New Technologies in Documentary Theatre: From Use to Usefulness

Abstract

There have always been interferences between art and technology, not only at the level of production but also at the level of the artistic outcome. Often, what seemed impossible at a certain moment, was made possible by the hidden technological means, contributing to the magic of the Art of theatre. But is the magic still here when technology is exposed on stage? Is it still useful when its use invades the theatrical space and leaves less and less room for the complexity of human languages? This paper proposes to take a critical look at several recent documentary-style performances, observing and analysing how new technologies do or do not influence the quality of a performance. Nowadays actors interact with them but are they helped or hindered by these artificial presences and what is the effect on the emotions and aesthetical pleasure of the audience?