M CURIE | CHRONICLE ’20 | SPINOOCHI | SMASHERS | THE RED FLUTE | SHOCKWAVES | THE ARK | GHOSTS OF CAMP X | NUMEROLOGY VR | XR LAB | TIMEWAVE | BRAVE NEW WORLD | KPE | VELOCITY LAB | THE IMPOSTOR | BLACKWATER | SIRE | GLOBAL THEATRE
GLOBAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
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LAB PROGRESSION |
IMPROV GAMES |
REMOTE INTERACTION |
MOBILE DEVICES |
COLLECTIVE BRAIN |
In 2012, Powell formed an Anglo-American ensemble to experiment with telepresence in theatre. While British actors gathered at Google Campus London, American actors converged at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
American actors: Zoey Martinson, Adam McNulty, Danielle Skraastad, Matt Citron, Neysa Lozano. British actors: Francesca Bailey, Mark Donald, Thomas Rushforth, Wendy Windle. Jonathon Ward (NYC) and J Dakota Powell (London) led the workshop.
Jonathon Ward used improvisational games to guide talent and provide structure. Ward: “In doing the improv with this technology…you, the actors, control the close-up, the long shot, etc. In effect, you’re the editor. You’re making the shot. Even in terms of the environment you’re in, you can change the camera angle. You can move the camera up so it’s looking down on you. You can put the camera below you so it’s looking up. You can change the lighting and the location.”
The transatlantic ensemble progressed in three stages.
Stage I: Who Are You? British and American actors used improvisation to connect to each other, establishing a rapport over the fibers.
Stage II: Where Are We? Local actors began to explore their private space – work stations – while interacting with remote actors in their spaces. The natural geography of each space provided the “set.”
Stage III: Where Can We Go? Actors used mobile devices – iPads and Smart Phones – to roam into public spaces – hallways, elevators, balconies and streets.