Verbatim Theatre and Its Impact

How did the use of verbatim material in your performance enhance the emotional authenticity of the characters?

• Verbatim material added credibility, grounding the performance in real-world experiences and allowing the audience to relate more directly.

• The verbatim material disrupted the emotional flow, creating disconnection between the audience and the character.

• Verbatim lines were used for comedic effect, making the performance feel lighthearted despite its serious themes.

• The verbatim material was used as filler and didn’t impact the emotional engagement of the piece.

Answer explanation

Fun Fact: Verbatim theatre originated from documentary-style performance practices, using real words from interviews to highlight personal and social truths.

Which elements of verbatim theatre helped create an emotional bond between the characters and the audience? (Select all that apply)

• Direct quoting of real-life experiences that resonated emotionally with the audience.

• Using multiple languages to emphasize the universality of the character’s experiences.

• The actors’ emotional delivery of verbatim lines, which allowed for greater empathy.

• The use of real-life audio clips, which grounded the performance in lived experiences.

Answer explanation

Explanation: Verbatim theatre thrives on raw authenticity—every word carries the weight of real-life testimony, creating an unfiltered connection with audiences.

Verbatim material was used to build an emotional connection with the audience by showcasing authentic human experiences.​ (a)  

• True
• False

Answer explanation

Fun Fact: This technique is commonly used in theatre productions like The Laramie Project and London Road, where real-life interviews shape the script.

The use of _______ or _______ provided authenticity and emotional weight to the piece.

Answer explanation

Explanation: Sound effects can place audiences inside the world of the performance, making it feel more immersive and immediate.

How did you use verbatim material to engage the audience emotionally and connect them to the themes of the performance?

Answer explanation

Expected Response: Students should describe how using real-life experiences (e.g., direct quotes or audio) enhanced emotional engagement by allowing the audience to relate to the struggles portrayed.

What effect did the use of multiple languages have on your performance?

• It made the piece feel fragmented and difficult to follow.

• It helped to highlight the universality of human emotions and experiences, transcending language barriers.

• It confused the audience, making it harder to understand the emotional journey of the characters.

• It gave a comedic tone to the performance.

Answer explanation

Fun Fact: Theatre companies like Gecko use multiple languages to emphasize that emotions transcend words.

Which techniques ensured that the verbatim material contributed meaningfully to the emotional depth of the performance? (Select all that apply)

• Altering the tone of delivery to match the emotional context

• Emphasizing the vulnerability in the real-life testimonies through the actors’ physicality.

• Blending verbatim lines with fictional dialogue to enhance emotional complexity.

• Using verbatim material exclusively for humor, which detracted from the seriousness of the piece.

Answer explanation

Explanation: Performance choices such as pauses, breathwork, and body language enhance the raw emotion behind real-life words.

The use of (a)   material was integral to expressing the piece’s central ​ (b)   .

• verbatim
• textual
• themes
• view

Answer explanation

Fun Fact: Verbatim theatre is often used in activist performances to shed light on marginalized voices.

The verbatim material in my performance allowed me to _______ the audience’s understanding of real-world struggles and injustices.

Answer explanation

Explanation: Verbatim lines offer firsthand accounts of oppression, resilience, or trauma, giving theatre a documentary-like impact.

In your piece, how did verbatim material intersect with the ensemble’s intentions? Did it help communicate the group’s message effectively?

Answer explanation

Expected Response: Students should reflect on how verbatim material aligned with the ensemble’s thematic goals and whether it delivered the message authentically.