Summary
The Verbatim Theatre unit will be scaffolded through voice, movement, storytelling and interviewing activities to invite students into the process of recreating 'reality' both as an actor and as a writer. The unit will culminate in a polished performance piece that was developed from earlier lessons.
Unit Guiding Questions
- What is Verbatim Theatre? Why is it important and compelling?
- What are the challenges of creating Verbatim Theatre? What tools are available to the artist to create Verbatim Theatre?
- What ethical considerations must be demonstrated when creating Verbatim Theatre?
- How can a Verbatim Theatre piece be edited?
- What happens to the 'truth' when it is shaped, revised and interpreted through an actor?
- What can we learn about ourselves through telling and listening to personal stories? What can we learn about our society?
- How can we use Verbatim Theatre to educate and eventually change social views and practices?
Assessment and Evaluation: How will students demonstrate their learning?
Assessment of learning
- Students will be evaluated on their rehearsals using the Creation Process Checklist.
- Students will be evaluated on their polished (written) Verbatim text.
- Students will be evaluated on the performance of the monologue using the Verbatim Theatre Monologue Performance Rubric that was co-constructed by the class.
- Students will be evaluated on their Verbatim Theatre Reflection.
Assessment for Learning
Check Point #1/Lesson 1
- Feedback on written version of stories
Check Point #2/Lesson 2
- Group Self-Evaluation using the Creation Process Checklist
Check Point #3/Lesson 3
- Teacher Feedback on Creation Process
Check Point #4/Lesson 4
- Written teacher feedback on Composite Character Monologue
- Oral feedback from teacher and class on Composite Character Monologue
Check Point #5/Lesson 5
- Peer Feedback on Performance using Co-constructed Rubric
Unit Lessons and Guiding Questions: How will assessment and instruction be organized for learning?
Approx. Duration 1 class = 75 minutes
Lesson 1: Telling Other People's Stories
- How can we share and re-tell our stories in a way that feels safe and respected?
- Whose stories in our society get told? Whose stories do not get told?
- How can theatre tell other people's stories without exploiting or appropriating them?
2 classes
Lesson 2: Defining and Creating within the Genre
- What does the word Verbatim mean as applied to theatre? What are the basic principles that define the genre?
- Why might this be a compelling style of theatre for an artist and audience?
3 classes
Lesson 3: The Overheard Conversation
- What's it like to 'listen in' on other people's conversations and how can we do that respectfully?
- What can you gain as a theatre artist by observing interactions in the 'real world'?
- How can the artist mold and shape reality through editing while still honouring the truth?
1-2 classes
Lesson 4: The Composite Character Monologue
- How do you create questions and conduct interviews in Verbatim Theatre?
- How do you record your data?
- What written cues can you give the actor about the way your character speaks?
- What does it feel like to hear your answers spoken in the composite character monologue?
1-2 classes
Lesson 5: Polishing and Performing the Verbatim Text
- How can the written verbatim text be interpreted by the actor?
- What is lost in the translation from the page to the stage? What is gained?
- How is your understanding of reality television different from when we started the unit?
- What have you learned about the topic of change? How have you deepened our understanding of change?
3 classes