Theatre In The Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse?

It was finally time to crack that egg that everyone was eager to taste. Humanity has known many forms of live entertainment, and theatre is definitely one of those experiences you will always want to repeat. But we cannot simply ignore the fact that as digital technology becomes increasingly ingrained in our daily lives, it is completely natural for theatre to adopt certain practices in order to enhance the experience for the public.

On the other hand, those with more conservatory minds would rage at the thought of destroying the most human and natural form of art. It is worth a debate, and down below, you can see what pros and cons experts are debating. We will also attach some studies here and there because only true, seasoned analysts can decide if technology really has its place inside a theatre show.

The Pros: Innovating Theatre Seemed Impossible

Go back in time a couple of years and see if you could find a way to completely innovate theatre. We should actually be thankful for what technology is able to do for us. In the end, acting can only be done by people, and it is one of the most authentic forms of art.

But there is some light at the end of this tunnel, and here are some of the pros we consider to help theatre thrive with the help of technology.

 1.Global reach and accessibility:  Stand-up comedy is a form of theatre entertainment, and this niche has actually paved the way for traditional theatre to consider digital streaming and online content as a solution for reaching a much larger audience. The last few years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, platforms like National Theatre at Home and Broadway HD actually streamed their performances to millions of users around the world.

Here is one interesting fact about how impactful this practice is amongst younger users in particular. A study made by UK AEA Consulting showed that younger audiences tend to engage with online theatre streams more in present times. At the same time, they identified certain patterns and surveyed 1,161 respondents in order to find out if economic implications determined them to choose to attend a live theatre event or stream it.

29% that were within walking distance still chose to stream these shows. For those who would have to travel from 10 to 30 minutes by car, the percentage is 39%. The conclusion is that the relative proximity of a theatre does not impact the decision to stream a show. Actually, those who live near a theatre or a cinema are more likely to stream.

This only shows that no matter where they live, people would still choose to stream, and this explains why the online audience is growing so fast nowadays. If respondents from urban areas would stream, imagine those who cannot attend a live show in person.

2. A More convenient similar experience: Technology is again responsible for how users can watch shows from the comfort of their homes. In 2019, the Royal Shakespeare Company made a Virtual Reality adaptation of “Hamlet,” which you can now watch using your VR headset at home. The experience is unbelievable, and the scenes do not compare to any Hamlet show you’ve seen before. The best part is that you can experience it from the comfort of your home, in your own rhythm.

3.Modernization: Technology also helped theatres simplify the process of attending a live show by offering digital ticketing services and augmented reality booking. Nowadays, you can just go to the theatre website, pick the seats you love, pay online, and just scan a QR code at the entrance.

4.Technologized avenues: Attending a live show like “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” in a modern theatre will amaze you. This show has so much potential, and new innovations like visual effects, lighting, and live projections can take the experience to a whole different level.

The Cons: Digital Integration Can Be Challenging

The amount of new digital content we have access to on a daily basis might create a sense of fatigue, and this might be the fiercest enemy theatre has. The live theatre experience is right the opposite of that, but let’s take a look at the cons:

1. Screen fatigue: Let’s cover that first take we had on screen fatigue because a survey conducted by the Theatre Communications Group showed that 41% of respondents feel like streamed content is not as engaging as it used to be, and they would choose to watch it live instead.
2. Loss of the true theatre experience: By definition, theatre is a live experience where you get to feel the emotions and implication and witness the true art of acting right in front of your eyes. Attending a live theatre show helps you create a connection with the actors, become a part of the ambiance, and enjoy a unique energy.
3. Small theatres struggle: The technology is there for everyone to use it in order to digitalize their performances, but how can small theatres afford the costs of recording, streaming, and delivering a high-quality production? Creating such material for streaming platforms will also lead to splitting the profits, so how can a small theatre or team of actors sustain their activity? The truth is they can’t.
4. Criticized Partnerships: While younger generations would not even blink at hearing that certain iGaming companies are developing games based on famous theatres or even classic shows like The Lion King, elders would go Super Saiyan if they even hear about daily free spins no deposit incentives that you can grab only by playing a game that respects the theme of an artistic theatre show. This intersection between art and iGaming might not be adopted as easily as some would want.