26 March 2022
Posted by Holly Spillar
Verbatim, Jeffery Bazos and The Queen!
VERBATIM SCRIPTS
Verbatim theatre is a form of documentary theatre which is based on the spoken words of real people. Strictly, verbatim theatre-makers use real people's words exclusively, and take this testimony from recorded interviews.
Writing with verbatim dialogue is a great way to capture exactly how people speak. All the ‘umms’ and ‘errrs’ and repetitions, help put a more realistic character on the page/stage.
This week the young writers interviewed each other in pairs asking the question
‘if you could be anyone for a day, who would you be?’
Their answers were recorded on phones and ipads so they could listen to themselves back and scribe every word, pause and mispronunciation.
Then, using the text generated from both their answers, the writers had to create a script between two characters and perform it. The results were funny, whacky and, most importantly, captured realistic voices, from real people.
Verbatim isn’t just something that can be used in theatre, it makes a great exercise for story writing, writing down things you hear people say word for word, is a great way to learn how to write in a particular character's voice or accent.
You can see some of the work from this week at the bottom of this blog.
A couple of our writers have been staying creative outside of the workshop this week. Jazz, who often creates beautiful stories about animals and magic has created some vibrant new characters we can’t wait to hear more about and Neive, who’s descriptive writing is always out of this world has written a lovely atmospheric piece helping us get ready for spring.
Archive
Storytelling and Escalation or Rising Action
Junior Writers Club Acrostic Poem
Notes on Intention for MAST Collective - Year 3 - Facilitation Focus
Earthquakes & Dominoes - MAST Collective Blog #4
SUPER MARIO AND POP CULTURE POEMS
Receptionists & Inky Voids - MAST Collective Blog #3
Saying No and saying YES on National Poetry Day!
There's a Dragon in the Wardrobe...
House Warming Party (The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known) - MAST Collective Blog #2
Intern Blog 5 - The Publishing Process
POEMS TO SOLVE THE CLIMATE CRISIS
On The Streets With Theresa Lola
Intern Blog 4 - The Internship Journey
NEW DIRECTIONS, STARTING SMALL - THE ORWELL YOUTH PRIZE
LIGHTHOUSES, HOPE AND METAPHORS
on workshop and transformations: frogs, lions, and the duck that becomes a larder...
Poetry Ambassadors - Interview with April Egan
Intern Blog 1 - Finding a Voice
World Poetry Day: Fluffypunk and the Invisible Women
On Being a Writer: A Conversation by Beth Phillips & Sam Morton
Poetry Ambassadors - Interview with Kaycee Hill
UNHEARD VOICES: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, AND STORIES OF CONFLICT
