VR and the dramatic theatre: are they fellow creatures?

ABSTRACT

This paper describes an experimental project that aims to investigate the scope of methodological and technical possibilities of using 360° videos for experiencing authored drama. In particular, it examines how a work written for the medium of theatre, with a traditional audience-drama relationship of viewer invisibility and non-participation, might translate into a viewing experience as a VR drama. The technical and dramaturgical issues arising from this are discussed. Specifically, the shared voyeuristic quality of both media is examined. Is the invisible viewer of VR drama in the invidious role of Glaucon’s iniquitous shepherd Gyges, or does the medium give invisibility a cloak of aesthetic value?

KEYWORDS:

• Theatre
• 360° video
• drama
• voyeurism
• virtual reality
• invisibility

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Martin Baxter, Zane Dedlow, Miguel Rodrigues Fonseca, Amirul Hussain, Simeon Willis for their participation in the filming.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

James Martin Charlton http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9066-4705

Magnus Moar http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-9795

Notes

1 The test shoot can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcSQkr7j_fs.

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible by Middlesex University Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries research fund.