If the expression ‘all the world is a stage’ is (or seems to be) no longer just a metaphor, but on the contrary a characteristic feature of our mediatized culture, then we really do need a stage on which the staging of life can be staged in such away that it can be deconstructed and made visible again. ~Chiel Kattenbelt

Diversity, equity and inclusion, in order to do this, it is crucial to include the cast and crew into the conversation and talk about accessibility.

WHAT IS DIGITAL THEATRE -

Venn diagram for the possibilities of defining digital theatre:

My Advice to fellow performers working in this medium

Lower your expectations

• Take it as if you are performing on the stage- Cam King in her rehearsal process of Arlington states that she was giving directions like perform for the back row.
• Use all the training you have learnt so far: Tablework, Scene work, Character building, Improv.
• Deconstruct the medium and use this time to play with the options that you wouldn't have the ability to play with if you were in the theatre.

Zoom Acting

• Zoom acting is an acting style that is specific for zoom can also be a little 2 dimensional.
• Staying in the zoom frame, although there are also interesting ways to play with zoom framing with direction.
• What is you relationship to zoom as your character---This is a good question to ask and it influences the acting choices you make in this medium.
• Do you only have one camera? because if you have more devices this could allow for a more 3 dimensional performance.

For Acting for zoom the best practices are:

• Get very familiar with all the settings the zoom has to offer even the advanced settings.
• Always have your script open on your desk top as this helps for a more efficient table work session, paper seems to be ineffective and too much.
• Make sure you use common sense with regards to your eyeline so your eyes don't look like they veer off to much as this can be disengaging.

Actors Mindset

• Be very open during the process don't come with any expectations this is a new media and everyone is experimenting with the unknown,
• Play is integral for this to work.
• The more comfortable you feel with the medium and what is has to offer and all its features and uses the better the performance will be.
• Use the given circumstances of the script to fuel your acting choices.
• Allow for flexibility by being fully present and open don't be jarred by the medium embrace and be curious to what the new possibilities of this medium is? and how this mode of performance can reach people in a different type of way.

Space

• Create a sacred space with which you can perform.
• The biggest mistake could be if someone feels glued to their chair and unable to experiment.
• Make sure there is open and honest communication with the director and the tech crew so everyone on board the project is aware of what you have access too.

Actors are not Just Actors in this medium

This is actually really empowering for actors to be their own crew!

• Be comfortable showing the creatives your space and what you have to offer if you are remote.
• Once decisions have been made make sure you come to the first meeting or during the table work sessions already up on your feet playing around with the space you're in and the choice of props and setting,
• whether that decision is digitally;-----end meeting opening a new tab screen sharing sending an email thats all furthering your character and plot development.
• Or your choices in connection to the web cam maybe you're being your own camera man, running through your space, plays with ways of using you camera in ways the further the story.
• Then the director can discuss whether those choices work or not but give with research and curiosity and the team has more to play with.
• Experiment out of the rehearsal space with audio recordings, FaceTime scenes screen record yourfacetimes.
• Drop in take the time to warm up as if you are rehearsing for a performance, if you're sending a text in character change your name to the characters names as well as for the character you are interacting with.
• Do this for all the devices you create with, really enter into the digital world of the play.

Actors Prep

• Is the warm up the same or do we modify for this medium?
• Waking up your body and mind and breath and emotions through vocal and full body warm ups will allow you to act on your impulse during the rehearsal space map out your floor plan or digital plan.
• Why do you open that email? set that reminder? or listen to that sad podcast or song as your character? --these types of questions will allow for a more meaningful and truthful performance.
• Practice a Ritual as your character: cleaning sheets of the bed
• The practice of Self Flight
• Get familiar with other platforms other than zoom eg: Live Lab
• Acknowledge that the medium defines the artistic process

The Technicalities of working in this medium

• Become versed in the technicalities of the production and performance incase something goes wrong you know how to fix it.
• The hierarchy is different in this medium actors and performers are below tech, you technology dictates your performance.
• Camera on or off- Play with camera perspective where you place the camera and your relationship to it.
• Do you need to play around with you camera on since it is a given circumstance in the medium?
• Does this help or tarnish your expression as your character.
• It works as you can kind of tweak yourself along the way self editing
• Combination of talent commitment and curiosity, its like having 6 little theatres, the audience doesn't effect the actor anyway.
• Content meets form have the space match the space of the story.
• Direction flexibility things that are acting notes can change to tech notes and vice verser.
• Making it a moving performance can happen digitally.
• physical preparation psychological preparation are all the same no matter what medium you use as an actor.
• If you are performing on your own or performing with a digital partner. Realizes those differences and plot out your choices always bringing it back to the content.