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Few industries are untouched by technology. Whether they embrace it, defeat it, or are conquered by it is a different matter. Theatre, one of the oldest forms of entertainment, is not immune as technology has crept in through various forms. The question is whether as technology offers new experiences, will productions adapt or ignore?

Does modern technology have a place in theatre?

Anything as old as theatre has its over-protective fans, classical music and opera are just the same. If you were to suggest that an electronic orchestra should replace an acoustic one, you’d have some very angry people on your hands.

Of course this doesn’t mean that there are fans of theatre who hate all technological advancements – lighting equipment being a good example of this. It’s the extent of the use of technology that has people drawling lines on the battlefield and various factions have their opinions.

Modern technology offers productions the options to do things that previously were never possible. Whether it’s using computer software to map scenery with projectors, interactive displays, or entirely virtual characters, there are a whole slew of new possibilities available restrained only by imagination. Whether it’s a simple interactive light display or virtual 3D characters, technology is here to stay.

Embrace or eschew

Mainstream preconceptions of the average theatregoer are probably a little off. The group most likely to attend are aged between 16 and 19.

It’s great news for those who feared that theatres were frequented by dwindling audiences, and it’s not hard to understand that for modern audiences the theatre presents a unique opportunity for immersion in a world dominated by technology.

If technology is to make its way into theatre it’s important that its use is unobtrusive and doesn’t serve as a distraction. Few will be put off by the use of a video screen when it’s part of the play itself. Nor will they feel cheated by backgrounds created through advanced techniques.

But would audiences be happy to find the traditional Phantom of the Opera production has been replaced with elaborate projections and virtual characters? Probably not. On the other hand, productions for different types of audiences may find technology a welcomed inclusion.

Can a production ignore technology and succeed?

As vinyl has shown, old ways often die hard. That format is now seeing a resurgence and it goes to show that outmoded technology can maintain advocates and gain new ones. What if theatre was to fight against technology and leave it to the fringes. Would the classic productions slowly find themselves surrounded, as the fringes expand and become the mainstream?

It’s a difficult scenario to imagine. Theatre has lasted for such a long time it would come as a surprise to most if it was to suddenly collapse. In fact, the figures show that attendance to London theatres has been steadily increasing since the 80s, with increases year-on-year since 2011. It’s not a medium we’ll be seeing the back of anytime yet.

Shows such as The Lion King, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and the Book of Mormon show that people are still interested in theatre. Technology is used to a varying degree in all of them, so we can be sure it is neither an essential nor a death knell for theatre itself.