guardian.co.uk: On Friday evening at Sea Odyssey I stood behind a family group as the not-so-little Little Girl and her dog were put to bed. What I found interesting was that this family weren't just watching the show, they were engaging with it on several different levels. Teenage daughter was taking pictures on her iPhone, and texting all the time, Mum was videoing it on her phone and when I spoke to them they told me that Dad had been tweeting for much of the day.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Switch on your phones: theatre must embrace the interactive age
guardian.co.uk: On Friday evening at Sea Odyssey I stood behind a family group as the not-so-little Little Girl and her dog were put to bed. What I found interesting was that this family weren't just watching the show, they were engaging with it on several different levels. Teenage daughter was taking pictures on her iPhone, and texting all the time, Mum was videoing it on her phone and when I spoke to them they told me that Dad had been tweeting for much of the day.
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There is an enormous difference between the types of audiences outdoor and indoor performance art attract, a fact that this article chooses to overlook. Outdoor performance art includes events like Sultan’s Elephant and the Sea Odyssey, street performers, and concerts (most indoor concerts have some of the same characteristics as well). The difference is that at these events it is acceptable to talk to your friends, get some food, call and text on your phone, and generally not give your full attention to the performance. At “indoor” events such as dance shows, play and musical performances (outdoor theatre included), and orchestra or symphony events it is considered unacceptable to give the performance anything but your full attention. It is important that everyone follow this rule, because the other audience members have an expectation that they will be able to view the performance uninterrupted. Societal expectations aside, I also think that you are losing a part of any performance, indoor or outdoor, by focusing on sharing and documenting it rather than being entirely in the moment and fully experiencing it.
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