Virtual Reality in Theatre Spaces

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Virtual Reality in Theatre Spaces VIRTUAL REALITY IN THEATRE SPACES by Sherouk Mohamed Shehab El Din Saad Badr A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSTIY GIZA, EGYPT 2012 VIRTUAL REALITY IN THEATRE SPACES by Sherouk Mohamed Shehab El Din Saad Badr A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING Under the Supervision of: Prof. Dr. Mohamed Moemen Afifi Prof. Dr. Ayman Hassan Ahmed Professor of Architecture Professor of Architecture Cairo University Cairo University Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Engineering FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSTIY GIZA, EGYPT 2012 VIRTUAL REALITY IN THEATRE SPACES by Sherouk Mohamed Shehab El Din Saad Badr A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING Approved by the Examining Committee Prof. Dr. Mohamed Moemen Gamal el Din Afify, Thesis Main Advisor Prof. Dr. Ayman Hassan Ahmed Mahmoud, Thesis Advisor Prof. Dr. Khaled Mohamed Ragheb Dewidar, Member Prof. Dr. Mohamed Medhat Hasan Dorra, Member FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSTIY GIZA, EGYPT 2012 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First I would like to thank my dear grandfather, Dr Mohamed Mahmoud El Emam, for being so supportive and encouraging in this study and also for helping me in translating and analyzing highly specialized and complicated papers and theses. Also I would like to thank my supervisors, Dr Momen Afif and Dr Ayman Hassan for accepting the thesis subject and giving me such chance to study into two more fields rather than architecture; theater and technology. And thanks to Dr Sherif Morad who was very supportive by his open discussions about the thesis subject. I would like to thank all my colleagues in the college theater team; Eng Nassar, Eng Hossam, Eng Karim, Eng Mostafa and all the rest of the team for what they have taught me about theater scenoghraphy, stage setting and design, lighting, casting and even directing. I would like to send my special thanks to the VR Center in UCL; Eng Ava Fatah and Dr. David for accepting my visit request during my stay in England, supporting me by valuable data for my study and allowing me to access all the UCL libraries. And in the end, I would like to thank my family, my mum specially, for her support care and love. As for my dear husband, I owe him dozens of thanks and respect for his great support, encouragement, care, patience and sacrifice during the whole period of my study. And for my little daughter, I thank her for giving me such energy to complete my study like supplying an old toy doll with new batteries! I TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................. I TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................II LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................................................X LIST OF TABLES..................................................................................................................................... XV ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................................... XVIII INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................XIX UNIT ONE: THEATER SPACES................................................................................................................1 1. CHAPTER (1): HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEATER TYPES..........................................................1 1.1. Theater Main Elements......................................................................................................................2 1.2. Theater Types according to Stage & Auditorium ..............................................................................4 1.2.1. Fully Enveloping Auditorium: .............................................................................................................. 8 1.2.1.1. Theater-In-The-Round .............................................................................................................. 8 1.2.2. Partially Enveloping Auditorium: ........................................................................................................12 1.2.2.1. Greek Amphitheaters ...............................................................................................................12 1.2.2.2. Open Trust Stage .....................................................................................................................14 1.2.2.3. Corner Stage 90 ° arc ...............................................................................................................19 1.2.3. Non Enveloping Auditorium:...............................................................................................................21 1.2.3.1. Roman Theaters .......................................................................................................................21 1.2.3.2. Vista Stage...............................................................................................................................25 1.2.3.3. Shoebox Hall............................................................................................................................27 1.2.4. Horseshoe-Shaped Auditorium: ...........................................................................................................29 1.2.4.1. Proscenium Stage.....................................................................................................................29 1.2.4.2. horse-Shoe Shaped Auditorium: ..............................................................................................32 II 1.2.5. Fan-Shaped Auditorium: ......................................................................................................................33 1.2.5.1. Fan-Shaped Auditorium...........................................................................................................33 1.2.5.2. Apron, Caliper Stage................................................................................................................36 1.2.6. Convertible Auditorium and Multiform Stage: ....................................................................................38 1.3. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................40 2. CHAPTER (2): PRINCIPLES THAT INFLUENCE AUDITORIUM DESIGN ........................................................43 2.1. Positioning and seating the audience ..............................................................................................45 2.1.1. Seat Count:...........................................................................................................................................45 2.1.2. Plan Arrangement:................................................................................................................................47 2.1.2.1. Distances..................................................................................................................................47 2.1.2.2. House Width ............................................................................................................................48 2.1.2.3. Seating Geometry ....................................................................................................................49 2.1.3. Vertical Arrangement:..........................................................................................................................51 2.1.3.1. Stage Elevation ........................................................................................................................52 2.1.3.2. Vertical Sightlines....................................................................................................................52 2.2. Acoustic considerations...................................................................................................................56 2.2.1. Type of production...............................................................................................................................56 2.2.1.1. Room For Speech Auditorium .................................................................................................56 2.2.1.2. Room For Music auditorium....................................................................................................56 2.2.1.3. Room For Multipurpose Auditorium .......................................................................................57 2.2.2. Reverberation Time..............................................................................................................................58 2.2.3. Finishes ................................................................................................................................................59 2.2.4. Quality of the sound .............................................................................................................................60 2.2.5. Room
Recommended publications
  • Stagehand Course Curriculum
    Alaska Center for the Performing Arts Stagehand Training Effective July 1, 2010 1 Table of Contents Grip 3 Lead Audio 4 Audio 6 Audio Boards Operator 7 Lead Carpenter 9 Carpenter 11 Lead Fly person 13 Fly person 15 Lead Rigger 16 Rigger 18 Lead Electrician 19 Electrician 21 Follow Spot operator 23 Light Console Programmer and Operator 24 Lead Prop Person 26 Prop Person 28 Lead Wardrobe 30 Wardrobe 32 Dresser 34 Wig and Makeup Person 36 Alaska Center for the Performing Arts 2 Alaska Center for the Performing Arts Stagecraft Class (Grip) Outline A: Theatrical Terminology 1) Stage Directions 2) Common theatrical descriptions 3) Common theatrical terms B: Safety Course 1) Definition of Safety 2) MSDS sheets description and review 3) Proper lifting techniques C: Instruction of the standard operational methods and chain of responsibility 1) Review the standard operational methods 2) Review chain of responsibility 3) Review the chain of command 4) ACPA storage of equipment D: Basic safe operations of hand and power tools E: Ladder usage 1) How to set up a ladder 2) Ladder safety Stagecraft Class Exam (Grip) Written exam 1) Stage directions 2) Common theatrical terminology 3) Chain of responsibility 4) Chain of command Practical exam 1) Demonstration of proper lifting techniques 2) Demonstration of basic safe operations of hand and power tools 3) Demonstration of proper ladder usage 3 Alaska Center for the Performing Arts Lead Audio Technician Class Outline A: ACPA patching system Atwood, Discovery, and Sydney 1) Knowledge of patch system 2) Training on patch bays and input signal routing schemes for each theater 3) Patch system options and risk 4) Signal to Voth 5) Do’s and Don’ts B: ACPA audio equipment knowledge and mastery 1) Audio system power activation 2) Installation and operation of a mixing consoles 3) Operation of the FOH PA system 4) Operation of the backstage audio monitors 5) Operation of Center auxiliary audio systems a.
    [Show full text]
  • Technical Theatre Class
    Technical Theatre Class Instructor: Mrs. Tabitha Peck Classroom: Theatre Email: [email protected] Telephone: 850‐617‐5700 x.2390 website: www.leonperformingarts.org click on “Theatre Tech” Dear Student and Parent: I would like to take this time to welcome you to the 2012‐2013 Technical Theatre class. I am excited about this year, and look forward to working with each of you. As you read over this syllabus with your student; please make note of any questions that you have concerning this information. I hope that when you have completed studying the syllabus, you will have a strong understanding of what will be required from the student, as well as what the student can expect from me. I want to personally invite each parent to take an active role in helping the student, and myself, have a productive and successful experience in class this year. The last page of the syllabus is the individual student contract, which must be returned to me, signed by both the parent, and student. This gives me a written confirmation that both the parent and student have read the syllabus, understand procedures, rules, consequences, and will abide by them. So please read each page of the syllabus carefully before signing the contract. This contract will be kept in the student’s personal information file. Once again let me welcome you to the class, it’s going to be an exciting year! Technical Theatre ‐ 0400410 Syllabus Objective: Students focus on developing the basic tools and procedures for creating elements of technical theatre as listed below.
    [Show full text]
  • John's List of Tech Theater Terms
    Department of THEATER & DANCE Office of the TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Tech Theater Terms file last updated: 7.29.2010 (JDE) All information contained in this document is original material copyright © 2005 by John D. Ervin and is intended for the use of my students. Please contact me at [email protected] for permission to use this material in any other way. This is a work-in-progress and will be occasionally appended. Apron – The portion of the stage or playing space that is downstage of the proscenium arch. In traditional proscenium-style theaters, acting on the apron was a big “no-no” because it violated the stage picture being created by the proscenium arch. Thus many older theaters have very shallow aprons. Nowadays though, Directors can’t get enough of having their actors as close to the audience as possible; despite how uncomfortable it makes some audience members. This is all done under the umbrella of ‘intimacy’ and we all know how much artists love that stuff. Sometimes the apron is referred to as the “Forestage”. (See Figure 1 and 2) Arbor – Part of a fly system. A device mounted in one of the wings, which is connected to the lift lines at the opposite end from the batten. Stage weights are stacked on the arbor to balance the load suspended from the batten. In the case of a counterweight fly system, a rope hand line is connected to the top of the arbor, passes sequentially through the head block and tension block, and is terminated to the bottom of the arbor, forming a loop.
    [Show full text]
  • Donald Crabs Papers LSC.1718
    http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8hq45rv No online items Finding Aid for the Donald Crabs papers LSC.1718 Finding aid by Krystell Jimenez, 2018. UCLA Library Special Collections Online finding aid last updated 2019 February 2. Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.ucla.edu/special-collections Finding Aid for the Donald Crabs LSC.1718 1 papers LSC.1718 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections Title: Donald Crabs papers Creator: Crabs, Donald Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1718 Physical Description: 24.4 Linear Feet(53 boxes, 5 shoe boxes, 3 flat boxes, 1 oversize flat box) Date (inclusive): 1945-2005 Abstract: Donald Crabs was a UCLA professor who specialized in theater design. He studied scenery and lighting design, as well as set design for television and film. Starting in 1965 he taught set and stage design in the UCLA Department of Theater Arts, now the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, and continued to be involved as a professor emeritus until his death. This collection is comprised of his papers, including research and reference materials, correspondence, notes, teaching materials, slides and photographs, theater floor plans and architectural data, lighting placement charts, and data from Crabs' survey of Californian theater facilities. Additional materials include notebooks with plans for lighting placement and staging and fabric samples for acoustic design. The collection also includes materials related to his research trip to China and reference materials on Chinese theater and performance, and the original survey data Crabs used to compile a database of California theaters.
    [Show full text]
  • Production Handbook
    PRODUCTION HANDBOOK University of Virginia Department of Drama IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Box Office 4-3376 Light Booth 3-8951 Computer Lab 2-2929 Prop Shop 4-8967 Costume Shop 4-8968 Scene Shop 4-7811 or 4-4180 Green Room 4-3058 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Mission 4 II. Theatres 5 III. Season 6 Mainstage Season 6 Mainstage Season Structure 6 Mainstage Season Selection 7 Lab/Studio Season 8 Studio Production Policies 9 Studio Application Forms: Application for Director 13 Production Team Contract 14 Production Team Declaration 15 Set/Prop/Costume Form 16 Set/Prop/Costume Checkout Sheet 17 IV. Personnel 18 Theatre Faculty & Staff 18 Students 19 V. Production Positions 21 Directing 22 Director 22 Assistant Director 22 Stage Management 23 Production Stage Manager 23 Assistant Stage Manager 23 Scene Design and Production 24 Scene Studio Policies 24 Scene Shop Safety Rules 24 Professional Behavior 25 Scenic Designer 26 Assistant Scenic Designer 27 Scenic Charge 27 Technical Director 28 Assistant Technical Director 28 Master Carpenter/Shop Foreman 28 Shop Assistant 29 Lab Scene Shop Carpenters 29 Prop Running Crew 30 Fly Crew 31 Key Grip 31 Stage Run Crew 32 Costume Design and Production 33 Costume Designer 33 Assistant Costume Designer 34 Costume Shop Teaching Assistant 35 Undergraduate Costume Shop Assistant 35 Costume Shop Lab Student 36 2 Wardrobe Crew Head 36 Wardrobe Crew 37 Lighting and Sound Design and Production 38 Light Shop Policies 38 Safety 38 Responsibilities 38 Lighting Designer 39 Assistant Lighting Designer 40 Production Master Electrician 41 Light Board Operator/Run Crew 42 Electrics Crew 42 Undergraduate Light shop Assistant 42 Graduate Light shop Teaching Assistant 43 Sound Designer 43 Undergraduate Sound Assistant 44 Sound Operator/Run Crew 44 Acting 45 Audition Information 46 Audition and Casting Policy and Procedures 46 Sample Audition Form 48 Building Policies 49 Booking Policy 49 Rehearsal Studio Protocol 50 Sample Rehearsal Space Sign-up Sheet 51 Smoking, Food, and Beverage Policy 52 3 I.
    [Show full text]
  • A Level Drama and Theatre Glossary
    A level Drama and Theatre Glossary This glossary has been provided to support the teaching and learning of this qualifiction. You might find this helpful to support students in developing their knowledge and understanding of subject specific terminology. Performance Term Definition acting area that area within the performance space within which the actor may move in full view of the audience. Also known as the playing area acting style a particular manner of acting which reflects cultural and historical influences action the movement or development of the plot or story in a play; the sense of forward movement created by the sense of time and/or the physical and psychological motivations of characters. analysis in responding to dramatic art, the process of examining how the elements of drama—literary, technical, and performance—are used antagonist the opponent or adversary of the hero or main character of a drama; one who opposes and actively competes with another character in a play, most often with the protagonist apron the area between the front curtain and the edge of the stage. arena stage type of stage without a frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium, in which the audience surrounds the stage area; see theatre-in-the-round. articulation the clarity or distinction of speech aside Lines spoken by an actor to the audience and not supposed to be overheard by other characters on-stage. black box a one-room theatre, without a proscenium arch; interior is painted black, including walls, floor, and ceiling, and any drapes are also black. blocking the path formed by the actor’s movement on stage, usually determined by the director with assistance from the actor and often written down in a script using commonly accepted theatrical symbols.
    [Show full text]
  • It's All About the LIGHT! - Introduction to Stage Lighting
    4/16/13 It's all about the LIGHT! - Introduction to Stage Lighting It's all about the LIGHT! Introduction to Stage Lighting Instruments, Electricity & Welcome to the Introduction to Stage Lighting online website. This site is to Cables/Connectors be used as an additional source of information for the Introduction to Stage Entertainment Industry Lighting course held at Valencia Community College, East Campus taught by Creative Design for Theatre Sonia Pasqual. Lighting History & Intensity Control The course syllabus and calendar for the current semester is available via Lighting Design the course homepage or you can download the file from below. Basic Stagecraft If you choose to download it from your atlas account go to the course Additional Information homepage for the Introduction to Stage Lighting section which you are in now, TPA 2220. You can download it at anytime to view, there will be a hard copy of the lighting syllabus outside my office door for anyone needing to view it if they are on campus and can not access atlas. The information gathered on this site is produced by Sonia Pasqual. All other information has been credited to its source and is only used as a visual aid for my students. Sonia has been involved in the art of theatre and entertainment since 1992. Her knowledge and information comes from her experience and growing up in the theatre world. She has worked in theatres across the Greater Central Florida, North Florida, and New York City. Her work and experience also extends into the theme parks such as Universal Studios 97-99, and Walt Disney World 04-Present, while at Disney she has played several roles.
    [Show full text]
  • A Lively Theatre There's a Revolution Afoot in Theatre Design, Believes
    A LIVELY THEatRE There’s a revolution afoot in theatre design, believes architectural consultant RICHARD PILBROW, that takes its cue from the three-dimensional spaces of centuries past The 20th century has not been a good time for theatre architecture. In the years from the 1920s to the 1970s, the world became littered with overlarge, often fan-shaped auditoriums that are barren in feeling and lacking in intimacy--places that are seldom conducive to that interplay between actor and audience that lies at the heart of the theatre experience. Why do theatres of the 19th century feel so much more “theatrical”? And why do so many actors and audiences prefer the old to the new? More generally, does theatre architecture really matter? There are some that believe that as soon as the house lights dim, the audience only needs to see and hear what happens on the stage. Perhaps audiences don’t hiss, boo and shout during a performance any more, but most actors and directors know that an audience’s reaction critically affects the performance. The nature of the theatre space, the configuration of the audience and the intimacy engendered by the form of the auditorium can powerfully assist in the formation of that reaction. A theatre auditorium may be a dead space or a lively one. Theatres designed like cinemas or lecture halls can lay a dead hand on the theatre experience. Happily, the past 20 years have seen a revolution in attitude to theatre design. No longer is a theatre only a place for listening or viewing.
    [Show full text]
  • Renaissance and Baroque Stage Technology and Its Meaning for Today's Theatre
    Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2004 Renaissance and baroque stage technology and its meaning for today's theatre Stan Kubalcik Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons Recommended Citation Kubalcik, S. (2004). Renaissance and baroque stage technology and its meaning for today's theatre. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/792 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/792 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form.
    [Show full text]
  • Stage Lighting a Guide to the Planning of Theatres and Auditoriums This Is a Preview of "IES DG-20-09"
    This is a preview of "IES DG-20-09". Click here to purchase the full version from the ANSI store. IES DG-20-09 Stage Lighting A Guide to the Planning of Theatres and Auditoriums This is a preview of "IES DG-20-09". Click here to purchase the full version from the ANSI store. IES DG-20-09 Stage Lighting—A Guide to the Planning of Theatres and Auditoriums Publication of this Design Guide has been approved by the IES. Suggestions for revisions should be directed to the IES. Prepared by: The Theatre, Television and Film Lighting Committee of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America This is a preview of "IES DG-20-09". Click here to purchase the full version from the ANSI store. IES DG-20-09 Copyright 2009 by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Approved by the IES Board of Directors, January 31, 2009 as a Transaction of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in any electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without prior written permission of the IES. Published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, 120 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. IES Standards and Guides are developed through committee consensus and produced by the IES Office in New York. Careful attention is given to style and accuracy. If any errors are noted in this document, please for- ward them to Rita Harrold, Director Educational and Technical Development, at the above address for verifica- tion and correction.
    [Show full text]
  • Cheers! À Votre Santé!
    July/Juillet 2007 volume 4 N° 07 Stageworks The monthly electronic newsletter for members of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology / Institut canadien des technologies scénographiques. In this month’s issue: INDEX ce mois-ci: p.1-4 News from the National Office / Nouvelles du bureau national p.5 ETCP News / Nouvelles de ETCP p.6-7 Membres CITT / ICTS 2006-2007 Membership p.8-11 RENDEZ-VOUS 2007 conference CHEERS! À VOTRE SANTÉ! programme details The art of communicating with your soundman, Atlantic style! L’art de communiquer avec son sonorisateur, à la mode atlantique ! p.12 New Members and Participants raise a pint of Get Well wishes to Brad Fox who was ill and Les participants lèvent leur verre à la santé de Brad Fox qui, pour des Upcoming Events / couldn’t come out to host his session on digital sound consoles during raisons de santé justement, n’a pas pu se rendre à la conférence APA à Nouveaux membres et Événements à the APA mini conference retreat in Wolfville, NS. From left to right: Nigel Wolfville, N.É. pour offrir son atelier sur les consoles de son numériques. venir Kearns (Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, NS), Jeffery Fevens De gauche à droite : Nigel Kearns (Membertou Trade and Convention (Fredericton Playhouse, NB), Mike Gohier (JD International, QC) and Centre, N.-É.), Jeffery Fevens (Fredericton Playhouse, N.-B.), Mike Gohier Karl Simmons (Arts and Culture Centre, NL). (JD International, QC) et Karl Simmons (Arts and Culture Centre, T.-N.). PS: Brad was finally able to make it the next day to give his session.
    [Show full text]
  • Facility Information
    Revised August 17, 2016 Facility Information Temple Theatre 203 N. Washington Ave. Saginaw, MI 48607 Phone: (800) 754-SHOW Fax: (989) 754-9039 [email protected] Temple Theatre Staff Administrative Executive Director Stacey Gannon (989) 600-1231 Controller Sue Kuck (989) 754-7469 ext. 33 Event Coordinator Anne Schroeder (989) 754-7469 ext. 32 [email protected] Front-Of-House Manager Tom McGarrity (989) 754-7469 [email protected] Technical Staff Technical Director Rich Hazzard (989) 737-2733 Head Projectionist Paul Finn (989) 754-7469 ext. 27 Theatre Consultant Ken Weupper (989) 754-7469 1 Saved: F://Facilities Revised August 17, 2016 Temple Theatre – Past, Present, Future The Temple Theatre is Saginaw’s only remaining vaudeville and silent movie theatre and was reopened in November 2003 after an extensive restoration of both the exterior and interior of the building. During the six-month restoration period, the interior and exterior were refurbished, the power supply was increased, modern conveniences were added, and the connected banquet facilities were renovated. Since reopening, it has been used as a performance space for choral groups, symphony orchestras, dance and jazz performances, as well as parties and meetings. The Temple was built in 1927 in a Classic Revival style. Originally part of the Butterfield Theatre chain it was used as a vaudeville/silent movie house for several years and then as a first-run movie theatre until 1976. At that point it passed through the hands of several promoters and community arts organizations during which it served as a venue for live performances and movies. Dr.
    [Show full text]