ABOUT
This web material is to serve as an additional resource to the book,
Verbatim Staging Memory and Community
, and
is intended for both teachers and students studying and making verbatim theatre at senior high school level. It is also valuable for theatre practitioners intrigued by verbatim and wanting to devise new works.
The book emerged from a series of workshops and meetings with high school teachers in 2008 and 2009, and is written by playwrights, researchers and educators who have practical experience of verbatim theatre and other documentary styles.
The site is part of an ongoing development; please browse for extra links, footage and to listen to the interviews.
INTERVIEWS (By Ros Oades)
1.
PAUL BROWN, Playwright,
Aftershocks, talks about the
process of creating the first Australian Verbatim Theatre play, in
collaboration with the Newcastle Workers Action Committee. He discusses community engagement, notions of authenticity, structure and creating
intimacy.
2.
KATE GAUL, Director,
Run Rabbit Run,
The Laramie Project, talks about her views on authenticity in the work-shopping of the plays.
3.
ELIZA LOGAN, Actor,
The Laramie Project, Run Rabbit Run,
talks about her experience of performing in verbatim plays, performance
style and her relationship to the audience on these projects.
4.
SIOBHAN MCHUGH, Oral Historian,
Minefields & Miniskirts,
talks about the process of seeing Minefields through from interview to
stage. Covers good interview technique, ethical concerns, community
engagement and notions of authorship.
5.
TERENCE O'CONNELL, Playwright,
Minefields & Miniskirts,
talks about his process of adapting Minefields from Siobhan's book.
About the intense level of community response from families who have
experiences post-Vietnam trauma. Covers the creative process, artistic
license, production design and performance style.
6.
BRIAN THOMSON, Set Designer, on the practical process of designing the sets for
The Laramie Project, Aftershocks and
Run Rabbit Run. Brian talks about the community involvement on these projects and the unique demands of direct to audience address. He also talks about seeing the original production of Laramie performed by the Tectonic Theatre Company in New York.
7.
ALANA VALENTINE, Playwright,
Run Rabbit Run, Parramatta Girls, talks about her process on creating these two works - looking at ideas of 'pure verbatim' and 'massaged verbatim'. Covers structure, authorship, ethics, community engagement.