Innovatory Methods in Policymaking: Introducing the Use of Verbatim Theatre

This report introduces Headphone Verbatim Theatre (HVT), a method of data
gathering that involves a performance created solely from the words spoken by
interview participants. HVT responds to the challenges faced by policymakers
around incorporating citizen experiences in policy design and evaluation.
After identifying the problem policymakers currently face in capturing the voices of
citizens, the report outlines the method of HVT and summarises its key benefits.
Through embedded video clips, the report gives examples of where the method has
been used and further, how dissemination in a live performance offers an effective
and emotive connection between citizens and policy makers. In the final section it
details the method’s operational requirements.