About the project

“Sensory and immersive theater practices in digital context” is a project that has been occupying a very special place in our hearts for a long long time. With the arrival of the Pandemic situation, we knew that the time for bringing the project into existence had come.”

Whether an efficient digitalization of the sensory theater is possible or not - was a question that intrigued us greatly as we recognized the enormous potential for sustainability that such an activity would bring to this delicate theatrical form - a theatrical form that is entirely dependent on the personal connections created between authors and co-authors (the audience) and the active engagement of all senses during the interaction itself.

In addition, it was clear to us that a digitalized sensory theater performance would open the possibility for participation to audiences that otherwise would not have been able to take part in the experience: due to a variety of geographical, social and health-related factors.

This unprecedented and unpredictable situation presented challenges and questions that were common to all artists and organizations involved in the creation of sensory and immersive theatrical practices. Firmly believing that the exchange of knowledge and experience on an international level was the key to an efficient adaptation and the discovery of working solutions in these peculiar times, we initiated and successfully hosted a series of three international online discussions in which foreign and local experts and partners took part.

But what about the audience?

What were the audience’s needs, expectations, reactions – not only in regards to the online theater in general, but to the development of its interactive forms? Establishing a fluid, longterm relationship with our audience has always been a priority for Inner Theater Company and this project allowed us to execute a series of actions aimed at receiving an honest and detailed feedback from the participants:

- we conducted a thorough online survey and marketing campaigns; - after each performance we had the opportunity to meet the participants in online discussions where we could talk to them and hear their immediate reactions, opinions and suggestions; - in addition we received numerous completed feedback forms that were sent to the participants e-mail addresses after each performance had concluded.

You can find specific details related to each stage of the project on the following pages of this digital booklet, in which we tried to compile all of the important moments as well as the conclusions we arrived at.

We sincerely hope that the successful realisation of this project was and is as important and encouraging to the audience, local and foreign partners, artists and organizations, as it is to us! Because sometimes the most complicated and adverse situations turn out to be exactly what one has needed all along.

Gabriela Petrova