For years, theatre practitioners have utilized documentary techniques to interrogate political, social, and cultural constructions. These shows do not rely on fictive scripts, but on actual material gleaned from a specific historical event. Such materials can be acquired from interviews, newspaper articles, and reports. The play script attempts to unpack this information, and deliver a theatrical documentary production that is faithful to its original sources.
This type of production is more focused on a 'Poor Theatre' aesthetic. This means that elaborate sets, lush costumes and realistic backdrops are often relinquished for a starker look. These plays do not re-enact the historical event in question, but utilize disjointed structures that present a multifaceted presentation of the subject matter.
In Germany in the 1920's, Bertolt Brecht and Erwin Piscator developed this type of theatre. These directors explore the relationship between theatre and social change. They wanted to steer plays away from the realm of emotional involvement, towards more detached viewing practices. Techniques such as 'alienation' helped audiences to engage critically and intellectually with the play.
Brecht and Piscator wanted their plays to influence people politically, and ideally, catalyze changes in European society. To this day, documentary plays trigger lively debates among viewers. They are effective tools in education.
The aim of this type of show is to deliver the facts as faithfully and objectively as possible. Playwrights often eschew any fictive embellishments, in order to attain a true, clear impression of the event. Nevertheless, the clash between the fictive and the actual is a debate that still surrounds these plays.
Many practitioners the world over create effective verbatim productions. One of the most famous examples is The Laramie Project, by the Tectonic Theatre Project. It consists of interviews conducted with the citizens of Laramie, Wyoming, about the homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard. This production catalyzed some important dialogues over homophobia, hate-crimes and morality. It is an example of how effective a theatrical documentary production can be in addressing critical social issues.
This type of production is more focused on a 'Poor Theatre' aesthetic. This means that elaborate sets, lush costumes and realistic backdrops are often relinquished for a starker look. These plays do not re-enact the historical event in question, but utilize disjointed structures that present a multifaceted presentation of the subject matter.
In Germany in the 1920's, Bertolt Brecht and Erwin Piscator developed this type of theatre. These directors explore the relationship between theatre and social change. They wanted to steer plays away from the realm of emotional involvement, towards more detached viewing practices. Techniques such as 'alienation' helped audiences to engage critically and intellectually with the play.
Brecht and Piscator wanted their plays to influence people politically, and ideally, catalyze changes in European society. To this day, documentary plays trigger lively debates among viewers. They are effective tools in education.
The aim of this type of show is to deliver the facts as faithfully and objectively as possible. Playwrights often eschew any fictive embellishments, in order to attain a true, clear impression of the event. Nevertheless, the clash between the fictive and the actual is a debate that still surrounds these plays.
Many practitioners the world over create effective verbatim productions. One of the most famous examples is The Laramie Project, by the Tectonic Theatre Project. It consists of interviews conducted with the citizens of Laramie, Wyoming, about the homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard. This production catalyzed some important dialogues over homophobia, hate-crimes and morality. It is an example of how effective a theatrical documentary production can be in addressing critical social issues.
