Theatre Practitioner - Paperbirds.

1. Verbatim.

Verbatim is the core pillar of Paperbird's work and it means literally "word for word". The idea is that they interview people or release surveys before a production and use the real-life, unaltered words of these people to make their point.

Often they use a visual or audio cue to signify when verbatim is being used in a play. This could be in the form of a prop passed around, a lighting change or a change in music/diegetic noise. In the case of 'Ask me Anything', this was the lamp on the desk flicking on when a character spoke in verbatim.

When devising with verbatim it is vital to realise that you can't change the verbatim so that it fits in with the dramatic intention of the piece. Instead, Paperbirds devise their pieces off the back of the verbatim they receive.

2. Non-linear, fragmented Story Lines and Character Development.

Paperbirds works are all highly non-naturalistic - they almost have to be due to the nature of verbatim theatre - and this is furthered by the fragmented story telling. They almost always use episodic theatre that is non-linear and may include huge time skips.

This allows them to explore and develop characters without relying on the naturalistic restrictions of where they go and what they do. Often memories, thoughts and dreams are utilised.

One key thing they do really effectively is they have multiple actors playing the same character in almost a choral movement that revolves around the idea of what the audience needs to know. Each actor would show a different side of the character or a different event in their life.

3. Pattern-based Physical Theatre.

Within their plays, there are frequently sections in which text is not used - the story is told exclusively through physical theatre (not dance!). One big building block used in the devising process is producing a repeating pattern for each character. This could be a series of 5 movements that they repeat which are layered in with the other character's cycles.

This links in super well with both the idea of flowing sentences wordplay and using multiple actors for one character as it instantly gives the character recognisable traits.

They often draw their physical theatre from a stimulus that is unrelated or only loosely related to their overall point. For example in 'Mobile', the physical theatre is based off space travel whilst the story revolves around travellers in the UK.

4. Wordplay - Flowing Sentences.

Perhaps the most impactful of Paerbird's techniques is their use of flowing sentences. This is where unrelated characters in different areas of the stage - all in their own storylines and settings, speak in one sentence.

The best flowing sentences occur when each of the character is individually speaking monologues that all make sense within their mini-scene. These monologues are layered on top of each so that the overriding sentence also makes sense but makes a different point to the individual monologues.

Flowing sentences works best when the monologues come from characters that are very different - talking in settings that are totally unrelated. The overriding sentence should revolve around the political point of the piece whilst at least one of the monologues composing it should be comedic.

5. Exposing the Method.

Similar to Brecht, Paperbirds also want the audience to be active participators in the piece of theatre as oppose to passive spectators. One way they do this is by constantly reminding the audience they are in a theatre through exposing the method. Examples include:

• Having a technician come on stage.
• House lights turning on.
• Actors discussing lines/entrances.
• Obvious costume changes.