Entering the Engine Room

Directors image from inside the Engine Room

Cards on the table – I am hugely sceptical of video, audio visual, augmented and virtual reality in theatre. I’ve seen, especially since the pandemic, the increase of largely superficial unnecessary and most dangerously; video design technology that interferes, disrupts and destroys the relationship between performer and audience.

But do I think for a minute a writer like Shakespeare wouldn’t have used all and every piece of technology at his disposal? No. Perhaps at one of the most inventive periods of British theatre, I have every confidence that from trap doors to flying set pieces, cannon ball thunder machines and crashing thunder sheets Shakespeare and his contemporaries would be pioneering everything that augmented, virtual and mixed reality technology has to offer.

Can augmented, virtual and mixed reality tech enhance the performer / audience relationship or the audience experience without encroaching on their own imagination and response?

I’m sceptical but very willing to find out.