Drama and Technology
TECHNOLOGY IN THE THEATRE
tradition meets innovation
The use of technology in theatrical production is a relatively new addition to the long history of theatre. For over 2000 years theatre was held outside to benefit from the sun's illumination. Night scenes were indicated by the use of torches and candles and through language.
Around 1600 CE, theatre moved indoors and used candles and oil lamps for illumination. Fire was a constant threat. (Wikipedia)
It wasn't until the 18th Century that David Garrick and Philipe Jacques DeLoutherbourg (the former an actor-manager and the later a designer) decided to place oil lamps above the stage and use gauze curtains silk screens to create effects of color and mood (Drury Lane Theatre in London).
In 1785, Aimé Argand of Geneva created the Argand lamp which provided a more stable and constant source of light.
1803 saw the use of gas lights in the London theaters, this allowed for more control illuminating the scene, intensity could be slightly manipulated to create mood and atmosphere. (Wilson 310)
Thomas Edison's invention of the incandescent bulb in 1879 sparked a new era of imaginative use of lighting in the theatre. The electric light bulb allowed for complex and sophisticated innovation in the aesthetics and technology of lighting. Today, lighting and projection technology, reinforces the kinesthetic and visual connections between audience and the performance.The last element in visual design to be added to the theatre is one of the most advanced in terms of equipment and computerization. ***
«Light is to the production what music is to the score: the expressive element in opposition to the literal signs; and, like music, light can express only what belongs to the inner essence of all vision's vision.» -Adolphe Appia (Swiss scene designer who understood the aesthetic and artistic possibilities of light in the theatre.) (Ctd. in Wilson 311)
***Consult the following Power Point Presentation to review the functions of lighting in the theatre:
/uploads/1/7/7/3/17733591/7_functions_of_lighting.pptx
Innovations in sound: amplification, effects and design
In early theatre, sound was created using objects. For example, thunder was simulated by hanging a large thick metal sheet backstage and gently shaking it. There are two types of sound identified in theatre: sound reproduction and sound reinforcement. Sound reproduction is when sounds are motivated by the production requirements, the script and the environmental sounds that help to create atmosphere. Sound reinforcements amplify the sound produced by a performer or a musical instrument. The use of microphones can either enhance or hinder a production. (Wilson 324)
Recordings, editing, mixing and blending of sounds add to the artistry of the production. The technical director and the sound designer follow the same principles as the lighting designers: sound technology contributes to the realization of the collaborative aesthetic vision of the play.
Current day technology is exploding, the possibilities are endless. Media awareness and skills are required in the theatre in order to ensure that theatre continues to reflect the human condition and modern realities. Drama is a collaborative art form, the opportunity to make, create, perform, appreciate, innovate and manipulate media and technology is essential. In order to serve the purpose of Drama, media and technology serve the elements of drama, different dramatic contexts, different performance styles and theatrical conventions.
Theater is rooted in ritual and the human element. Technology and media must never become a substitute for the actor, it is but a tool to connect the actor and the world of the play to the audience.
Around 1600 CE, theatre moved indoors and used candles and oil lamps for illumination. Fire was a constant threat. (Wikipedia)
It wasn't until the 18th Century that David Garrick and Philipe Jacques DeLoutherbourg (the former an actor-manager and the later a designer) decided to place oil lamps above the stage and use gauze curtains silk screens to create effects of color and mood (Drury Lane Theatre in London).
In 1785, Aimé Argand of Geneva created the Argand lamp which provided a more stable and constant source of light.
1803 saw the use of gas lights in the London theaters, this allowed for more control illuminating the scene, intensity could be slightly manipulated to create mood and atmosphere. (Wilson 310)
Thomas Edison's invention of the incandescent bulb in 1879 sparked a new era of imaginative use of lighting in the theatre. The electric light bulb allowed for complex and sophisticated innovation in the aesthetics and technology of lighting. Today, lighting and projection technology, reinforces the kinesthetic and visual connections between audience and the performance.The last element in visual design to be added to the theatre is one of the most advanced in terms of equipment and computerization. ***
«Light is to the production what music is to the score: the expressive element in opposition to the literal signs; and, like music, light can express only what belongs to the inner essence of all vision's vision.» -Adolphe Appia (Swiss scene designer who understood the aesthetic and artistic possibilities of light in the theatre.) (Ctd. in Wilson 311)
***Consult the following Power Point Presentation to review the functions of lighting in the theatre:
/uploads/1/7/7/3/17733591/7_functions_of_lighting.pptx
Innovations in sound: amplification, effects and design
In early theatre, sound was created using objects. For example, thunder was simulated by hanging a large thick metal sheet backstage and gently shaking it. There are two types of sound identified in theatre: sound reproduction and sound reinforcement. Sound reproduction is when sounds are motivated by the production requirements, the script and the environmental sounds that help to create atmosphere. Sound reinforcements amplify the sound produced by a performer or a musical instrument. The use of microphones can either enhance or hinder a production. (Wilson 324)
Recordings, editing, mixing and blending of sounds add to the artistry of the production. The technical director and the sound designer follow the same principles as the lighting designers: sound technology contributes to the realization of the collaborative aesthetic vision of the play.
Current day technology is exploding, the possibilities are endless. Media awareness and skills are required in the theatre in order to ensure that theatre continues to reflect the human condition and modern realities. Drama is a collaborative art form, the opportunity to make, create, perform, appreciate, innovate and manipulate media and technology is essential. In order to serve the purpose of Drama, media and technology serve the elements of drama, different dramatic contexts, different performance styles and theatrical conventions.
Theater is rooted in ritual and the human element. Technology and media must never become a substitute for the actor, it is but a tool to connect the actor and the world of the play to the audience.
