Effects of Playback Theatre on cognitive function and quality of life in older adults in Singapore

Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 06 November 2025

Tags: Care Continuum, Population Health, Mental Health, Intermediate and Long Term Care ＆ Community Care, Social Welfare, Quality Of Life

About this Content

Aims

This study investigated the effects of Playback Theatre on older adults cognitive function and well-being, specifically in the Singapore context. In the present context, Playback Theatre is designed for older adults as an interactive, improvisational theatrical form that can also incorporate intergenerational participation. Integral to the teaching of these Playback Theatre forms are the notions of constructive play, ensemble team building and reflexivity. As part of their Playback Theatre learning, older adults are expected to contribute their personal true-life stories, participate as actors and witness the activities performed.

Methods

Eighteen healthy older adults, older than 50 years of age, participated in the study. Due to practical limitations, a single-group prepost study design was adopted. Participants completed the outcome measures before and after the training program. There were six weekly sessions in total (about 1.5 hours, once weekly).

Results

Participants experienced a significant improvement in their emotional well-being after training. However, there were no significant changes in participants cognitive function or health-related quality of life. Our results suggest that Playback Theatre as a community program has potential to improve the mental and emotional well-being of older people.

Lessons Learnt

Theatrical training has demonstrated a positive cognitive effect, but Playback Theatre is different. The fundamental difference is that Playback Theatre is fluid and improvisational, and is non-script-based with no memorisation involved. Speculatively, rehearsal of scripts and scenes in conventional theatrical training might contribute to memory-enhancing effects. The slightly improved logical memory performance (based on story recall) was not significant, but we realise we had insufficient statistical power in this feasibility study. This is interesting as Playback Theatre involves the retelling and re-enactment of ones personal stories. Nonetheless, Playback Theatre is not designed to target any specific cognitive aspects. Another important difference is the considerably longer training frequency and intensity reported in the past studies on theatrical training, compared to the present study (that suffered a two-week interruption that could have diluted the training effects). The absence of a control group to make conclusive claims is another constraint. It is also noted that the participants were in general active people; it is unclear whether the training program would have differential impacts on individuals at different level of mental stimulation or activity [14]. For example, most participants already had a good quality of life (based on Euro-QoL5D), and the margin of improvement would thus be limited.

Additional Information

This study was supported by an internal funding from Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore. We are grateful to Shereen Pong Sze Wan for the provision of logistical assistance with the participants and, most importantly, all the research participants who made this study possible. The authors declare no conflicts of interestThis study was supported by an internal funding from Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore. We are grateful to Shereen Pong Sze Wan for the provision of logistical assistance with the participants and, most importantly, all the research participants who made this study possible. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Keywords

cognitive function, older adults, playback theatre, quality of life.

Innovators' Details

Connect with this contributor!

Devin Chew Sim Chee - chee_chew_sim@tp.edu.sg

Project Attachment

170_TP_TPCABS_Effects_of_Playack_Theatre_on_cognitive_function_and_quality_of_life.pdf (opens in new tab)