A spin-off from this world of lockdown is that everything is going online and virtual.
No wonder Zoom has become the weapon of choice, we are running out of time to install other ones.
The GIFT festival in Gateshead is a case in point. Shifted excellently from live performance to almost live and online, it illustrates what can be achieved with some Zoom, SoundCloud and a bit of Vimeo. The Guardian was gushingly praising of the event, which I reckon marks a new high point in accessible theatre - taking the shows well beyond Gateshead and the North- East.
Not only that, by limiting some of the sessions to small-theatre sized audiences, it preserves the material for taking on the road at a later date.
From the very open nature of the event - introducing the performers in a Zoom sequence before it all started, akin to having them lined up on an interviewers' stage, and then seeing the shows, some at specific times and other that could be either dipped into or downloaded after a certain time. Strangeness included.
Undercover performer … Gudrun Soley Sigurdardottir. Photograph: Julia Bauer
It certainly recreated the feeling of a visit to a curated event.
The challenge comes as everyone piles into the format and we find ourselves drinking from a firehose of options. NT, Guardian, Phoenix, SWSX.
I'm optimistic though. Good curation marks the better events. I guess that Theatre Makers who have that skill will still rise to the surface.
Yes, right now I'm listening to the magical RadiOh Europa playing love songs from Ukraine and Northumberland.
2 comments:
Life is so different now!I've been watching several music artists sing online.
I finally got to experience Zoom when we had a volunteer team meaning last week (another coming up this week).
Can I recommend an app if you like listening to music around the world? You can tune into virually any radio station around the world using Radio Garden. They have an app and a website to listen through.
Great Nikki-ann - I'll give it a go!
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