Multimedia and VR

Although it’s been used in theatre since the 1950s, high quality video imagery is increasingly part of contemporary theatrical productions. Occasionally, productions come along that could not exist without multimedia elements, such as the National Theatre’s Network.  

 


LSI: Heritage Pathways 3 - Screen Time (June 2024)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International

LSI - Network: Combining Stage and Screen (December 2017)
[2.2Mb PDF]
From Lighting & Sound International

History: Big Screen Video (July 2016)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International

Arts Council: From Live To Digital (October 2016)
[External Website]

Projection Design by 59 Productions (London)

The team talk about their work on a wide range of projects.

Katie Mitchell on directing multimedia productions

The Builders Association – SuperVision trailer

Random Glossary Entry

CUE LIST
A list of sound, lighting, automation, scene change, video, followspot (etc) cues in order of their appearance in the show. Each cue is given a unique number, and the list includes a brief description of what it does (e.g. for Lighting: Blackout, Dim Downstage Wash, Red Spot Upstage; for Sound: Preshow Music, Fade Out, Snap Music to Quiet etc. )
Cue is often abbreviated to 'Q". 
Also known as a Plot Sheet. 

See also

Projection Mapping

MadMapper


Video Matters: MadMapper (February 2018)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International

Video Editing


DaVinci Resolve (January 2018)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International

 

History – Video for Live Performance

Film projection was used by a range of multimedia artists, but the mega concerts of the 1980s demanded a more immediate relay of the performers. 

Simon Le Bon, of Duran Duran, said that they used the first video walls in a live concert. [ref: Smartless podcast April 2023]. Research is ongoing. 

U2 (1996) used a very early LED video screen, as the technology emerged. 


A Short History of the Videowall (Robert Simpson) (November 2009)
[1.09Mb PDF]

LSI: Heritage Pathways 3 - Screen Time (June 2024)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International

History: Big Screen Video (July 2016)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International

 


Video

Amazon Shop

2022

The Live Event Video Technician
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2020

Productivity Through Wellness for Live Entertainment and Theatre Technicians
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2017

Media Design and Technology for Live Entertainment
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2011

Multimedia Performance
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2007

Digital Performance
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2007

Multi-Media: Video - Installation - Performance
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2007

Staging the Screen: The Use of Film and Video in Theatre
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US
2005

The Development of Scenography in the Twentieth Century
Buy at
Amazon UK
Amazon US

External Links

Access Equipment

Genie Lifts and Access Equipment [Worldwide]
Slingsby Access ladders [UK]
Zarges Access ladders & towers [Germany & UK]

Control Systems

Folsom Products Video Switching
Kramer Electronics Video Switching [Israel]
Vortex Communications Video Switching [London, UK]
Wahlberg DMX DVD controller
Wahlberg DMX Shutter

Dance Technology

Chunky Move [Australia]
Group Motion
Jasmin Vardimon [UK]

Designers

59 Productions / Leo Warner [London, UK]
Jon Driscoll Cinematographer, Lighting and Projection Designer [UK]
Mic Pool Sound and Video Design for Theatre

Manufacturers

Luminex (IT Networks for AV) [Belgium]

Materials

Gerriets Hologauze Projection Material

Notable Installations

Projections in How to Train Your Dragon Live

Practitioners

Davy & Kristin McGuire - Silent Movie [UK]
Forkbeard Fantasy
Forkbeard Fantasy - Drama Resource
Josef Svoboda
Katie Mitchell
Laterna Magika [Prague, Czech Republic]
Laurie Anderson
Pervasive Media Studio [Bristol, UK]
Robert Lepage
Robert Wilson
Synaesthetic Theatre
The Builders Association
The Gray Circle Lightscapes, Projection Design
The Wooster Group

Projection

BMD Broadway Media Distribution Scenic Projection media [CA, USA]
DLP Technology
EMF Technology Projection, video mapping, waterscreens [UK]
Fogscreen
Inition
Knifedge Projection, video mapping, waterscreens [London, UK]
Musion 3D 'holographic' projection (as used by the band Gorillaz)
Pani [Large format projection]
What Lumen rating projector should I use?
XL Video [London, UK]

Publications

AV Magazine

Resources

Modern Theatre relies too much on technology (The Guardian, 2008)
Multimedia in theatre: sound and fury, signifying something (The Guardian, 2008)
Multimedia Theatre: A new art form? (Blog, 2006)
Projection Design Resources
Simulcast Technology at Seattle Opera
TED talk - Natasha Tsakos
Waves Sets a High Water Mark for Multimedia Theatre (The Guardian, 2006)

Software

Baxel Data - Cue Player Software for Windows
ClipChamp Free Online Video Editor
Drafty App for lighting, sound & video designers [USA]
DT Videolabs PlaybackPro Software
GarageCube LED and Video Mapping [Switzerland]
Isadora Multimedia toolkit for performance
KM Player Audio & Video media player for Windows
Mitti Video Cue Playback
Photopea Free Image Editing
PlaybackPro Plus Video Presentation Software (Mac)
Qlab Cue-based multimedia for performance. Qlab is available for Mac OS, and is tremendously powerful and adaptable for playing back video and sound cues and using live cameras.
Screenmonkey
Showmagic
TimeLord - Media Timecode Player Optimised for use with grandMA2
Touch Designer - Live Design article, Feb 2013
Veed Transcription, Subtitles and Online Editing
 Effects >> Resolume VJ Software for Live Events
 Projection Mapping >> Dataton Watchout Blending multiple projectors together for massive scale projection
 Projection Mapping >> HeavyM Easy Projection Mapping software [France]
 Projection Mapping >> MadMapper Video & Light Mapping Software
 Projection Mapping >> Tools
 Video Editing >> Adobe Premiere
 Video Editing >> DaVinci Resolve Video Editing
 Video Editing >> DaVinci Resolve Training Materials
 Video Editing >> Final Cut Pro [Mac]
 Video Editing >> Hitfilm Express and Hitfilm Ultimate Editing and Visual Effects for Windows [UK]
 Video Editing >> Open Shot Open Source Video Editing for Windows, Mac, Linux
 Video Editing >> Pinnacle
 Video Editing >> Vegas Video
 Effects >> Adobe After Effects
 Effects >> Apple Motion
 Effects >> Autodesk Maya
 Show Control >> Qlab Event-driven media playback for Mac

Stock Footage / Photography

ArtGrid
Boxcat Design Video Loops for VJs [UK]
British Library Vintage Images Over 1 million images free to download [UK]
Can Stock Photo
Canva Free & Premium Stock Photos
Foto Search [USA / UK]
Free Images Free Royalty-Free Photos
iStockPhoto Stock images and video
MotionLoops Video loops and motion graphics [Texas, USA]
Movietools Video Loops and motion graphics [Germany]
Pikwizard Large range of royalty free and premium photos and videos
Pixabay Free Images
Rocketstock After Effects templates and elements [USA]
Showfootage Video loops and clips [Germany]
Unsplash Excellent freely available photos
Videvo Free Stock Video Footage

Suppliers

AED Group
AV Lamps [UK]
Full Compass Supplier [UK ]
Gear Source Europe Secondhand / Used Equipment [Kent, UK]
Stage Electrics Lighting & Sound Equipment Sales [UK]
Thomann [Germany, Europe]
Warwick Corporate Events [Devon, UK]

Video Resources

Apple Firewire

Video Mapping

The Macula
The Macula: Prague Astronomical Clock 600th Anniversary

Keywords: Video for theatre, video in theatre, video on stage,