Performing Arts, Becoming More or Less Viral during Pandemic?

Theatres, concert halls, operas, and other performance venues around the world are currently closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and consequent lockdown. The independent cultural sector is especially affected by this unexpected pause and trying to adapt to the virtual environment. Will performing art survive or even thrive during this difficult time? Shakespeare wrote King Lear during plague quarantine and art has always been a form of resilience. Yes, governments and cultural foundations offer grants for independent online projects, but the virtual performances lack that direct, profound, and emotional connection to the audience.

Some of the world-renown artists have already seized the online opportunities. Andrea Bocelli held a live Easter concert from the Duomo in Milan. Play this masterpiece and enjoy it!

West End and Broadway are broadcasting online some of their most beloved musicals and there is even an online UK premiere of Pride and Prejudice. Since April the 6th the famous Shakespeare Globe Theatre has aired productions on its Globe Player Service for free, including Hamlet, Romeo, and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Winter’s Tale. Ballet and opera performances are also available for streaming; the famous Wiener Staatsoper and Bolshoi Theatre also “moved” online. One of the best sites offering information about virtual performances is www.whatsonstage.com.

“Maybe it’s because I grew up in the countryside, with no computer, no technology addiction… “

What about the independent artists, whose survival depends strictly on performances? What are their struggles? Andrei Bratu, one of the founders of Improteca, a vibrant and warm performance venue shared some of his concerns. The lockdown has really affected them, as 50% of their income was earned from ticket sales and 50% from improvisation workshops and classes. Mr. Bratu took on the challenge to perform online live improvisation all by himself, directed by a colleague, who filmed him, using 3 cameras. So the whole show was dynamic, shot from different angles. He had positive feedback from the online audience, which was unexpectedly large. They called his performance “a breath of fresh air” in the current context. However, the actor stated “I am old fashioned, I prefer direct interaction, not behind the screen. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the countryside, with no computer, no technology addiction… I am actually aware technology is necessary and I have adapted”.  To Mr. Bratu, filming a theatre play means taking the risk of losing half of the performance beauty. “It’s difficult to play in an empty venue. It is somehow against an actor’s nature, but of course, we are adaptable and we can always find ways of getting our message across”.

Virtual performances are available for a higher number of people and sometimes for free, so this is one of the positive aspects. However, artists are challenged by technology, because their main tools are human soul and human interaction. During the lockdown, culture has become essential for keeping spirits up, so, regardless of the obstacles, artists will continue to create, perform, and enrich our lives. The show must go on, even if it’s online for the moment.

Thanks for the awesome pics Vadim Fomenok & Kyle Head !