Puppetry of the pixel: Producing live theatre in virtual spaces

The Digital Media Laboratory has spent a significant portion of 2009 exploring the creation of theatrical performances in the online world Second Life. This has taught us practical methods for direction and stagecraft in virtual spaces, and has shown the advantages and limitations of such performances. A virtual space has the advantages of being easily accessible, flexible, and tolerant of mistakes - an scenery can be taken down and rebuilt in minutes. Set design can be done in three dimensions, and the first draft is often a prototype of what will actually be used. Some scripts that would otherwise be impossible to mount in a conventional theatre are relatively easily produced in Second Life. This kind of performance in a virtual arena raises provocative questions regarding future directions in theatre design, delivery, education and the very nature of performance. Is Second Life the likely arena for a new wave of alternative theatre?