2. What is Verbatim Theatre?
Definition of ‘VERBATIM’: In exactly the same words as
were used originally.
So ‘Verbatim Theatre’ is where the text/script is created
using the real words of real people.
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3. Verbatim Theatre
Verbatim Theatre is a technique, not a genre. Plays,
musicals, comedies, tragedies have all been created
using verbatim material. Some famous examples
include:
š The Colour of Justice by Richard Norton Taylor
(Tricycle/Kiln Theatre 2011)
š The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and
Stephen Belber (Tectonic Theater Project 2000)
š London Road By Alecky Blythe & Adam Cork
(National Theatre 2011 / film 2015)
š Come From Away by David Hein and Irene Sankoff
(Sheridan College, Ontario 2013 / Broadway 2017 /
West End 2019)
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4. Verbatim Theatre
Like any form of theatre, Verbatim Theatre seeks to find a way to
present the TRUTH.
It’s often referred to as ‘documentary theatre’ and linked to
journalism in a way of representing different voices around a
certain subject or event.
The choices are limitless in how practitioners use the verbatim
material:
Documentary – e.g. The Power of Yes (NT, 2009)
Narrative Drama – e.g. Beyond the Breakers (Eastern Angles,
2005)
Recorded Delivery – practitioners like Alecky Blythe record the
audio of their interviews and those are replayed to the cast who
repeat in real time
Imagined/Verbatim Fusion – e.g. Walking the Chains (Show of
Strength, 2017)
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5. Verbatim Theatre
Once practitioners have collected the
verbatim material, they then have to edit it
down and shape it into a piece of theatre.
š Nothing can be added.
š Cut with caution.
It’s the practitioner’s job to remain truthful to
the intention of the subject – regardless of their
own opinions!
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6. Verbatim Theatre
Staging options are limitless from recreating an
interview, to allowing people who have never
met to occupy the same space onstage.
However, dynamic staging can often be a
challenge, as most verbatim material starts as
‘interviews’ and therefore inherently static.
Important to think carefully about how you
choose to present / represent someone and
their opinion or their experience on stage.
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The Colour of Justice
7. Verbatim Theatre
Things to watch out for:
š Impersonation
š Your own bias
š Pre-determination
š Inaccuracy
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