Royal Court Theatre
What Is a Living Newspaper?
A Living Newspaper is a theatrical genre popularized in the US by the Federal Theater Project in the 1930s. Scripted from front-page news, Living Newspaper plays combine entertainment, protest, and education. Living Newspapers merge many different storytelling styles that included music, dance, video, oral history, journalism, physical comedy, poetry, and satire.
Do Living Newspapers Still Exist?
Living Newspapers remain popular and continue to be created around the world. They are especially popular with schools, universities, and community advocacy organizations.
Why Should I Do a Living Newspaper Project?
The Living Newspaper format offers a highly collaborative and engaging learning experience. Project participants serve as performers, scholars, and social critics to create original works that entertain and educate. The Living Newspaper is an exuberant way to build community and is a creative approach to problem-solving.
Do I Need a Background in Performing Arts or Journalism to do a Living Newspaper?
No! All you need is a willingness to try something new and be passionate about your topic. The skills and tools to create a Living Newspaper presentation can be taught in a relatively short amount of time. You can also do “Reader’s Theatre” versions that don't require hours of rehearsal time.
What I Offer:
A Living Newspaper is a theatrical genre popularized in the US by the Federal Theater Project in the 1930s. Scripted from front-page news, Living Newspaper plays combine entertainment, protest, and education. Living Newspapers merge many different storytelling styles that included music, dance, video, oral history, journalism, physical comedy, poetry, and satire.
Do Living Newspapers Still Exist?
Living Newspapers remain popular and continue to be created around the world. They are especially popular with schools, universities, and community advocacy organizations.
Why Should I Do a Living Newspaper Project?
The Living Newspaper format offers a highly collaborative and engaging learning experience. Project participants serve as performers, scholars, and social critics to create original works that entertain and educate. The Living Newspaper is an exuberant way to build community and is a creative approach to problem-solving.
Do I Need a Background in Performing Arts or Journalism to do a Living Newspaper?
No! All you need is a willingness to try something new and be passionate about your topic. The skills and tools to create a Living Newspaper presentation can be taught in a relatively short amount of time. You can also do “Reader’s Theatre” versions that don't require hours of rehearsal time.
What I Offer:
- Living Newspaper training and workshops: two-hour intro, four-hour, full-day, and two full days
- Consulting on Living Newspaper content creation
- Living Newspaper script samples and other handouts
- Site visits and coaching during the creation of Living Newspaper projects.
- Living Newspaper script editing.
- Co-creating and directing Living Newspaper productions.
- Extensive experience in creating Living Newspapers for schools and community groups!