[BBC]

Some people in the theatre industry don’t take kindly to the innovations that Mr Bird and his team at Knifedge are introducing to the stage.

Innovations like a computer-generated avatar sword-fighting an actor live on stage in his most recent show Pippin, transporting the audience to the world of a computer game. …

In a movement that some critics are calling “technodrama” and “mixed reality”, shows across the globe have been embracing the latest digital technology.

3D projections, virtual-reality masks for actors, stop-motion camerawork and computer animation have all been put to use.

And as the hardware and software become ever cheaper, the methods are trickling down to fringe theatre too. …

The real digital revolution, says Mr Bird, is that you can now map your 2D projections onto your particular stage set in a venue – rather than merely project onto a flat surface.

“This gives the projected images a 3D quality without the audience having to wear the glasses”, says Mr Bird, “which would kill the theatrical experience.” …

The trend appears to be towards ever more interactive sets, with effects triggered by actors live on stage.

Knifedge is testing the use of Xbox Kinect cameras for this purpose (which detect movement for the purpose of video gaming), and chemically treated glass that turns opaque with an electrical charge, creating an instantaneous projection screen. …

See the full, lengthy story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17079364