The Paper Birds
2003 - Present | Verbatim Theatre & Social Change
Quietly Rebellious
The Paper Birds are known for their Verbatim Theatre, which means they interview real people and use those exact words. Their aesthetic is often "shabby-chic"—using cardboard, chalkboards, and fairy lights to create a handmade atmosphere.
Interactive: Verbatim to Movement
The Paper Birds don't just speak verbatim text; they physicalize it using "Choreographed Statistics." Hover/Click the highlighted words in the real interview transcript below to see the movement.
Essential Terminology
Dialogue is never "written"—it is edited directly from real interviews.
Verbatim, Movement, Music, Character, and Exasperation.
Using physical movement to represent a list, a data point or a shared experience.
Actors listen to real recordings through headphones and repeat the words live.
Turn testimony into stage material
Paste a short quote or interview extract. Get a rehearsal structure that combines verbatim text with movement and staging.