Our current program STRONG TOGETHER evolved from Hudson River Playback Theatre’s original No More Bullying program, which has reached about 35,000 K-12 students in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Both programs use story-based interactive theatre to:
- build empathy, safety, and respect
- engage imagination and creativity
- explore and practice action steps that bystanders can take
- provide a space for personal stories to be shared safely
NO MORE BULLYING program (NMB) provides one-hour interactive performances based on students’ personal stories, with three shows per day, 5 -person performing team, and audiences of up to 50 students.
For 6th graders and up, the NMB Leadership component trains students who then join the performing team in a series of shows for peers.
Both programs include a 30-minute presentation for school faculty, along with background information for parents and other school personnel.
No More Bullying! brochure
Student and Teacher Comments
Articles about Hudson River Playback Theatre’s anti-bullying work in schools:
“Using Theater to Address Bullying”
Standing Up: Playback Theatre and School Bullying
Playback Theatre practitioners: click here info about training in this approach.
NO MORE BULLYING and STRONG TOGETHER support the goals of other anti-bullying programs. They strengthen the impact of ongoing programs such as PBIS and the Olweus program. They also address NYS Learning Standards in Social Studies, ELA, and the Arts.
See “Our audiences” for a list of schools where we’ve worked!
Student comments:
[Playback Theatre] helps students realize the other things they can do to help people in bullying situations.
I LOVED participating in playback. I loved being able to express myself freely without being judged.
Playback theatre can help students be more confident with their memories.
I enjoyed this group very much. I liked being funny and serious with kids I knew and kids I now know.
I learned that bullying is everywhere you go and there is a way to stop it.
I learned that by re-enacting other people’s stories it gives them an image about what they could have done to prevent the situation.
I learned not to be shy, and what to do in a bullying situation.
I learned that you should always try to do something when someone’s being bullied.
I learned that even if you aren’t the one being bullied you could still help.
I learned that even if a person is different they could be cool.
I think it’s helped me realize what other people go through.
[Playback Theatre] can help by making everything safer and make people realize that bullying is bad.
Sometimes keeping stuff to yourself is bad so they got to say how they feel.
I really liked how people can come together and work together.
[I learned] that a lot of times people were feeling different than [how] they acted. [Playback theatre] helps you understand people’s feelings.
I learned that being yourself is not a crime.
It helped me stop being a bully.
I learned a lot. It helped me because my brother gets picked on a lot.
I know I’m not the only one getting bullied.
I think other students and I have learned [that] with more people on your side sometimes you can help.
We might stop bullying and stand up for what is right.
Comments from teachers and administrators:
Following a multiple-show series on bullying:
“With ingenuity, energy, and knowledge of the task at hand, you created an interactive learning environment where students felt safe enough to take risks in regard to a difficult social issue. You were very sensitive to the needs of our students, and I think your ability to ‘read’ them and to connect to the topic in an inviting way is commendable.”– Dr. Hasna Muhammad, Assistant Principal, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School, Monroe, NY
Following a school-wide series of shows on bullying and sexual harassment:
“…The scenarios were timely, quite relevant, and portrayed incidents that affect our pupils. What is unique about Hudson River Playback Theatre is its ability to elicit stories from the children and to immediately enact them. Equally meaningful are the strategies for resolving conflict. The troupe members elicit the strategies from the pupils and demonstrate how they could be used. Quite powerful!
[The school] was also privileged to have Playback Theatre make a presentation to parents. The parents were most appreciative of this opportunity.” — Dr. Edward Sullivan, Principal, Chancellor Livingston Elementary School, Rhinebeck, NY
Following four performances for 3rd to 5th graders and an evening show for families:
“The Immigrant Stories performances gave many recent immigrants the opportunity to have their often-silenced voices heard. You and your talented troupe of actors approached this topic with such compassion and skill, enabling the participants to feel both comfortable sharing their stories and affirmed by their life-experiences….The teachers were deeply moved by the richness and value of these performances and shared their desire for future performances. — Felipa Gaudet, Kindergarten teacher, Violet Avenue Elementary School, Hyde Park, NY
After a day of performances for 2nd to 5th graders on bullying:
“We noticed how the process of telling stories and seeing them enacted promoted both empathy and empowerment. These performances enhanced the impact of the Olweus program.” — Barbara Schnell, Principal, Woodstock Elementary School, Woodstock, NY.
NMB: Training for Playback Companies