January-June 2021 Vol. VIII, Issue 1 ISSN: 2284-3310
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New-Age Theatre An Empirical Investigation into the Effectiveness of Theatrical Reproduction via Digital and Extended Reality Technology* Kim Shannon Francey Abstract: Reproduction of live theatre has led to the development of numerous performance based artforms which replicate the traditional theatre experience through use of modern technology with varied levels of effectiveness. The most prevalent reproduction of this kind is digital theatre. Previous research suggests that mainstream digital theatre is insufficient in securing audience investment and cannot replicate defining characteristics of the live performance experience such as shared time and space. Numerous theatrical experiences utilize extended reality technology, but no relevant academic literature could be sourced providing an evaluation of these theatrical reproductions. Comparison between these two methods of reproduction could not be drawn because of this academic gap. Research was conducted in an interview series to establish which method of reproduction provided the most realistic theatre experience for audiences and performers and which method best resembled the live performance genre. Extended reality technology was identified as the superior format to reproduce the live performance experience according to the criteria set out in this research. Keywords: Theatrical Reproduction, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Extended Reality, Digital Theatre, Performer Experience, Audience Experience, Theatrical Integrity, NewAge. *****
1. Introduction The desire to imagine and create alternate worlds is innate within humanity (Ellis 1991). Theatre and live performance represent one branch of this expression. As technology advances, new avenues of experiencing live performance have become available. Extended reality (XR) theatre and mainstream digital theatre (MDT) are examples of this. XR includes virtual reality (VR),
I would like to offer sincere thanks to the following people, who contributed to this project. I would like to express special gratitude for the contribution made by each participant and the eagerness with which they engaged in this research, often donating more time and enthusiasm than requested. To my family and friends, I am grateful for your continual support and encouragement, without which I would not be able to pursue this field of study. Lastly, I must express my sincere appreciation for the assistance and support from my brother, Scott throughout this project. Your innovative thinking and commitment to logic proved an invaluable resource. I thank you for sharing this with me. *
Kim Shannon Francey New-Age Theatre
