Speaking Machines: the ‘Dialectical’ Voice in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre Cover Image

Speaking Machines: the ‘Dialectical’ Voice in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre
Speaking Machines: the ‘Dialectical’ Voice in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre

Speaking Machines: the ‘Dialectical’ Voice in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre

Author(s): Shane Kinghorn
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, History, Language and Literature Studies, Fine Arts / Performing Arts
Published by: Universitatea de Vest din Timişoara
Keywords: Verbatim theatre; Tess Berry-Hart Sochi 2014; Nadia Fall Home; ‘narrative’ dramaturgy; ‘democratic’ intentions; political engagement;

Summary/Abstract: The study explores the political efficiency by analysing two recent examples of the Verbatim theatre - Sochi 2014 (2014, Tess Berry-Hart) and Home (2013, Nadia Fall). Both of them bring elements of ‘narrative’ dramaturgy and ‘democratic’ intentions, including o multitude of marginalized voices, represented by the communities without any right to vote. The verbatim practice has been widely perceived as a space where the contradistinctive approaches of Stanislavski and Brecht might co-exist. If there is an implicit obligation to impose a narrative structure and encourage emotional connection with individuals, does this contradict the Brechtian impulse to foreground their immediate social framework?

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 38-45
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: English