Pitkänen, Jori
President
Country: FinlandEmail: jori.pitkanen@gmail.com
I am Playback conductor, actor and group leader from Finland, and momentarily I conduct and lead 5 groups, from which two are more active. I also act in two groups. Playback has played a central part in my life for almost 10 years. In addition to traditional Playback Theatre, I have some more experimental group where we research the form, find new ways of doing playback and also combining playback with other forms of theatre. I train teachers to use Playback in schools, and I also work with Päivi Rahmel in the Finnish Leadership training, as a leader trainer trainee.
Outside playback, I train teachers and drama instructors in drama and game education, work as a career counselor and when having enough time, I try to do my doctoral dissertation in games research. It focuses on the thinking of players during games. I am a psychodramatist and continue my studies momentarily to the next level.
I am the president International Playback Theatre Network. My IPTN journey began when I attended the EPTG in Amsterdam where I met other IPTN actives and became even more interested in the international society. To me, it is important to build bridges. Playback Theatre has the potential to create understanding and empathy, to build bridges among people who have trouble finding and understanding each other. My wish is to contribute to that, to open hearts and eyes to see people they have not seen before.