Your story is a work of art.
Come and take a seat in the Teller’s Chair where your stories are greeted with care, connection, and community.
Playback Theatre is an improvisational art form where audience members who choose to share moments and stories from their real lives and performers play them back on the spot using theater, music, movement, and ritual.
What is Playback Theatre?
Although Playback Theatre is a participatory art form, it is also a consensual one. You never have to tell a story if you don’t want to. Whether you choose to share a moment from your seat, share a longer story from the stage, or simply witness the stories of your neighbors, you are 100% valuable to the experience.
Top praise by 100+ audience members
“The work HDP does is sacred. Every playback show I have gone to has moved me to tears of grief, joy and laughter. I’ve had the privilege of being a witness and being witnessed in these wonderful playbacks. I tell all my friends about the shows and I will continue to follow HDP for as long as I can! Mil gracias to the beautiful souls that make each show happen.”
“Wow! I can't say enough good things about the beauty, power, and skills of High Desert Playback. The entire event was carefully crafted to create a sense of community, connection, and safety. I've been raving about it to friends and family ever since I attended last week. I continue to feel supported by the experience at a time when we all need to feel this kind of shared love, care, and possibility. Thank you, HDP!”
“I have been involved with Playback theater for 40 years, and I cannot say enough positive about High Desert Playback. The depth of their listening, hearing and holding the heart of the story, and their creative expression of how they play it back for the teller in the audience is spectacular.”
Ways to Participate
Live Performances
We perform 3-5 live shows per season in Albuquerque. All of our shows are open to the whole community and are free or Pay What It’s Worth.
Join us
See High Desert Playback on TV! Episodes taped live at Studio 519 on the historic Route 66 in Albuquerque, NM.
HDP TV
We are looking for folks to become part of our HDP community!