10 – 11 May 2023 JK Opole Theatre, Opole/Poland
What are the latest developments in theatre and new technologies across Europe?
The ACuTe Symposium, State of the Art: Digitality in Theatre brought together leading researchers, theatre makers, and interactive design experts for a panel discussion on how new technologies can be integrated on stage and in the creative process. Experts shared their own reflections and experiences, with a key focus on how technologies can be used to increase accessibility and sustainability for future contemporary theatre making.
The Symposium continued with an introduction to the ‘testbed’ approach for theatre, created through the ACuTe programme to support the theatre sector in its explorations into new technologies. The final session invited attendees to join a series of deep-dive table talks, learning from the successes and challenges from specific digital theatre projects – including an immersive VR performance and the creation of a digital ‘fourth stage’.
“Interview for Table Talk with Paulien Geerlings, Head Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij, and Dramaturg for the ACuTe performance ‘Rabbit Hole’, which will take place from 17 June as a Deep Space Experience at Ars Electronica / Schäxpir Festival 2023
Interview for Table Talk with Marcus Zizenbacher, who did the Camera and Montage for ‘Wunderland‘, the ACuTe production by Schauspielhaus Graz
The full panel discussion: State of the Art: Digitality in Theatre, during the Symposium. With:
- Katherine Hawthorne (Author of ETC Study: Digital Theatre – Digital Strategies and Business Models in European Theatre, Edinburgh/UK)
- Ramona Mosse (metaLab (at) Harvard/USA & Berlin/Germany)
- Veronika Liebl, Ars Electronica
- Jedidjah Julia Noomen (Independent artist / Interaction & Game Design, Netherlands)
- Moderation: Vanessa Hannesschläger (Ars Electronica, Linz/Austria)
Audio recording of the presentation of the Testbed Design Toolkit, by Herman Passsen and Hester van der Ent at Saxion University of Applied Sciences. Moderated by Blair Stevenson, Oulu University of Applied of Sciences.
Symposium programme below:
Wednesday, 10 May 2023
14:30 – 15:30 ACuTe Steering Committee Meeting Project partners only
Venue: VIP Room
15:30 – 17:30 ACuTe Workshop: Interaction Design by Toto.io With Markus Schubert & Georg Werner Project partners only
Venue: VIP Room
The evening concluded with a performance.
Thursday, 11 May 2023
9:00 – 10:15 State of the Art : Digitality in Theatre Panel Discussion
Venue: Small stage
10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 – 12:00 ACuTe Work-in-Progress & Best Practices Best practice table talks (Session 4)
Venue: Small Stage, Modelatornia & VIP Room
The Table Talks are a deep dive into experiments with digital theatre as part of ACuTe and other European theatres. Attendees were able to choose between several different table talks, which consist of a presentation and artistic discussion with the theatre representatives.
Moderation: Blair Stevenson (Oulu University of Applied Sciences)
Includes a work-In-Progress presentation of long-term ACuTe project (Methodology & Process) – Impulse by Saxion University of Applied Sciences
• Rabbit Hole by De Toneelmakerij, Amsterdam/Netherlands
• Wunderland by Schauspielhaus Graz, Austria
• Academy for Theatre and Digitality, Dortmund/Germany
• The Fourth Stage (Fjärde Scenen) at Folkteatern Göteborg, Sweden
12:00 – 13:00 Networking Lunch