This presentation explores the role of the playwright and the actors in Verbatim Theatre performance.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITION
3. METHOD
4. FUNCTIONS
5. EXAMPLES
6. CONVENTIONS
7. REALISM
8. STANISLAVSKY
9. PERFORMANCE
10. ETHICS
Objectives and Topics
This document explores the fundamental principles, methodologies, and ethical considerations inherent in Verbatim Theatre, a documentary performance style that utilizes the verbatim accounts of real individuals to address complex social issues.
- The evolution of documentary theatre into Verbatim Theatre.
- Step-by-step methodologies for creating a Verbatim Theatre production.
- The relationship between artistic performance, realism, and truth.
- Ethical challenges regarding representation and the responsibility of the playwright.
Excerpt from the Book
METHOD
Belfield (2018) breaks down the process of making of a Verbatim Theatre production into the following six steps:
1) Choosing your subject
2) Preparing and conducting your interviews
3) Refining your research into a single narrative strand
4) Editing your material sensitively and ethically
5) Providing your actors with exercises, techniques and advice to allow them to perform as ‘real’ people
6) Designing and staging your work for fully realised, physical performance
From this dissection of the process, we can see the playwright becomes the curator of the story rather than the owner. This is divergent from previous historical movements as we move away from the realist playwright.
In saying this, parallels can be drawn between Verbatim Theatre and Political Theatre as both styles prominently address social issues, just in different ways. The question is not what words but whose words.
Chapter Summaries
INTRODUCTION: Provides an initial overview of the presentation's focus on the roles of playwrights and actors within the medium of Verbatim Theatre.
DEFINITION: Defines Verbatim Theatre as a form of documentary theatre derived from the spoken words of real people, tracing its roots back to the 1920s.
METHOD: Outlines the six systematic steps required to produce a work, from initial subject selection to final physical performance staging.
FUNCTIONS: Examines four key functions of non-naturalistic Epic Theatre techniques as they apply to crafting Verbatim performances.
EXAMPLES: Lists notable theatrical productions that utilize this style to explore social topics such as racism, terrorism, and homelessness.
CONVENTIONS: Describes the technical elements like photographs, placards, and audio-visual aids used to typify the Verbatim style.
REALISM: Analyzes the connection between real-world stories, audience engagement, and the theatrical representation of truth.
STANISLAVSKY: Discusses how modern character acting methods relate to the verbatim practice of maintaining the integrity of the interviewee's words.
PERFORMANCE: Introduces a practical demonstration of the headphone-verbatim technique using a specific theatrical excerpt.
ETHICS: Addresses the complex ethical responsibilities playwrights face when representing the lives and testimonies of real individuals.
Keywords
Verbatim Theatre, Documentary Theatre, Playwright, Acting, Realism, Ethics, Representation, Epic Theatre, Narrative, Performance, Testimonies, Social Issues, Methodology, Subtext, Transparency
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this document?
The document provides an introductory overview of Verbatim Theatre, explaining its definition, the methods used to create it, and the ethical considerations that arise when using real people's testimonies.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the curation of real-life stories, the intersection of political theatre and documentary, the role of authenticity, and the ethical responsibilities of the playwright.
What is the ultimate goal of Verbatim Theatre as described?
The goal is to provide a platform for real voices, using their specific words to explore social issues in a way that feels authentic and disconnected from the conventional "realist" ownership of a story.
Which methodology is referenced for production?
The text references a six-step process by Belfield (2018), which ranges from choosing a subject and conducting interviews to ethically editing the material and staging the final performance.
What is covered in the main body regarding theatrical techniques?
The main body covers the use of non-naturalistic conventions such as photographs and audio recordings, as well as the application of Brechtian techniques to present information without simple impersonation.
Which specific keywords define this theatrical style?
Key terms include Verbatim Theatre, documentary, authenticity, ethics, representation, and the curation of narrative.
How does Verbatim Theatre differ from traditional realism?
Unlike traditional realism, which often aims to create a consistent, character-driven fiction, Verbatim Theatre is more disjointed and focuses on taking the verbatim words of participants at face value to present a reality as it unfolded.
What ethical strategies are suggested to protect interviewees?
Suggested strategies include protecting identities, facilitating personal meetings between actors and the people they represent, and allowing interviewees to attend rehearsals to ensure they are comfortable with their portrayal.
- Quote paper
- Kassidy-Rose McMahon (Author), 2018, Verbatim Theatre. The Role of the Playwright and the Actors, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1216529
