theconversation.com: While theatres remain closed, the way we watch Shakespeare is changing. When I picture the audiences Shakespeare would have written for, I think of the groundlings in Shakespeare in Love(1998). They stand, arms on the edges of the stage, staring upwards, eyes filled with tears – laughing, clapping, gasping. They are part of the show – and they show that they’re there. In the bright afternoon sun, the actors can see and hear every reaction.
7 comments:
I think that this is a very interesting attempt to battle the challenges that the entertainment industry is currently facing due to coronavirus and the complete shut down of all theatres and other public venues. One thing that I really do not like about the solutions that have been put in place regarding online entertainments is that it takes away, in my opinion, the best part about theatre which is that everything is being presented to the audience member at that moment, and that performance is unique in the fact that it will never be exactly like that again. I like the idea of bringing online live theatre to people during this time, however, I worry that technical difficulties that were not expected may occur. Also, sitting in your living room in your pajamas watching a screen is not the same as attending the theatre. On top of that, many of the technical elements such as set design, lighiting, and costumes are not caputred in this format. Elena Keogh
I didn’t give thought to how to zoom could be used in a creative way. The examples in the article obviously prove that it is possible. Although audience involvement in shows has changed drastically over the past decade, the ways of interaction mentioned in the article bring it to a new level. I remember I read an article on here about how phones got incorporated into a show to do special effects. Putting on a show online is exactly that. I feel like if the performance is live digitally, there’s a lot more manipulation that you can do specifically with special effects and sound, like what the people did with Tempest. I’m glad that during these times people are still inspired and motivated to make theater. I am concerned about some aspects of performing “digitally” through. There are always technical difficulties with online meeting platforms and also this format for performances completely eradicates other components of production outside of acting, like lighting, scenic, costumes etc. But I guess this is the best we can do for now!
It is so tragic to hear about all the wonderful things that have to come to an end because of corona and especially theatre. In a time like this, everyone needs a little show and spectacle to make everyone feel better and the fact that we can’t even give that is truly heartbreaking. I can’t believe how many things had to be shut down and in such a short amount of time. All the hard work, money, and time people invested into these projects and productions don’t get to see the light and I’m so sad about it. At CMU, we’re dealing with the same problem, where productions were supposed to transition into tech and performances and now can’t continue so the public because of COVID-19. There isn’t one simple answer to this question and there is no solution to the problem other than trying to find alternatives in making sure that everyone’s hard work is seen and recognized and not just thrown out.
It is so tragic to hear about all the wonderful things that have to come to an end because of corona and especially theatre. In a time like this, everyone needs a little show and spectacle to make everyone feel better and the fact that we can’t even give that is truly heartbreaking. I can’t believe how many things had to be shut down and in such a short amount of time. All the hard work, money, and time people invested into these projects and productions don’t get to see the light and I’m so sad about it. At CMU, we’re dealing with the same problem, where productions were supposed to transition into tech and performances and now can’t continue so the public because of COVID-19. There isn’t one simple answer to this question and there is no solution to the problem other than trying to find alternatives in making sure that everyone’s hard work is seen and recognized and not just thrown out.
Reading this article made me laugh a bit. On Friday night, my brother and his high school theatre conservatory actually put on a production through zoom, and I thought it was a good idea, but there was no way it would be the same as it would if there were a live audience. I was right. It wasn't the same. However, you could see feel the engagement of the audience. Looking through the screens and reading the comments, you could see how much people appreciated the fact that this group of high schoolers put in the work to spread light and art in a time of crisis. I'll admit, it wasn't as interactive as Creation Theatre's production of The Tempest. The idea of the audience snapping in order to create a storm or interacting with the actors via chat is just insane. It proves that it is possible to keep that necessary human connection alive during this time of social distancing and that it is possible to continue to create art. I love that people continue to find more and more ways to bring positivity back into our lives.
Zoom theatre is an interesting concept. I know that many shows have been transported to an online platform due to everyone being in lockdown, but these shows aren’t just readings of a play. I hadn’t thought of some of the ways zoom could be used to transport you into the world of the play like the actors changing their zoom screen names to the name of their character or using virtual backgrounds that work with each character. As much as it’s nowhere near as good as seeing a live theater performance it is nice that theaters are still trying to give us something. It is also nice that some theaters aren’t just posting their recorded zoom calls, but instead they are selling tickets for a live performance and giving out the zoom link so that the audience members may join the call and the actors can see the audiences and their reactions over zoom!
Many theaters are moving into a digital space, so it's probably a good idea to analyze what the best way to do that is. I don't know if it's Zoom. I had to do a scene over Zoom for a class this mini, and it just didn't go super well. Probably the most significant creative freedom you're given on Zoom is changing your background. Sounds great, but there are downfalls. When we did our scene, one of our group members couldn't change their background without it covering their face. And, overall, the whole thing ends up really awkward and choppy. I'm not critiquing this performance of the Tempest, but Zoom just doesn't seem like the best venue for adapting theatre. I don't think I have the answer for this issue. Unfortunately, the best venue I've seen is just live-streaming a previously-recorded performance, which is not possible for every production going forward. It's just a bad situation all over and I don't want to judge what any theater is doing. Overall, I'm glad that theatre companies are finding ways that work for them and I hope the technology to do performances improves.
Post a Comment