South African Playback Theatre Association

08/03/2026

There was a time when our friends from Lebanon stood by us, encouraging SAPTA on our journey towards the 2023 IPTN conference. And now Laban Playback needs our support. With the ongoing bombs and air strikes, they have been forced to evacuate their homes and are currently displaced.
To support, donate what you can to the below link. And if you cannot donate at this time, please share this post to spread the word.

https://gofund.me/f32005940

18/11/2025

🌍 Playback Theatre: The First Generation Speaks – Africa Edition

🎤 Featuring Lesley Palmer, Kathy Barolsky & Samson Setumo

📅 Wednesday, November 19, 2025

🕖 Time zones:

07:00 New York (EST) | 12:00 London (GMT) | 13:00 CET
14:00 South Africa
14:00 Bulgaria | 17:30 India | 20:00 Hong Kong | 23:00 Sydney | 01:00 NZT (Nov 20)

🎟️ Free Zoom registration:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/08YxJXZsR9Cr6eQipsQtVg

Join us for a profound and moving dialogue with three powerful voices from the African continent:

✨ Samson Setumo – Social change strategist, public health leader, and the first to bring Playback Theatre to Botswana. A graduate of Vassar and Wits, he integrates drama with education and community transformation.

✨ Lesley Palmer – Drama and Movement Therapist, Play Therapist, and co-founder of Bonfire and GroundSpring Playback Theatre in Cape Town. Her work spans over two decades across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, and Brazil.

✨ Kathy Barolsky – Associate Professor at NTNU (Norway), researcher and Playback Theatre practitioner. Founder of Drama for Life Playback Theatre in Johannesburg and author of a PhD on Playback in post-apartheid South Africa.

👥 Host: Tzveta Baliyska (Playback Theatre “Here and Now”, Bulgaria)

🎧 Tech Support: Beáta Somogyi (Hungary) & Dami Po-Ti-Eri (Nigeria)

🔔 This is the final session of our global series The First Generation Speaks – part of the celebration of 50 Years of Playback Theatre.

Be there for a truly global gathering of insight, vision, and Playback passion.

21/10/2024

DUMELANG Jozi Playbackers!

SAPTA is thrilled to announce another exciting opportunity for you! 🎭 The Johannesburg School of Mask & Movement Theatre is hosting
The Masked Player: Embodied Play for the Actor/Performer.
SAPTA is sponsoring 5 Playback practitioners to attend the last workshop of 2024!

📅 Dates: 30 Nov & 1 Dec
- Saturday: Full Day
- Sunday: Half Day

Interested? Send an email to [email protected] with your name and a short motivation to secure your spot.

Note: Full attendance on both Saturday and Sunday is required.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to grow your craft and end the year strong! 🌟

19/09/2024

DUMELANG South African Playbackers!

🎭The Johannesburg School of Mask & Movement Theatre is hosting a new workshop, this time PROVOKING PLAY: making devised theatre, another perfect workshop for our PlAyBaCk NiNjA AcToRs who in a short span of time, bring stories to life. South African Playback Theatre Association (SAPTA) is sponsoring 6 Playbackers to attend!

Interested? Send an email to SAPTA at [email protected] with your name and a short motivation as well as the contact of a reference who can vouch for your Playback Theatre experience!

Time:
Saturday 28th September 09h00 - 17h00
Sunday 29th September 09h00 - 13h00
Venue:
UJ Rehearsal Room A (Bunting Road Campus)
Note: Full attendance on both Saturday and Sunday is required in order to receive this scholarship support from SAPTA.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! 🌟

27/08/2024

With just three days to go, don't miss out on this exciting opportunity! 📢🎉

Almost 20 years ago, the first traces of Playback Theatre emerged in South Africa and one of our associates, Meqoqo PT Collective based at Rhodes University, has been cooking up a publication that celebrates our kaleidoscope of Playback Stories and experiences.

See their call for stories about Playback Theatre in Africa-

They’re looking for Essays or articles about your PT practice between 2000 - 6000 words. Or PT Stories you’ve encountered that have stayed with you between 600 - 1500 words.

Send first draft submissions to Lalu at [email protected]

Submission deadline 30 August 2024. For more details, read the full document.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B6LjKJW4qd6xugh81I1_ZfJ2N6Ak3nJO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107673205841187350800&rtpof=true&sd=true

20/08/2024

📢 Call for Stories/Papers for Publication! 📝

Dear friends and fellow creatives,

We are excited to remind you that the deadline for submitting your stories or papers is fast approaching! If you have a story to tell or a paper you'd like to share, now is the time to get your ideas down and send them.

📅 Submission Deadline: 30 August 2024
📩 Where to Submit: Send your first draft submissions to Lalu at [email protected]

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute and make your voice heard.

Feel free to share this post and spread the word! 🙌

Almost 20 years ago, the first traces of Playback Theatre emerged in South Africa and one of our associates, Meqoqo PT Collective based at Rhodes University, has been cooking up a publication that celebrates our kaleidoscope of Playback Stories and experiences.

See their call for stories about Playback Theatre in Africa-

They’re looking for Essays or articles about your PT practice between 2000 - 6000 words. Or PT Stories you’ve encountered that have stayed with you between 600 - 1500 words.

Send first draft submissions to Lalu at [email protected]

Submission deadline 30 August 2024. For more details, read the full document.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B6LjKJW4qd6xugh81I1_ZfJ2N6Ak3nJO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107673205841187350800&rtpof=true&sd=true

19/08/2024

08/08/2024

Almost 20 years ago, the first traces of Playback Theatre emerged in South Africa and one of our associates, Meqoqo PT Collective based at Rhodes University, has been cooking up a publication that celebrates our kaleidoscope of Playback Stories and experiences.

See their call for stories about Playback Theatre in Africa-

They’re looking for Essays or articles about your PT practice between 2000 - 6000 words. Or PT Stories you’ve encountered that have stayed with you between 600 - 1500 words.

Send first draft submissions to Lalu at [email protected]

Submission deadline 30 August 2024. For more details, read the full document.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B6LjKJW4qd6xugh81I1_ZfJ2N6Ak3nJO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107673205841187350800&rtpof=true&sd=true

05/08/2024

Throwback to an Amazing Weekend!

On July 27th and 28th, we had the pleasure of sponsoring 4 talented Playbackers to attend the workshop on mimo-dynamics of colours, hosted by the Johannesburg School of Mask & Movement Theatre. 🎭

A big shoutout to Khatala Nkomo, Lucky Moeketsi, Pertunia Msami, and Nolwazi Mahlangu for joining us and making the most of this incredible experience!

Pertunia Msami shared her thoughts on the workshop:

"This workshop truly validated the essence of creativity, expanding and enriching it in a profound way. It opened up many opportunities to embrace and explore one's creative potential. It emphasized the importance of nurturing creativity, allowing it the space to grow and breathe, which in turn leads to something real and beautiful—something that can be shared with others. The experience felt liberating and inspiring in that sense."

Special thanks to the JMAM directors Kyla Davis and Rob Pombo for being part of this journey and sharing their expertise with us.

Keep an eye out for more opportunities to study with JMAM through a sponsored SAPTA ticket! 🎟️✨

22/07/2024

Dear Playbackers!

Our workshop spots are filling up quickly! If you still want a chance at sponsorship to attend the exciting workshop on mimo-dynamics of colours hosted by the Johannesburg School of Mask & Movement Theatre, act fast!

Details:
Time:
- Saturday, 27th: 09h00 - 17h00
- Sunday, 28th: 09h00 - 13h00

Venue:
- UJ Rehearsal Room A (Bunting Road Campus)

Send an email to SAPTA at [email protected] with your name and a short motivation to secure your spot.

Note: Full attendance on both Saturday and Sunday is required.

Hurry and don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! 🌟

DUMELANG South African Playbackers!

It's been seven months since we launched the South African Playback Theatre Association (SAPTA), and we have some amazing opportunities lined up for you!

Exciting News! 🎭 The Johannesburg School of Mask & Movement Theatre is hosting a workshop on the mimo-dynamics of colours, perfect for our PlAyBaCk NiNjA AcToRs. SAPTA is sponsoring 10 Playbackers to attend!

Interested? Send an email to SAPTA at [email protected] with your name and a short motivation to secure your spot.

Time:
Saturday 27th 09h00 - 17h00
Sunday 28th 09h00 - 13h00
Venue:
UJ Rehearsal Room A (Bunting Road Campus)
Note: Full attendance on both Saturday and Sunday is required.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! 🌟

18/07/2024

DUMELANG South African Playbackers!

It's been seven months since we launched the South African Playback Theatre Association (SAPTA), and we have some amazing opportunities lined up for you!

Exciting News! 🎭 The Johannesburg School of Mask & Movement Theatre is hosting a workshop on the mimo-dynamics of colours, perfect for our PlAyBaCk NiNjA AcToRs. SAPTA is sponsoring 10 Playbackers to attend!

Interested? Send an email to SAPTA at [email protected] with your name and a short motivation to secure your spot.

Time:
Saturday 27th 09h00 - 17h00
Sunday 28th 09h00 - 13h00
Venue:
UJ Rehearsal Room A (Bunting Road Campus)
Note: Full attendance on both Saturday and Sunday is required.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! 🌟