How To Make Verbatim Theatre: A Captivating Journey

Verbatim theatre is a captivating form of performance art that has gained popularity in recent years. This unique style of theatre involves creating a play or performance based on real-life interviews, testimonies, or documentary material. Through the powerful combination of documentary material and theatrical techniques, verbatim theatre provides a powerful medium to explore social, political, and personal issues.

Understanding Verbatim Theatre

Verbatim theatre is often used to shed light on important events or stories that may have been overlooked or forgotten. It offers a platform for voices that are often silenced or marginalized in society. By using real words spoken by real people, verbatim theatre attempts to bring authenticity and truth to the stage.

Telling the Truth: How to Make Verbatim Theatre (Making Theatre Book 0)

by Paul Tobin (Kindle Edition)

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1116 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	200 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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When creating a verbatim theatre performance, the first step is to conduct extensive interviews or gather documentary material related to the chosen topic. These interviews can be with individuals who experienced the event firsthand or with experts who can provide relevant insights. Verbatim theatre relies heavily on research and the careful selection of materials that accurately represent the subject matter.

The Creative Process

After gathering all the necessary material, the creative team can begin to shape the play. This involves carefully transcribing and editing the interviews, selecting the most compelling and relevant sections. The aim is to create a cohesive narrative while staying true to the words and experiences of the interviewees.

Once the script is finalized, the director and actors work together to bring the material to life on stage. Verbatim theatre often involves a mix of actors portraying real people and others performing as fictional characters who interact with the interviewees. The staging, lighting, and sound design are crucial in setting the tone and atmosphere.

The Impact of Verbatim Theatre

Verbatim theatre has the power to create a deep emotional connection between the audience and the subject matter. By presenting real stories and experiences, it can challenge preconceived notions, provoke thought, and inspire social change. This style of theatre encourages empathy and understanding, as it brings to light the realities faced by individuals who are often marginalized or facing injustice.

One example of a successful verbatim theatre production is the play "The Laramie Project" by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project. The play explores the aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man, in Laramie, Wyoming. Through a series of interviews conducted with the people directly involved in the case, the play addresses themes such as hate crimes, homophobia, and the power of collective action.

Tips for Creating Verbatim Theatre

If you are interested in creating verbatim theatre, here are some tips to get you started:

• Choose a compelling and relevant topic that resonates with you and your audience.
• Conduct thorough research and gather a diverse range of perspectives on the subject matter.
• Select material that represents a wide range of voices and experiences.
• Transcribe and edit the interviews, ensuring that the final script maintains the authenticity of the original words.
• Collaborate with a talented creative team, including a director, actors, and designers.
• Experiment with different staging techniques and theatrical devices to enhance the storytelling.
• Promote and market your production effectively to reach a wide audience.
• Engage in post-show discussions and encourage dialogue around the themes explored in the performance.

Verbatim theatre is a powerful and captivating form of performance that offers a unique way to explore real-life stories and experiences. By using documentary material and theatrical techniques, this form of theatre encourages empathy, challenges societal norms, and raises awareness about important social issues. If you have a passion for storytelling and a desire to bring the truth to the stage, verbatim theatre is an exciting avenue to explore.

Telling the Truth: How to Make Verbatim Theatre (Making Theatre Book 0)

by Paul Tobin (Kindle Edition)

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1116 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	200 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

A practical guide to creating and producing verbatim theatre, by an experienced theatre-maker and practitioner.

Verbatim theatre is fashioned from words actually spoken by real people in real situations, and reproduced by actors in performance. An increasingly influential form of theatre, it has a unique ability to present stories from unfamiliar sources and bring unheard voices to the stage. Verbatim theatre is perhaps the most objective way of dramatising real life; its authenticity helps audiences to understand the world we live in, whether through testimony, eye-witness accounts or autobiography.

Telling the Truth offers a step-by-step breakdown of the entire process of making your own verbatim-theatre production, covering everything you need to consider, including:

- Choosing your subject
- Preparing and conducting your interviews
- Refining your research into a single narrative strand
- Editing your material sensitively and ethically
- Providing your actors with exercises, techniques and advice to allow them to perform as ‘real’ people
- Designing and staging your work for fully realised, physical performance

In Telling the Truth, Robin Belfield draws on his own experiences of creating verbatim-theatre work, and interviews other major directors, writers and actors including Alecky Blythe, Patrick Sandford, Hilary Maclean and ACH Smith, providing tips and advice to help you make the most of every part of the verbatim-theatre process.

An essential how-to guide for theatre-makers, artists, students and teachers who want to create their own verbatim-theatre production, Telling the Truth is also a fascinating read for those interested in the processes and inspirations that created the productions they love.