VPL uses verbatim performance techniques in educational settings to achieve a variety of pedagogical outcomes. Teaching artists and classroom teachers employ verbatim performance to teach acting, explore core content areas like social studies and ELA, raise awareness of bias, and develop media literacy. We work with students across the life span in multiple contexts, starting as early as elementary school classrooms and continuing up through lifelong learning opportunities.
Our team of artists, core ensemble members, and teaching artists adapt VPL approaches to reflect each educational partner’s specific curricular needs. Our tried and tested techniques and activities can adapt to meet learners where they are and then take them where they want to go. And we can work with you in person if you’re in the NYC metro area or we can work with you remotely via an online platform like Zoom. We’ve developed strategies for both formats and feel confident in our delivery.
Here are ways we can collaborate with you and your educational community:
Workshops & Guest Lectures (1-3 sessions)
VPL can provide one-time workshops or guest lectures that introduce verbatim performance as a technique within the larger genre of documentary theatre. These sessions work well as an introduction to theatre created from primary source material, theatre for social change, and theatre constructed from research. Depending on your needs and your class meeting time, we offer up to three sessions in this format.
Classroom or Studio Residencies (8 or more sessions)
VPL can work with you to construct a longer-term residency for your educational community that focuses on a specific topic or subject area and uses verbatim performance to explore that topic or leads to the creation of an original verbatim documentary theatre performance. We can also provide studio-style training for actors, playwrights, and directors in our verbatim performance techniques. These residencies require longer commitments over time.
Screenings and Performances
All of VPL’s projects can be screened as videos, and some of our projects can be performed live for an audience. In both instances, we use our performances to catalyze dialogue around important contemporary issues. We keep our performances under 45 minutes in length so that an audience wants to stay after and have a conversation, and we’ve found this format works great in educational settings. Many of our projects also feature multiple sections, and these can be used individually to explore a specific issue raised by that clip. And some of our projects come with activities ready to be used in your educational settings.
Consulting
VPL offers consulting services for educators, program managers, and administrators who seek to develop and expand their courses offerings, curricula, and program offerings. Contact us to set up an initial free consultation.
Email verbatimperformancelab@nyu.edu for more information on all of these educational opportunities.
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