Dramaturgical possibilities within virtual realities: notes from AΦE's VR-performance Whist

ABSTRACT

This artistic position paper describes some of the dramaturgical possibilities that emerged from working as a dramaturg on AΦE's VR-performance, Whist. Specifically, it details three dramaturgical devices, which are distinctive to VR performance practices. It also points out current difficulties inherent within VR performances and discusses ways in which these can be resolved.

KEYWORDS:

• VR-performance
• dramaturgy
• narrative structures

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Amanda Fromell is a practice-led researcher, writer and dramaturg, with a passion for making performances that resonate with current political and social debate. She has worked with theatres and literary departments such as the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden, the Birmingham Rep, Manchester Royal Exchange and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatre. She is an associate artist with Making Space Arts and a script evaluator for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. She also works as a dance dramaturg, making performances using VR and animation (most recently on AΦE's critically acclaimed VR-performance Whist). She is currently undertaking an AHRC-funded PaR PhD at the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts, at University of Birmingham, developing postdigital dramaturgies which investigate and challenge the power of algorithms in contemporary society. Her practice is supported by Curve Theatre, and work-in-progress can be listened to at https://soundcloud.com/makingspacearts/drowning.