PLAY it BACK!ðŸŽ
In the days 16-26 November 2025, participants from 8 countries: France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, gathered in Abovyan, Armenia to take part in a Training Course ‘PLAY it BACK – Playback theatre for the prevention of emotional burnout in youth work’.
Playback Theatre is a form of improvisational theatre, which puts emphasis on emotions and personal stories that are being shared by the audience and played back by the actors on the stage. During those 9 days of the mobility, youth workers explored different Playback methods and tools, learned how they can be applied in their youth work, as well as they created their own projects. Participants discovered both short and narrative forms of Playback, role-plays and other theatrical techniques.
The project consisted of three main parts: prevention of emotional burnout through body work, vocal expression, emotions and group interactions, getting to know Playback Theatre techniques and ways to use them in the youth field, and creating dissemination projects. The objectives of the project were, among others, to raise emotional self-awareness, support well-being of youth workers and prevent them from emotional burnout, as well as to provide them with useful tools for emotional expression and create a space for partnership development and strengthening networks.
The training was further enriched by study and cultural visits that strengthened participants’ connection to both theatre practice and Armenia’s rich cultural heritage. A visit to the Abovyan Dramatic Theater allowed participants to step onto a real stage, explore the hidden world behind the curtains, and engage in inspiring conversations with local actors about their creative processes and the role of theatre in society. Complementing this experience, visits to the ancient Temple of Garni and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geghard Monastery offered a profound journey through history, spirituality, and tradition. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, participants reflected, shared emotions, and discovered how culture, history, and artistic expression can become powerful sources of inspiration, grounding, and emotional connection—closely aligning with the core values of Playback Theatre.
It was conducted by experienced trainers, who created a safe space for acting out emotions and sharing stories freely.
These 9 days were filled with all different emotions, freedom of expression, creative movement, mutual support, fun, laughter, lots of learning and acting✨
Big thank you to all who contributed to this training!
This training was co-funded by the European Union and implemented within Erasmus+ program.
