All the Screen's a Stage is a collaboration between Z-arts (Manchester), Young At Art (Belfast) and KOPERGIETERY (Ghent). All the partners have been working on a free international online programme of creative conversations: 1-hour expert-led talks explore how to produce post-lockdown hybrid digital theatre.

We hosted online conversations in November '22, December 22 & January '23, culminating in a hybrid make-a-thon in February '23.

CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS

november 2022 to january 2023

3x free, expert-led online sessions.

4pm GMT, Tuesday 1st November 2022 (Online)

#1 MAKING DIGITAL HYBRID THEATRE WORK

Zoë Seaton

Big Telly Theatre Company

Director Zoë Seaton will discuss Big Telly’s unique approach to hybrid theatre and digital engagement.

Zoë will be sharing clips from a number of hybrid projects and shows, and discussing how the digital domain opens up a world of creative possibilities.

*This event is programmed as part of Belfast International Arts Festival.

In conversation with Eibhlín de Barra, Young at Art (Belfast)

WATCH

2pm GMT, Friday 16th December 2022 (Online)

#2 PLAY, YOUNG AUDIENCES,

AND LIVE DIGITAL INTERACTION

Tim De Paepe

playField

Tim De Paepe is a member of playField, a young art collective which explores the boundaries between actor and audience. Reseach on data science, sociology, math and technology form the fertile soil for playField to develop their work.

Having a background as an it-developer, Tim has a unique profile as a theatre maker and director.

In a conversation setup, Tim and Ilja will be focusing on the artistic and technical challenges and opportunities of digital and hybrid performance arts.

In conversation with Ilja Van Autreve, KOPERGIETERY (Ghent)

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2pm GMT, Monday 16th January 2023 (Online)

#3 INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN:

MULTI-SENSORY STORYTELLING

Debbie Bandara

Forest Tribe Theatre

Debbie Bandara is the founder & Artistic Director of Forest Tribe Theatre, a carbon-neutral dance digital theatre company that produces immersive and interactive work. Their recent show, 'New World', is delivered in Special Educational Needs schools using 5G and haptic technology.

Drawing from 'New World', Debbie will discuss the digital aspects from an Inclusive Design Approach, how this framework is applied with audiences with additional needs, and how this can impact wider audiences.

The session will be practical in part for the guests to inspire their own practice.

In conversation with Tom Shennan, Z-arts (Manchester)

WATCH

All the Screen's a Stage is a monthly programme of free, expert-led sessions on Zoom, followed by a make-a-thon (think hackathon but with more art). The events are open to all artists and theatre-makers interested in using digital interaction in their performance work; as well as researchers and programmers who want to think deeper about this area.

The 1-hour creative conversations will explore how to produce post-lockdown hybrid digital theatre in a sustainable alternative model to touring. You will interrogate what can emerge from the intersection of computer science, psychology, theatre, and play. We'll also cover how combining creative technologies with an inclusive design approach can generate work that is both engaging and accessible for diverse audiences.

The Make-a-Thon will be a structured space to put this research into practice yourself, with the brief to discover new ways young audiences can experience interactive performing arts. This will be an opportunity to work in teams with a mix of disciplines, generate ideas, and create new prototypes.

The project is led by digital artists Ilja Van Autreve and Tom Shennan, and is produced in international collaboration between Z-arts (Manchester), Young at Art (Belfast), and KOPERGIETERY (Ghent) with Four Nations funding.