Key research themes
1. How is theatrical performances' embodied presence redefined or challenged when moved off-stage or to online environments?
This theme investigates the shifting notions of presence, embodiment, and interactivity in theatre and performance when they are relocated from traditional stages to off-site physical spaces or virtual/online platforms. It addresses how the embodied interaction between performer and spectator changes, the challenges and possibilities of agency and liveness, and how digital mediation affects theatrical engagement and experience.
2. What are the methodological and curatorial challenges in presenting novel forms of live or musically metacreative performances on stage?
This research theme focuses on practical and epistemological issues involved in staging innovative musical performances, particularly those involving algorithmically generated, collaborative, or hybrid artistic practices. It addresses the challenges of curation, audience evaluation, live interaction, and bridging diverse audience expectations in contexts where traditional notions of performance and presence are stretched or redefined.
3. How do theatre props and performer embodiment contribute to meaning-making and disrupt traditional theatrical conventions on stage?
This theme explores the theatrical and symbolic significance of stage objects (props) and embodied performer interventions in shaping audience perception and theatrical experience. It examines how mundane theatrical devices like telephones serve as mediators of presence and communication, and how performer embodiment challenges fixed narrative and interpretive frames, enabling dynamic interaction and re-interpretation.