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On Saturday September 12th ,one of the rooms at Auckland’s CCS complex, was full of people, enjoying wine and cheese and other substances as well as contemplating what stories to reveal. Playback Theatre had returned to act out the experiences of members of the Cerebral Palsy Society.

Participation was simple. Take a big breath and blurt out an incident in your life and the playback performers would act it out. It did not matter whether it was a moment in your life or a complete episode, it was re-inacted before our eyes.

First the actors introduced themselves. There was Trevor who is about to fly off to Italy; lucky fellow, Julie who seemed confused as to what time the performance started, Rosemary who was looking forward to the evening with her usual enthusiasm, Richard whose mind was partially elsewhere, with his mother quarantined in some nursing home. Jessica who is busy fighting off fellow applicants for a school drama teacher’s role and Garth the musician who remembers ploughing a tractor right where we sat, thankfully some time ago.

Once warmed up the incidents and episodes came thick and fast.

There was a call to save the planet, adventures in China and descriptions of lambs falling down a long drop.

Claire revealed that she was a cat in a hat at a costume party,

Micheal relived a boccia tournament which inspired colourful, but opinionated, human bowling balls and Kaylene apparently received a very rude phone call.

All great fun and what’s more the players will be back next year. So keep on collecting those stories and keep a look out for the déjà vu entertainment.

Ross Flood
rflood@cpsociety.org.nz