I watched the technological exhibition that is Dream from the RSC last night. It sparks the imagination of where theatre might go, and crucially how this technology and its use in theatre might impact other industries.
Movement into Music
Oh the world that is now open if music can respond to your movements!
Imagine a Swan Lake when the dance literally controls the music?
Or perhaps an instrumentalists as he plays his instrument might change the emitting sound. Like a concert performance of Danse Macabre where the actual gesture of making the music (ie the way the cellists bow arm elbow is raised) impacts the sound.
Imagine the tap dancer or Jazz improviser who influences his backing track by the way he holds himself, the music responds and he replies back, creating an organic feedback loop with the technology.
Perhaps this could be picked up by the film industry. The composer creates scores of mood and scene and character themes, rather than scoring the music frame to frame. The actors then create the final scene by scene orchestration through their movements.
It’s the Theremin personified and the possibilities are extra-ordinary!
Audience Influence Interaction
Dream promised audience interaction in the form of fireflies and seeds. The technology is not quite there to feel entirely part of the show in this iteration, but as soft and hardware develops the idea invites exciting possibilities.
I’d like to see to see a full Midsummer Nights Dream where the digital viewers are Puck’s apprentices. A live show with a live as well as digital audience, but when Puck is causing mischief that mischief is manifested by a digital input that can be seen in the show. ie. a light trail cause by mouse track appears on the back screen that can chase a character ( Bottom) round the stage. It’s like a technologically advanced version of the Dragonish monster in Simon Mcburney’s Magic Flute for the ENO). For this to work it is important for the digital viewer to see their personal tangible affect on that performance. Perhaps through choosing their own colour and shape? Or a highlight on the trail for their personal screen?
Talking of personal audience impact, what about a Pantomime when ‘he’s behind you’ can be shouted from Australia? What about a sound-o-meter that collects the noise level of countless families across the globe shouting into their microphone into one great decibel rating. Compete to be the loudest audience ever!
Theatre and Gaming Live Events
Dream was created using cutting edge gaming technology. Could this be the beginning of a new industry? The gaming industry has mastered creating connectivity and community from lonely bedrooms. Gaming tournaments and live releases build their success real time events taking place in the virtual world. Events are theatre.
How about a promenade show in real time in the Fortnite world, where audience members can move between worlds to finish the story. What about employing actors to perform as the information avatars on quests? Or be the real time witnesses to a murder the player is trying to solve? How about a gladiator combat game where the Emperor is an actor and any decision goes? I don’t know the Gaming industry well enough to see all the possibilities but the combining of worlds could answer a problem of both. For theatres it is global interactive outreach, for Gaming the quest for an original exciting experience.
As the world and the arts begin to hope they can wake up, it’s good to look forward to where we might go. To Dream…. if you will.
Cover image: Photo by Stuart Martin © RSC
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