Immersive Telepresence: A framework for training and rehearsal in a postdigital age

Tom Gorman, Tiina Syrja, Mikko Kanninen

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Abstract

This paper will examine how telepresence technologies are repurposed to enable student performers to rehearse and train over distances. The discussion will revolve around a variety of telepresence technologies/web-based applications repurposed to investigate actor training, rehearsal, education and performance. In the Immersive Telepresence in Theatre project, two identical spaces, linked by H.323 videoconferencing technology, were created in Tampere (Finland) and Coventry (UK), each with rear projection screens giving the participants the impression of a shared space. The project used existing pedagogical practices but re-applied them to a digital setting with the teaching and rehearsal process only slightly modified to account for the technological aspects of working in this manner. This project, which began in 2016 with Coriolanus Online, has since conducted further collaborations examining rehearsal and performance between Tampere, Coventry, Helsinki University of the Arts, Gothenburg Theatre Academy, Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznań) and Purdue University (USA). As well as the examination of the traditional rehearsal process through these collaborations, there is also the social aspect which promotes teamwork and builds relationships between the student groups. A range of supporting applications were used to create digital ‘social spaces’ – Facebook for scheduling
and rapid sharing of visual materials from rehearsals and web conferencing software, Adobe Connect, was used to provide contextual lectures, individualised rehearsal rooms for the participants and breakout spaces for the students to develop ideas and socialise away independently of the tutor led sessions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication"Blended and online education within European university networks"
Subtitle of host publicationOverview of papers on Higher Education for the Future as presented during the Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference in Madrid, October 2019
EditorsGeorge Ubachs, Fenna Joosten-Adriaanse
PublisherEuropean Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU)
Pages237-252
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9789079730414
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2019
EventThe Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference 2019: "Blended and online education within European university networks" - UNED, Madrid, Spain
Duration: 16 Oct 201918 Oct 2019
https://conference.eadtu.eu

Conference

ConferenceThe Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference 2019
Abbreviated titleOOFHEC19
Country/TerritorySpain
CityMadrid
Period16/10/1918/10/19
Internet address

Bibliographical note

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon this work (even commercially) as long as credit is provided for the original creation. This is among the most accommodating of CC licenses offered and recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials.

Keywords

  • telepresence
  • theatre
  • virtual Mobility
  • Latency
  • H.323-videoconferencing technology
  • LoLa
  • Ultragrid
  • peer learning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Visual Arts and Performing Arts
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Human-Computer Interaction

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  • King Lear Online

    Gorman, T., Kanninen, M. & Syrja, T., 17 Mar 2017

    Research output: Practice-Based and Non-textual ResearchPerformance

  • Coriolanus Online

    Gorman, T., Kanninen, M. & Syrja, T., Feb 2016

    Research output: Practice-Based and Non-textual ResearchPerformance

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