Verbatim: Staging Memory & Community

Recording real people's stories and thereby using their words to make a script for actors to perform is the fundamental craft of verbatim theatre-and this book is one exploration of this form of drama which emerged in the second half of the twentieth century, and remains very much alive, evolving and contemporary today

With an overview of verbatim and documentary theatre practices, analysis and exercises on each of the plays in the HSC Drama syllabus ( Aftershocks, The Laramie Project, Minefields and Miniskirts, Parramatta Girls, Run Rabbit Run) and workshops for exploring themes and issues; Verbatim also includes interviews with the creators of the plays

The key challenges of verbatim theatre are also explored, including: memory, truth and authenticity; theatricality and engagement in the creative process and social context and community involvement in verbatim and other reality plays

Verbatim 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