College of Arts and Humanities
SpeakerDr Sarah Youssef, University of Cologne
To: 6 Nov 2018, 7 p.m.
Location: Keir Hardie, 216, Park Campus
At the court of James I, the staging of elaborate court entertainments, known as the Stuart Masques, became popular. The illusionistic new settings and extravagant costumes were enhanced musical accompaniment, spectacular stage effects and dance sequences performed by the royal family and aristocracy. Primarily known through the works of Ben Johnson and the designs of Inigo Jones, these innovative performances were a prominent feature of the English theatre for more than 300 years. Their impact outside of the court setting can be seen in Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1611) and its betrothal masque.
Today spectacular stage designs are achieved through technology. The 2017 RSC production of The Tempest (dir. Gregory Doran), staged in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios, deployed digital media extensively, using real-time, interactive and immersive effects. Foregrounding Prospero’s artistic and controlling personality, digital techniques such as CGI underlined the omnipresence of technology in the twenty-first century. This paper critically examines the changing role of the audience and the masque with the advent of new media in an artistic exploration of Shakespeare’s most magical play.
Contact: Jessica Hammett (Email: j.l.hammett@swansea.ac.uk) - Telephone: +44 (0)1792 604943
Event created by: s.l.davies