Historical Context and Multimedia Unit : Lesson 1, Multimedia In Projects

Multimedia

1. What do we mean by the phrase 'multimedia in performance'?

A name given loosely to performance in which different forms, such as speech, song, dance, film or video, are mixed together. Arising in the 1960's out of experiments like happenings and influenced by pop culture, it aspires to a kind of total theatre and often overlaps with terms such as music theatre, performance art and other types of experimental theatre.

2. Give some examples of different types of media that could be used in a performance. Give examples of how they could be used and the positive and negative of them.

TYPE OF MEDIA	EXAMPLE OF USE IN PERFORMANCE	POSITIVES OF USING IT…	NEGATIVES OF USING IT…
Video Camera
Music	Music could be used when complicated transitions are happening on stage. It could also be used in a piece of silent/abstract theatre.	Using it when transitions are occurring means that the audience will not lose focus; if the music fits the piece then they will feel more intrigued with what is about to happen. If it is used behind a piece of silent theatre then it can create a fitting atmosphere to the piece- it also allows the audience to interpret the piece with their own freedom.	If music is used in a non-silent piece of theatre it could be a possible distraction from what is happening onstage. Furthermore, it could also effect the projection of the actors as they may not be able to be heard if the music is too empowering.
Photography	Still images could be projected onto walls behind the performance space.	A positive of doing this is the photographs used could add to the main themes of the play- for example if it were a play about a murder mystery and there was a photo of the murder victim as a backdrop it would be a visual reminder the audience of the main theme and mystery that is ever so constant throughout the play.	This could possibly crowd the stage and make it seem as if too much were going on within the scene rather than having just a plain backdrop which would allow the actors to portray the main themes of the play themselves with their theatre skills rather than having a physical representation do it for them.
Sound Effects	Sound effects could be used to create atmosphere and build tension.	This could be used to make the piece of theatre more realistic- for example if a police siren sound was used it would be more effective than if an actor tried to make the noise themselves.	A negative of doing this could possibly be that it may break the focus and intense aura that has been constructed onstage and just be ineffective.
Torch lights	Torch lights could be used to be a literal pass of focus onstage.	An advantage of this is that the audience are fully aware of who is holding the focus at different parts throughout the play, for example if many actors are within the space at one time and someone is trying to deliver a line it could be difficult to figure out who is talking and if they are the supposed to be main focus; however the use of torchlight's could allow this to become very clear.	A disadvantage of this is it could become too distracting from the piece and the actors- it could also not fit within the themes of the play. If a lighthearted comedy play suddenly turned the lights down and used torches to illuminate the actors faces in a mysterious- like manner it would be ill fitted and would confuse the audience.
Mobile Phones	Phones could be used in modern or futuristic plays.	Using phones in modern or futuristic plays could be a literal way to show how technology has evolved and how it effects our lives.	If phones are used in plays that are not of the time period or era when phones were originally used, it makes the play unrealistic and the audience will not be able to connect.

3. Try to think of show you have seen at the theatre that has used multimedia. What type of multimedia was used? Did it enhance the performance? How and why?

Last year I went to see a play that was based around The Cold War. Throughout the play it used sound effects, lighting, music and videos projected onto the background to add some more historical context to the play. It enhanced the performance as it allowed the audience to understand the main themes of the play (e.g war) in a more realistic, modern sense. The ending scene was incredible as the stage was filled with bright red lights, and all you could see was a silhouette of the main character. The red lights were used to symbolize an important part of the Cold War, which was extremely clever and effective. The music used was also appropriate, which is something to be aware of when working with multimedia in performance. In total, the piece was incredible and the multimedia enhanced this.