period.)*
*Membership renewal condition(s) are subjected to changes. Please contact SDEA for the lastest information.
Click to apply for SDEA Membership
Tina Sergeant Professional Development Initiative (TSPDI) (Open to SDEA Members only) [close 22 March 2026]
The Tina Sergeant Professional Development Initiative (TSPDI) is a funding initiative by the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA) to support freelance practitioners and drama educators to make professional development a regular part of their lives.
Successful applicants will be awarded up to S$500 subsidies for this course.
Click here to find out more about the initiative.
Applicants must be: Associate or Ordinary members of SDEA
Apply for TSPDI now.
Application Deadline: Sunday, 22 March 2026, 11:59pm
Shortlisted candidates will be notified for an interview latest by 6 April 2026.
Successful recipients will be notified by: Friday, 10 April 2026.
[Coming soon] SkillsFuture Credit
Singaporeans aged 25 and above who are eligible for SkillsFuture Credit can apply for a claim.
Please inform SDEA upon course registration your intent to utilise your SkillsFuture Credit in part or in full for the qualifying course fee to obtain the necessary supporting documents for the claim.
Visit MySkillsFuture to check your credit balance* and for more information on the claims process.
*Only the SkillsFuture Credit from the Opening Credit is claimable for this course. The Mid-Career Credit is not applicable.
Applicants sponsored by an organisation or request for school e-billing will not be eligible for a SkillsFuture Credit claim.
Please ensure that you have registered for the course before applying for funding.
If you require any support, please contact projects@sdea.org.sg.
About SDEA CET – School of Playback Theatre
SDEA launched the SDEA CET – School of Playback Theatre, an affiliated school with the Centre for Playback Theatre (CPT) in July 2025, with applied drama practitioner and educator Michael Cheng as principal trainer.
This affiliation means SDEA’s Playback Theatre training programmes will be recognised as meeting the standards, values, and pedagogical approaches upheld by the global Playback Theatre community. This includes aligning with CPT’s mission to foster ethical, high-quality training in Playback Theatre and delivery of core curriculum elements consistent with CPT’s approved syllabi.
Students who train at SDEA CET – School of Playback Theatre will receive official recognition of completed courses and gain a formal stepping stone toward international certification in Playback Theatre.
Playback Theatre Level 2 Certification
To obtain a Playback Theatre Level 2 certification, trainees must complete 4 compulsory topic modules and 1 elective topic module. Each module is delivered as an individual workshop with a minimum of 18 training hours.
The 'workshop fulfils the 1 elective module.
