Talk Backs

http://www.facebook.com/tcg.org?ref=nf

On its Facebook page, Theatre Communications Group wants to hear from those in the know about the effectiveness of "talk backs." See my comment and others.

For those of you who are not Facebook members, here's my Facebook comment:

"Anything that gives an audience an appropriate and substantive opportunity for dialogue with artists is a fine thing. I don't see how it in any way violates artistic values—it’s not interfering with the work itself, but is just another way to reflect on the work. And talk backs don’t thwart conversations among theatergoers as they leave the theater, they stimulate conversation.

Audiences attending readings at (Chicago Dramatists ) have a particularly uplifting experience at talk backs for plays-in-progress, because they’re monitored with one simple rule: The playwright is not there to defend or explain the play. If you haven’t experienced such a constructive talk back, you can only imagine how useful feedback can be with this simple constraint in place.

Worth considering making the “no defense, no explanations” rule in force at all talk backs. An audience may be looking for a talk back to interpret what’s just been seen, but they could be encouraged instead to reflect back the experience they had. It’s a powerful technique."