First to see future of Zoom
Theatre company Creation makes its mark with innovative productions
N2 soon recognised the importance of the emergence of a new approach to theatre in lockdown, by one of our favourite innovative companies Creation, who came up with a real gamechanger in The Tempest and in commissioning reviewer Jon Lewis we notched up a first as the only publication in the world to run reviews of all the formative shows created for Zoom transmission.
On April 11, Creation Theatre, who we have reviewed for 20 years, brought to its audiences the world’s first live theatre show broadcast on the conferencing platform. Director Zoe Seaton rethought her site-specific production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a superb show that took place across a range of sites on Osney Island in July 2019, using the same cast, creating an interactive performance where the audience could see each other, and their names, as could the actors, creatives, Creation management and technical personnel. The Tempest demonstrated that theatre in lockdown could generate a shared experience for a live show.
In terms of Covid safety, the creative and technical team rehearsed and performed from home.
Out of a crisis, Creation innovated a theatrical experience that has lessons in engaging anyone who is isolated, whether by location, health or incapacity. Creation laid down a challenge for the entire industry to up its game to reach new audiences. This show, made in only two weeks, was a game-changer. Creation’s secured a grant from
Innovate UK to develop a bespoke digital platform for live performance to replace Zoom, and then create the country’s first digital repertory company, suggesting that its innovations during the pandemic have been taken seriously. Live, interactive theatre over the internet is here for good and Creation have offered their new platform to other companies so that this digital stage becomes a national resource.
At Creation we’ve been fortunate to have been supported by for many years. Over the past year at a time when the industry has been hit hard though the impact of the thoughtful, consistent and well written coverage has had more significant impact than ever. Creation rapidly pivoted to make online shows, establishing a new genre of Zoom theatre and what we strongly believe is an entirely new medium rich with creative potential. is the only publication to have reviewed all of our work over this time, no mean feat as we open our ninth digital production
In an age where quality arts coverage is increasingly marginalised and undervalued NWN a bastion of hope for the arts.
Lucy Askew, Creation director
of Malfi.
Newbury Weekly News
Creation Theatre has stepped up from being a local company to global. With international audiences buying tickets, UK theatre could discover new export markets without having to leave the
NWN
The Duchess
are country, creating environmental benefits at a time of global warming. Once this terrible pandemic is over, the theatre world will have expanded.