The Death of the Author in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre: A Study of Dramaturge Authorship in David Hare's Stuff Happens

Abstract

The aim of this study is to prove that the authorial power of verbatim theatre-makers who primarily depend on interview transcripts for their subject matter cannot be discarded as claimed by verbatim theatre practitioners and makers, such as Peter Cheeseman and Derek Paget. It also investigates the limitations caused by the verbatim theatre-makers' literal adherence to the factually-based interview material and explores the form of the genre. The study is divided into two parts. The first part introduces the origins and development of the verbatim theatre as well as the points of convergence and divergence between verbatim and documentary theatre. As to the second part, it comprises a thorough analysis of the authorial empowerment in David Hare's Stuff Happens (2004) drawing on Barthes' theories of authorship to provide a theoretical framework for the study of the selected text. Barthes' ‘Death of the Author' is employed to discuss and explore the role and relevance of authorship to the meaning and authenticity of the text.