A Practice-led Proposal for Online Live-streamed Intermedial Theatre

Abstract

This article discusses a possible solution for creating a theatre production when participants – including the crew, cast, and audience – are physically separated. The proposed form of online live-streamed intermedial theatre offers a sustainable approach for conditions of physical separation (such as those imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as other remote performance scenarios. This article focuses on the conceptualisation phase of an intermedial theatre model specifically designed for online live-streamed performance. This article examines three foundations of the proposed model – acting, screen interface and production setup, and cinematography – bringing together insights developed through multiple iterations of the practice-led project Foolish Prating Knave and its associated experimental trials. Our proposal discusses production strategies that combine distinct elements of stage and screen. It is neither an adaptation for television nor a filmed stage play; rather, the proposed model requires an agile production process to meet the challenges of remote collaboration and production. Key to our discussion is how the liveness of theatre performance can be preserved in an online streamed environment.