Bald heads & blue stars: a theory, model and impact of verbatim theatre practice

PhD Thesis


Peters, Sarah Ann. 2016. Bald heads & blue stars: a theory, model and impact of verbatim theatre practice. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland.
Title

Bald heads & blue stars: a theory, model and impact of verbatim theatre practice

TypePhD Thesis
Authors
AuthorPeters, Sarah Ann
SupervisorMcDonald, Janet
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Qualification NameDoctor of Philosophy
Number of Pages286
Year2016
Abstract

The aim of this practice-led research is to investigate the creative practice of a verbatim theatre process. Verbatim theatre involves interviewing a community about a topic or event, recording these conversations and using the resulting stories as stimulus for the creative development of performance. I have made a significant contribution to theatre-making knowledge by articulating a theory and model of practice and investigating the impact of verbatim theatre practice on a community of storytellers.

I engaged in a rigorous Reflective Practitioner Case Study to write and perform in bald heads & blue stars, through interviewing 15 women from the Queensland Alopecia community and translating their stories into performance. Across this process I facilitated a triangulated documentation of practice, to induce rich data sets that were integral to articulating a key outcome for the research: the Engaged Verbatim Theatre Praxis model and theory of practice. Current research has focused primarily on debates around truth and authenticity, leaving a distinct absence of engagement with the artistic practice of verbatim theatre. Within the framework of the Engaged Verbatim Theatre Praxis model I name and define key creative practices within the verbatim theatre process, such as Community Immersion, Listening for Aesthetics and Voicing Stories. Analysing and naming these practices provides a new and considered language around the artistic process of verbatim theatre, contributes to the knowledge and understanding of theatre making and is a step towards understanding the impact of creative practice on the storytelling community.

Keywordsverbatim theatre; creative practices; community immersion; storytelling
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020360403. Drama, theatre and performance studies
Byline AffiliationsSchool of Arts and Communication
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3832/bald-heads-blue-stars-a-theory-model-and-impact-of-verbatim-theatre-practice

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Related outputs

Creating a community of practice in a practice-led PhD
Peters, Sarah A. and McDonald, Janet A.. 2019. "Creating a community of practice in a practice-led PhD." Machin, Tanya M., Clara, Marc and Danaher, Patrick A. (ed.) Traversing the doctorate: reflections and strategies from students, supervisors and administrators. Cham, Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 217-235
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Jones, Janice K., Batorowicz, Beata, Ladislas Derr, Robert, Peters, Sarah, Jones J.K., Batorowicz B., Derr R.L. and Petersa S.. 2015. "Decolonising research and teaching methodologies: A “ninth moment” symphony of artist-educator-researcher voices." International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning. 10 (2), pp. 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/22040552.2015.1113849