SDEA is affiliated with the Centre for Playback Theatre as a School of Playback Theatre. This affiliation was announced at the SDEA Theatre Arts Conference 2025.

SDEA is affiliated with the Centre for Playback Theatre as a School of Playback Theatre.

SDEA’s Playback Theatre programmes will be recognised as meeting the standards, values, and pedagogical approaches upheld by the global Playback Theatre community. This includes aligning with CPT’s mission to foster ethical, high-quality training in Playback Theatre and delivery of core curriculum elements consistent with CPT’s approved syllabi.

Students who train at SDEA will receive official recognition of completed courses and gain a formal stepping stone toward international certification in Playback Theatre.

About Playback Theatre

Playback Theatre is practiced in over 70 countries around the world, from Japan to Australia to Nepal and around Europe. It is a form of community theatre where personal stories from the audience are improvised spontaneously on stage. This applied theatre method seeks to create community connections and dialogue through surfacing untold stories from lesser heard voices.

About Principal Trainer Michael Cheng

Michael Cheng is an applied drama practitioner and educator from Singapore. Over the years, he has initiated and facilitated socially engaged applied arts projects with a wide range of communities, including children and youth with disabilities, seniors, and at-risk groups. In addition, Michael teaches applied drama methods as both a freelance trainer and adjunct lecturer. As an accredited Playback Theatre trainer (APTT), he has taught internationally across all levels and is currently a faculty member of the Centre for Playback Theatre’s Leadership course. He is also an accredited trainer and guide of The Listening Hour. Michael holds a Master’s in Arts Pedagogy and Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London, supported by the National Arts Council (Singapore)’s Arts Scholarship.