Theatre meets tech
Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina revolutionises musical theatre with state-of-the-art technology, writes Izwan Ismail
OlaBola The Musical has less heavy props that are usually moved around and changed on stage with the cast acting and singing around them.
The big traditional theatre props are replaced by giant LED screens, 3D projection mapping, 360-degree surround sound and state of the art lighting technology.
“You would have seen big LED screens being used in concerts, and sports events around the world, but not in theatre, especially in Malaysia,” says Tiara.
“When making OlaBola The Musical, I tried to visualise how to bring the audience into the stadium so that they can experience football as if they are in the stadium,” she says.
“Football is such an emotional sport. The experience of watching it in the stadium is so different and that’s what I want the audience to feel when they watch OlaBola The Musical.”
Danny Hoo, the visual effects producer, says it is the first musical theatre production to use such sophisticated technology.
Enfiniti has invested in 13 high-end projectors that have various lumens or brightness, and four massive projection screens measuring between 12 and 15 metres to
enhance the entire experience.
“We have also used some of the most powerful media servers by D3 Technologies and high quality visual effects to digitally devise the different scenes, from the kopitiam to Stadium Merdeka,” says Hoo. These giant LED screens and high-tech projectors bring the stadium as well as other scenes to live.
Meanwhile, Elan Hasyim, visual content designer of OlaBola The Musical, says: “Most of the illustrations displayed on the various screens are handdrawn and depict comicstyle drawings instead of using generic photo-realistic backgrounds that are commonly used in most productions.
“2D drawings were created for effects simulation and 3D modelling was then used for realistic animation. OlaBola The Musical is unlike any other production in terms of concept, technology and visual mastery.” production set designer whom she has been working with for many years. The team she has now is the same one she has had since she staged Puteri Gunung Ledang 12 years ago.
“At the heart of OlaBola The Musical is the story, and whenever technology does not serve its purpose it is not used,” says Tiara.
She adds that in today’s world people have to move with the times and the same goes for theatre, justifying her bold move to use technology.
“The creative industry needs to be ahead of the game continuously. Technology makes things move faster, makes us more efficient. We are able to tell stories and create scenes we were unable to do before. It heightens the experience for the audience,” she says.
“For example, to recreate the scene in the stadium, we cannot have 1,000 to 2,000 people on stage; that’s where the two gigantic LED screens on both sides of the stage play their part.”
The LED screens are used to recreate the scene in the stadium as well as outside it, close-up moments and expressions.
“It’s theatre-meets-graphics — this is convergence of technology and theatre,” says Tiara.
One of the most important thing about using technology in theatre is the “language” that young people can relate to.
“With these technological advancements, we hope we can bring younger audiences into theatre,” says Tiara. “Many young people think that theatre is for old people and the rich. So you have to make them fall in love with theatre first with the help of technology elements”
Technology plays a big part to give audiences a totally fresh experience, something they have never seen before.
Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina