CURVE REINVENTS THEATRE IN THE ROUND WITH THE WORLD’S FIRST 360° THEATRE RECORDING

Curve, one of the UK’s most technologically advanced theatres, is harnessing the very latest technology by releasing  a 360° panoramic performance of the hit musical Calamity Jane in a bid to make first class theatre accessible to all, a world first and true technological breakthrough.

Starring Jodie Prenger and featuring Tom Lister, the 360° recording of Nikolai Foster’s Calamity Jane will be available to view for free at 360.curveonline.co.uk from the 22nd to the 24th July via tablet or computer. In addition, The Guardian will host the performance at www.guardian.co.uk/stage from 10am on 22 July. This revolutionary new technology allows audience members to choose what they see and from where from the comfort of their own home.

Artistic Director Nikolai Foster commented “It is thrilling that our play about a group of pioneers from the 1800s has been filmed in 2015 using cameras and technology even ahead of their time today. I was amazed when I met Tom Mills of VR Web Design and learnt about his boundary-busting work. All of us at Curve and the Calamity Jane team are very excited to be the first to test this new technology onstage.”

360° panoramic video is a major new innovation set to take the world by storm.  Whilst 360° panoramic photography enables the subject to experience a location as if they are there, 360° video enhances this experience, immersing the viewer entirely as if transporting their armchair to the front row of the theatre.

The commercial impact of the technology is also not insignificant. Curve’s Commercial Director Alister de Ternant commented “Enhanced engagement in corporate conferences, brought about by broadcasting live in 360° would be of major benefit in today’s global business economy. This amazing new technology will enable colleagues and potential prospects to come together in real time, despite the actual distance between them.  We’re incredibly excited that Curve is at the forefront of this invaluable new business tool and able to offer it to our clients.”

“The benefits of using this technology and being the first theatre in the world to use it could be enormous,” adds Alister “not only in technological advancement but in terms of what it actually enables by making theatre truly accessible to all.”

The pioneering recording by Curve is an R&D project in partnership with VR Web Design, Un.titled and The Guardian, designed to assess the technology with a view to developing a regular series of 360° broadcasts. A 360° panoramic camera was positioned on stage at one of the show’s performances to capture the energy and vibrancy of the show, allowing the viewer to sit centre stage in a full 360° immersive experience.

For the best possible viewing experience please use a modern web browser (latest version of Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer) on a broadband connection (4 Mbps or higher). On mobile devices, WiFi or a 4G connection is recommended. For further details please visit 360.curveonline.co.uk