On-demand theatre : investigating performer adaptability and spectatorship in an on-demand culture through PaR

Abstract

The evolution of digital technology has fostered the current On-Demand Culture whereby the consumer expects numerous products and services to be provided on demand often delivered to their home. The demand for more immediate access and convenience has resulted in the rapid growth of the On-Demand Economy. On-Demand Theatre is a Practice as Research project that delivered performances on demand to clients’ requested locations, primarily their homes. This dissertation explores whether theatre can thrive in the on-demand context and examines the differing performance conditions to those found in conventional theatre. The work traces the creative process and shows how the training methods were influenced by the work of Jerzy Grotowski, Kristin Linklater and Augusto Boal to prepare the performers. The performers’ ability to adapt the pre-rehearsed performances to the ever-changing performance space is examined considering the unique performance conditions of On-Demand Theatre. With a shift in the ownership of space, from the performers’ domain in the theatre to the audiences’ private home, this research also explores spectatorship and observes any effects on the performer-spectator relationship.