About Us

About us Playback South is made up of a lively group of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. The group has evolved since our inception in 1998.
Duncan Foster	Duncan is a full time actor playing major theatres in the UK and USA with roles as diverse as The Gruffalo, Macbeth, Jason and Geppetto. In the summer of 2009 Duncan appeared on the West End Stage in We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Duchess Theatre). Film credits include The Boat That Rocked, written and directed by Richard Curtis. Duncan is active in a wide range of improvisation - Comedy Impro, Forum Theatre, Clowning and role play. Duncan's teaching includes acting, improvisation, cultural diversity and presentation skills for business. He teaches both in the UK and internationally - USA, East Asia and Europe. www.duncan.foster.net	Julia Munrow	Julia trained at RADA and was Artistic Director of the MOMI Actors at the National Film Theatre and writer for the British Film Institute. Plays commissioned by the BFI include Black In The Frame, News From No-Man's Land and Silent Women? Work as a performer ranges from classical - Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing for Mark Rylance's company and experimental, physical theatre - Katerina in dreamthinkspeak's Underground at the Barbican. In 2008 Julia is performing in Ionesco's absurdist The Lesson for the National Theatre of Romania.
Erene is a Research Fellow, Forum Theatre facilitator and performer. in Identity, performance and Social Action: Playback and Forum Theatre among refugees (www.uel.ac.uk/ipsa). Erene Kaptani was born in Lesvos, Greece. She completed and MA in Applied Anthropology Community and Youth Work from Goldsmith's University, a Professional Diploma in Dramatherapy and a diploma in Acting. She conducted research on three generations of Greek Cypriot women in London, on experiential learning methods working with migrants and she published on Playback, Forum and social change. She trains undergraduate and post graduate students in using Forum, Playback Theatre and ensemble work with groups. She performed in various theatre venues and festivals.	Erene Kaptani	Maria trained at the Drama Studio London. Work in Tokyo and London includes children's theatre for 'Disney', TV commercials, voiceovers, gospel, jazz and cabaret singing and stand up comedy. She has devised and lead singing and children's theatre workshops in rural communities in Kenya, and Palestinian refugee camps. In UK, she has worked with adults with learning difficulties and this work, in particular, remains very close to her heart. Play readings for stroke patients In addition to her first loves, singing and acting, Maria currently teaches Business English, Pronunciation, Presentation skills and Cultural Awareness to language learners and voice coaches both foreigners and native speakers.	Maria Henry
Ruth Frances	After studying English & Drama at Surrey University, I then went to Drama Studio. After which I worked as a professional actress for 9 years. I then trained to be a Dramatherapist and am now in the midst of training to be a 5 Rhythms Teacher (A movement mediation practice). I have since worked as a Dramatherapist in the NHS: working with adults, forensics, elderly, young people, children and people who have been homeless. My clients have included people who have been acutely unwell with different mental health illnesses, physically disabled people, young carers who are primarily the main carer in a family when one parent is ill, children in mental health, elderly people suffering from Alzheimers,I mix between being a dramatherapist and using my acting skills in different settings. Currently I am working with young people in mediation work using Playback and Forum Theatre.	Hugh Willbourn	Hugh worked in fringe and commercial theatre before working as a storyteller and promoter for seven years. He joined Playback South ten years ago and is now the artistic director. He is a founding partner of qualitative market research company Corr Willbourn Research and a director of ethical trading scheme Bags of Change . He is a long-term collaborator with Paul McKenna , co-authoring How to mend your broken heart, and script writing for Paul. He has also written Agree to Win a guide to successful negotiation. He is also a psychotherapist and a communications and negotiation consultant.
Jon played guitar in several college bands and performed at the Edinburgh fringe whilst pursuing a career in psychiatric social work. After acting with Tower Theatre Company in the 1980’s his interests in story telling and journalism prompted a period of extensive travel within Asia to record ethnic music and collect tribal tales. Jon later retrained as a counsellor and subsequently a (UKCP registered) psychotherapist. He currently sees adults, children and adolescents at his West London private practice. A supervisor, writer and trainer, his interests include adolescence, managing life-changes and integrating creative arts approaches with therapy. Improvising variously on keyboard, guitar and percussion, Jon has enjoyed making music with Playback South for over seven years. Email: life-changes@ntlworld.com	Jon Blend	Dan is a qualified Drama and Movement Therapist, with several years experience working as a professional actor and director. Dan qualified at the Central school of Speech and Drama and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, and works as a drama teacher at Actor Works and Mountview, The Court Yard Theatre and The Academy Drama School. Recently he completed a video production for BBC Open University and acted in several films by Lexitricity Productions. He directed Shakespeare’s The Tempest for Studio Upstairs Performance Group at Diorama Arts Centre, as well as Irvine Welsh’s HEADSTATE for Bittersweet Theatre Company at the Landor Theatre and Caryl Churchill’s VINEGAR TOM at the Etcetera Theatre Dan recently directed the very successful shows DANGEROUS and THE IGNORANCE for FortressProductions. Dan was the original co-founder of eurika theatre and redshoestheatrecompa.	Dan Skili

Mark Huhnen	Angelika Wienrich	Hayden Forde	plus.....Jane and Dimitri

About us