A Learning Body

Afterthoughts on ATB x Playback Theatre (PBT) seaside retreat in Macau, August 2024

The first three days of ATB workshop were very refreshing and filled with fun and joyful moments. It helped to reconnect myself with my body in a safe and relaxing environment. I particular like the difference ways and methods it guided us in interacting with each others. It even stirred up some thoughts in my mind on the notion of oneness in our relationship with others.

I know it is rather impossible to have a full understanding on the principle of ATB only in three days. And I did have more questions for myself after the workshop… i.e. What kind of awareness did I discover through ATB ? How can one continue to learn and benefit from those exercises and experiences ? And what would be the meaning of ATB for different people ?

Learning doesn’t always lead to answers. But if one can see a meaning in an experience, it would be a lesson he/she need. To me, the PBT workshop that followed after ATB, was very enlightening in doing this. To be honest, the method of PBT was surprisedly inspiring to me, and I was deeply moved by the power of story-telling between the participants. I have never imagined, within only one to two days, a group of mostly beginners can start improvising drama and uncovering deep emotion with each other to such a degree.

Thinking back, I think this may not be possible if this group hasn’t developed that sense of trust and understanding in the first three days of ATB. The safe and unconscious interaction we experienced together in ATB, is nevertheless, a quick warm up for the following PBT experience. And the PBT workshop, somehow helped in answering some of my questions which arose in ATB. I am very grateful to have this opportunity to meet both of these two powerful workshops.

Lastly, I want to say, there were many things I believe were contributing to the “lesson” I had. The place, the sea, the classmates, the host, the board game and the cleaning of the beach in the evening…. All of them was the learning “body” that I played with during the memorable six days :-)