CMU School of Drama


Thursday, October 17, 2019

From American Theatre Wing: Working in the Theatre: Documentary Theatre

Stage Directions: The concept of documentary theatre is one that is novel and complex, and quite frankly could be defined by a plethora of concepts and storytelling strategy. In this documentary episode of Working in the Theatre, they visit Say Something Bunny, the spectacular production that explores how theatre incorporates and interacts with found materials and real-life characters.

1 comment:

Apriah W. said...

Surprisingly, I really like this. I am a sucker for a good documentary. The idea of having a true story unfold in front of me in this way is very amusing to me. The intimacy here, the idea of having tapes play and the voice of the characters be heard, and have you sit at a table and read along to it is a brilliant way to share a story. I am currently mentally preparing myself to dive into a murder documentary and the idea of it being presented to me in this way is both intriguing and terrifying. I know I would feel it all and be much more immersed in it if it were in this form as opposed to watching it on a screen. I have never seen anything like this but it is very cool. I do wish there were some theatrical effects to it, though. Not necessarily theatre magic or anything really artistic. Just some little elements to further take the "audience" to that place or to help transform this space a little, in a way where it's less of just sitting at a table and listening to a story unfold and more of a push on getting the mind and body taken to a place where they feel like they are actually in it. I'm hesitating to use the word "manipulate," but in a way, I think theatrically manipulating the audience here a bit could possibly bump this experience up a notch. And I say this having not experienced what they have created, so that may be unnecessary.