The National Theatre has announced it is partnering with Accenture to develop the Immersive Storytelling Studio. The studio examines how Virtual Reality (VR), 360° film, augmented reality and other emerging technologies can widen and enhance the NT’s remit to be a pioneer of dramatic storytelling and to enable an audience to stand in the shoes of another.
Rachel Barton, Managing Director, Customer and Digital Strategy at Accenture Strategy said, “We’re delighted to be the National Theatre’s ‘Partner for Innovation’ and to help it deliver its thrilling strategic vision. Our role as a digital innovator is to help NT create immersive experiences in the arts, as part of a strategy to engage with new audiences.”
Tribeca Bound
In autumn 2016, the Immersive Storytelling Studio collaborated with National Film Board of Canada (NFB) on a Research and Development Lab to explore the relationship between theatre, VR and creative non-fiction.
One of the projects created in the lab, Draw Me Close by Jordan Tannahill, will receive its world premiere at Storyscapes as part of the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. The project is experienced using a unique motion capture system, Orion by IKinema, and HTC Vive.
More To Come
You can view a 360 behind-the-scenes look at Sally Cookson’s Peter Pan now, while the studio will continue to produce backstage, rehearsal room and on stage 360 film content, giving audiences a unique perspective ‘behind the scenes’ at the National Theatre.
The Immersive Storytelling Studio will also explore the potential for 360° filming techniques to capture the essence of existing NT productions, continuing to work on research and development in VR.
George Marcotte, Accenture Digital UK & I Go To Market Lead, said, “We’ll collaborate around using the latest digital technology and techniques to create new dynamic storytelling opportunities and ideas. Digital innovation is the driving force behind new experiences and the outcomes for NT audiences could be applied in businesses to transform their customer relationships.”
