Drama Studio 2.0
Drama Studio 2.0: A template for the performance learning space of the future
Summary
The theatre, event, film, television and related industries are undergoing a period of profound and rapid change. Industry sectors that used to operate largely independently are now seeing the cross-over of technologies, skills and personnel. Even within industry sectors, the digital revolution continues to challenge and change everything, from the opera stage to online, immersive virtual performances. What do these changes mean for the training and education of performers, designers, technicians and others, and – specifically – what do they mean for the spaces in which that training takes place?
The traditional drama studio is a familiar type of space, found wherever drama training takes place, in schools, colleges, universities and drama schools. Its professional analogue is the ‘black box’ studio theatre, with which it shares several key characteristics. Both grew out of 20th century desires to move on from past traditions, seen as outmoded and fossilised. We can see the origins of these spaces in landmark historical buildings and institutions such as the 1911 Festspielhaus in Hellerau, Germany, and the London Theatre Studio on the UK founded in 1936.
Today, prompted by the dramatic changes in the industry, Rose Bruford College is responding with the creation of a new concept for a training space for performance-makers of all kinds – a Drama Studio 2.0. The College’s Digital Studio, developed over the last four years, includes facilities for motion capture, green-screen and an XR stage that can model various industry processes from virtual production for film, XR for broadcast, to mixed reality performance. Like some of its historical predecessors, Drama Studio 2.0 offers the possibility to learn and work together in a new way, and build a new kind of collaborative professional community.
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