The big screen centre stage: a director's analysis of intermedia theatre production

Abstract

The proposed research investigates the analysis of the use of the moving image within contemporary theatre performance making, with specific reference to the director's role. Moving from the realisation that to date there are no academically accepted models used to assess the impact of the moving image on various aspects of theatre making, the research investigate the history of the problem, relating methodologies and key literature associated with the topic. Two key aspects of the theory of 'liveness' are considered and three case studies of the author's own intermedia production are inititally assessed. One case study, The Master Builder, in then analysed in greater depth using the theory of liveness as a tool. Conclusions reveal that the analysis of practice alongside theory facilitated the director in identifying causes to the problems encountered during production which had impacted craft and had been highlighted in the initial assessment. the work has been written by an intermedia theatre director, and as such it aims to inform her own practice and understanding on future productions.