Virtual Stage Rehearsal

With the workshop “How to go Virtual” we have developed a format to give theatres and venues the chance to easily get in touch with virtual reality and to test possible applications. The workshop gives an overview of the different application possibilities of VR in the theatre and enables the use of different VR workflows in practice. In addition to theoretical parts (explanations of terms, technical details), a great deal of emphasis will be placed on practice, both in trying out existing applications and programmes and in actually playing through own use scenarios of VR as a visualisation, design, construction and communication medium in the theatre.

On 9.3.2020, a first kick-off workshop with all partners involved took place in the Konzerthaus Berlin. Here a good overview of virtual working in the theatre and event sector in general could be worked out and common goals and the key points for the development of the minimum requirements of a tool could be drafted.

This work will now be continued in the mobile workshops. VR Coach Vincent Kaufmann has already held workshops with the teams from the theatre der jungen Generation Dresden and soon with the Landestheater Neuss.

Questions that will be examined there:

  • What does a workflow for the execution of digital “virtual” construction samples look like?
  • Which data sets are necessary, how must they be prepared? (Import interfaces, Vectorworks, Autocad, Megacad?)
  • How does the “Virtual Construction Rehearsal” integrate into the creation process of a theatre production?
  • Who produces the respective “virtual building sample”? Definition of the cooperation of scenographers / stage designers and technical departments of the theatres or 3D specialists?
  • Where does this work take place, in which setting is the result used?
  • Who uses the “virtual building trial” how? (director, artistic director, TDs, stage designer)
  • How are the data records integrated into the respective applications?
  • What results are produced? (Export interfaces)
  • What is the difference between VR and AR (Tracking?)

Cooperation partners / workshop participants: Konzerthaus Berlin, theatre of the young generation Dresden, Estrel Berlin, AVE Verhengsten GmbH & Co, / LoopLight, Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, Luisenburg Wunsiedel, mo2 design , students of the Beuth-Hochschule Berlin theatre and event technology

News about this project

Webinar for European Theatre Convention

In this Webinar for the European Theatre Convention, Franziska Ritter will show different approaches and possibilities based on the research project “Im/material Theatre Spaces” by digital.DTHG, the digital competence centre of the Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft. Theatre has always been a pioneer for the development and application of new technologies, it is a place for artistic …

Final publication of research project “Im/material Theatre Spaces”

The research project “Im/material Theatre Spaces – Augmented and Virtual Reality for Theatre” has been successfully completed after 2.5 years. This publication summarises the findings of the project and provides insights into the interdisciplinary, practice-oriented research work. Download publication (pdf 8 MB)

How to “Virtual Bauprobe”?

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Workflow 3 – Virtual Bauprobe with VR-Sketch

Viewing, discussing and editing designs in virtual space

Workflow 2  – Mozilla Hubs “Bauprobe for everyone”

Viewing and discussing designs with up to 30 people via different devices

Workflow 1 Sketchfab / Zoom „Semi-virtual pre-rehearsal”

Viewing and discussing designs with up to30 people via two-dimensional screens

Insights and Outlook – Interview Franziska Ritter & Pablo Dornhege

After two intensive research years, the project leaders Franziska Ritter and Pablo Dornhege take a look behind the scenes, draw a summary and glimpse into the future. In doing so, they are asking themselves the same questions that they have posed to their partners in the current project.

“We are navigating an experimental field, which is still finding its form” Interview with Alex Segin

Project lead Franziska Ritter talks to Alexander Segin, Head of Event Technology Konzerthaus Berlin. During the 2020/21 season, which marked the concert hall’s 200-year anniversary, we had a chance to test workflows for virtual construction rehearsals with him and his team.

“Eliminate the existing mental patterns!” – Interview Norbert Richter

Norbert Richter has been head of the workshops at the Chemnitz Theatre since 2007. For many years, he and his team have been the „digital engine“ at the theatre and are contributing their know-how to the upcoming renovation of the theatre and the move to the interim venue in the Alte Spinnerei.

Presentation at Bühnentechnische Tagung Ulm

In June 2022, the 61st stage technology conference of the DTHG took place in Ulm: with an extensive program of presentations, panel discussions, round tables and lectures, the theatre landscape was finally able to celebrate its industry meeting live again.  71 companies and more than 1,100 guests were on site, got to know each other …

Bauprobe – why virtual?

The Bauprobe is an important milestone in the theatre production process, where the participants usually come together physically for the first time in a large group: the artistic team (first and foremost the stage designer, but also the director, costume designer, make-up artist) and the technical team (usually with the technical director, stage manager, lighting, …

Results of project Virtual Bauprobe

Workflows and Guides for Virtual Bauprobe In this subproject, methods and tools were sought for conducting Virtual Bauprobe – building rehearsals that do not take place physically in the theatre and on stage, but can take place in virtual space and independent of location. How can VR technology be integrated as a visualization, design, construction …

Results, licences, sustainable usage

The solutions we developed as part of the research project “Im/material Theatre Spaces” (2019-2022) serve as sustainably transferable concepts due to their prototypical model character. The gained insights and developed model solutions were published on various channels and are made available to the entire cultural landscape for free and flexible use.  Licenses For this purpose, …

Opening of the Knowledge Plattform nachtkritik.plus

The platform Knowledge on nachtkritik.plus bundles and reflects the achieved state of development in the field of theater and digitality. There are already almost eighty contributions on various technical tools, tutorials and workshop discussions that explain digital technologies and their application or reflect on experiences with them.

Interview: “VR is the driving force for us!” digital.DTHG in conversation with theater junge generation Dresden

The digital.DTHG team visits the theater junge generation Dresden, one of the first cooperation partners in the research project “Im/material Theatre Spaces”. Project manager Franziska Ritter and VR coach Vincent Kaufmann ask about experiences and insights and show how the Dresden colleagues have made it from their first virtual attempts to established digital workflows in …

Quickly explained: How do I create a digital theater space – 3D construction, photogrammetry or laser scan?

Which methods are available for spatial capture and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Quickly explained: Tracking, cables and performance – how is it connected?

VR headset with or without cable? When do I need wired or mobile VR glasses? What is tracking anyway, which variants are there? What performance differences do VR glasses have? And how is all this related to each other?

Quickly recommended: Which software for 3D planning and working in VR?

Digitization is making its way into almost every field and, with virtual reality, is developing a thoroughly useful tool for planning, organizing and meetings. The listed programs are starting points for spatial design work in VR and allow an easy entry into the virtual world.

Quickly explained: VR content – pre-produced versus real-time rendered, passive versus interactive?!

The types of content that can be presented and experienced in virtual reality are diverse and very different – we provide an overview.

Quickly explained: Do you have a clear view? Hygiene, care and maintenance of VR glasses

A VR headset gets to know a lot of faces and noses in the course of its operating life. Therefore, proper handling and care is important – we give you basic tips here:

Quickly explained: The VR headset jungle

What different VR systems and manufacturers are there? How do I find my way through the VR jungle? What do I have to pay attention to when choosing?

“How to go virtual?!” Workshop for freelance stage designers – together with the association “Bund der Szenografen”

To raise awareness of digital and virtual tools in theater, digital.DTHG created the workshop series “How to go virtual?!” and has now expanded the format for freelance scenographers and set designers.

Video BTT_digital Session: “Virtual Stage Rehearsal”

After one year of project duration, the project managers Franziska Ritter and Pablo Dornhege present interim results of the project “Virtual Stage Rehearsal” at the Bühnentechnische Tagung.

Workshop series: How to go virtual?

The entry into new digital worlds is a big step with many obstacles. New software and new ways of working require an intensive examination and consume a lot of time. Time that is not always available.

Workshop: the virtual construction trial

Developing a stage design is a process that involves many steps and trades – the creative work of the stage designers in consultation with the director as much as coordination with technical management, production in the workshops and realization on stage.

Kick-off workshop and prototype development

An interdisciplinary kick-off workshop entitled “IM/MATERIAL THEATRE SPACES” took place in spring 2019 at the TU Berlin under the direction of Franziska Ritter and Pablo Dornhege.

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