Ferran Luengo

Hi, I’m Ferran. I am a Spanish actor, improviser, applied theatre facilitator, and accredited Playback Theatre trainer based in London. My journey began in the year 2000 when I joined a university theatre group; what started as a hobby soon snowballed into my professional calling.

I am deeply passionate about Playback Theatre, a practice I’ve been dedicated to since 2013. This work has taken me across several continents to lead workshops, and I currently serve as the Secretary of the International Playback Theatre Network (IPTN), while serving as well in the Iberian Playback Theatre Association. In London, I continue to perform and facilitate with both London Playback and True Heart Theatre.

As an improviser, my journey in improv began in 2006, transitioning from a background in scripted theatre. I strive to bring the awareness and heart of Playback Theatre into my improv style, having trained with numerous Spanish and international teachers, as well as at The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. While in Spain, I co-founded the English-speaking group Valencia Improv Playground. Now, here in London, I perform with the acapella musical improv troupe Acaprov, Not GCSE Drama, and the scene based ensemble Shuffle.

As an applied theatre facilitator and performer, I am firmly committed to theatre in education. I facilitate drama workshops and performed in dozens of schools and colleges across London and beyond, using the stage as a tool for learning and growth.

A good way to know me

I am a multidisciplinary performer and applied theatre practitioner with over two decades of experience spanning stage acting, improvisation, and storytelling. I've always been quite keen in learning, and I've travelled a lot with that purpose, having trained and performed across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.

Artistic Foundation & Training

My journey began in college and evolved into a deep academic pursuit, including a Master’s Degree in Applied Theatre and a Postgraduate degree in Theatre in Education. I have sought out world-class training to sharpen my craft, from physical theatre and Commedia dell'Arte to specialized intensives at The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. As a musical theatre lover, my formation includes Jazz and Tap dance, vocal technique added to two years of formal training in Voice Over.

Stage & Improv Performance

Between 2002 and 2018, I performed in over 20 professional productions in Spain, working in both Spanish and Catalan under directors such as Joan Comes and Paco Zarzoso. In the last decade, I have fully immersed myself in the improv scene. I co-founded the Valencia Improv Playground to establish English-language improv in the city. Currently, I am active in the UK circuit, performing with musical and long-form troupes like Acaprov and Not GCSE Drama, and Shuffle in London.

Applied & Playback Theatre

Since 2013, I have specialized in Playback Theatre, using performance as a tool for social awareness and community building. Nowadays, I perform perform with London-based companies like True Heart Theatre and London Playback, where we portray real stories to foster connection, awareness and empathy.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours facilitating and I’d like to make it thousands. Having worked with a wide range of communities, you might find a workshop suitable for yours among these.

Playback Theatre Workshops

Playback Theatre is one of the many forms of applied theatre and my main tool. There are many ingredients for a Playback Theatre session: a conductor, music, actors… and real stories brought up from the audience. Those sessions typically are oriented to a specific social collective. We work and improvise from the stories, always treating them with respect and trying to honour the teller.

With over a decade of experience, I’ve worked with Playback Theatre. in several environments. Education, corporate, mental health and different types of communities.

I’ve facilitated both new and experienced Playback Theatre practitioners around the world. Spain, Portugal, England, Northern Ireland, Japan, United States, Hungary, China and South Africa are some of the countries I’ve had the pleasure to facilitate in.

These are the workshops I facilitate

• LEVEL 1 – Improv for social change: Introduction to Playback Theatre.
• LEVEL 2 – Embracing long-form stories. (12 hours intensive)
• LEVEL 2 – The voice within. (3-6 hours intensive)
• Company coaching (all levels)

Improv Workshops

Yes, and...

• Improv Basics: Yes, and… what? (Novice)
• Perspective and Magical Realism (Intermediate)
• Introduction to Impro Match (Intermediate)
• Empty Space, Immediate Theatre (Advanced)
• Improvisación en Español (All levels)
• Improvisació en Català (All levels)
• Coaching (All levels)

Applied Theatre Workshops

The escalating global trends of social and economic challenges have spurred a corresponding growth in forming groups and applied theatre companies dedicated to community engagement. With these workshops, I aim to bring the social role of applied theatre, responding to the increasing need for positive community impact.

• Collective Creation in Community Spaces
• El Workshoppo: Improv for language learning.
• Theatre in Education

If you are interested in a quote or want more information, feel free to contact me.

Playback Theatre is one of the many forms of applied theatre and my main tool. There are many ingredients for a Playback Theatre session: a conductor, music, actors… and real stories brought up from the audience. Those sessions typically are oriented to a specific social collective. We work and improvise from the stories, always treating them with respect and trying to honour the teller.

With over a decade of experience, I’ve worked with Playback Theatre. in several environments. Education, corporate, mental health and different types of communities. I’ve facilitated both new and experienced Playback Theatre practitioners around the world. Spain, Portugal, England, Northern Ireland, Japan, United States, Hungary, and South Africa are some of the countries I’ve had the pleasure to facilitate in.

• LEVEL 1 – Improv for social change: Introduction to Playback Theatre.
• LEVEL 2 – Embracing long-form stories. (12 hours intensive)
• LEVEL 2 – Acaplayback: The music within. (3-6 hours intensive)

Ways to reach out to me

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Playing Back an Improvised Life

In this newsletter, I’ll bring you updates on actual and future projects. I'll invite you to reflect with me on improv, Playback Theatre, applied theatre, other kinds of theatre and more. Plus, a dose of the geeky things that bring me joy.