f Extending the theatre experience: The potential for wearable and onstage cameras

The National Theatre has led the way in the delivery of live theatre experiences to audiences in cinemas. Audience data suggests that the programme has introduced the theatre experience to a broader audience beyond theatre-goers unable to get tickets for sell-out shows. The success of NT Live led NESTA to conclude that a better understanding of what works for audiences and what does not with respect to digital innovation is ‘crucial for the competitiveness of the Creative Industries in the UK’.

This study presents the analysis of the Extended Theatre Experience project and compares the reactions to a performance captured using camera locations and one that incorporates views from cameras worn by the actors and in the stage props. Home and cinema screenings are compared. Statistical analysis of the data collected is presented and conclusions are drawn regarding the effectiveness of onstage shots to create a sense of the immediacy of the live performance.