A collaborative Virtual Reality platform for Opera Rehearsal: Designing for performing arts

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) has made dynamic inroads into the performing arts world and has accelerated dramatically over time . Many Opera Theaters have used VR to bring new audiences into the Opera, to produce special content suitable for VR, and to create the ground for new learning experiences. Lately VR is also used to improve opera workflows to improve productivity and efficiency, but is rarely used as a tool for pre premiere rehearsals. This research considers how VR may be used to transform traditional opera work preparations into an immersive, interactive, and work experience and presents the methodology for the implementation of a collaborative VR Rehearsal Platform. In partnership with the Greek National Opera and the Digital Media Lab, several focus groups that consist of opera professionals and researchers collaborate, to develop a digital world where the directors, soloists, conductors, stage designers, light designers and chorus masters collaborate as if being on the stage. Inside the VR environment with the optimized models of the sets imported in pieces as library objects, ready to be altered, switched or saved for reuse enriched with light renderings and textures. The findings assert the importance of creating an immersive experience for all key players to mitigate the difficulties that stand in the preparation of any opera play such as luck of rehearsals on the final sets, control and safe implementation of stage and light design, last minute changes in materials or opera set parts among others. As a result it is suggested that the VR Rehearsal platform Operas can enhance key player collaboration ahead of time, improve their environmental impact and budget by eliminating flight travel for rehearsals, reducing raw materials, waste and mistakes, and use the platform for educational purposes.