Using Multimedia Effectively In A Performance

Multimedia in performance is when different elements of media is used in a performance or show. These could range from lighting, sound, projections and many others.

TYPE OF MEDIA	EXAMPLE OF USE IN PERFORMANCE	POSITIVES OF USING IT…	NEGATIVES OF USING IT…
Lights	To set the tone and mood of a scene and to show the actors on the stage.	It looks good and can show the emotion in a piece very well.	Lights can get very hot and make a room and the actors very sweaty and overheated.
Projection	To show a background and video clips as a part of the scenery.	Projections can show video clips as part of a play to give the actors a rest.	Projectors can be expensive to buy and can easily stop working.
Sound	To give an atmosphere and show what the characters are hearing and reacting to.	Shows lots of emotions and it can make a piece of theatre flow better.	If not chosen appropriately, the music can portray a different meaning to the piece of theatre.
Torches	To show only very little bits of light and create a tense atmosphere. Only shows limited parts of the stage.	They can be effective in showing realistic lighting in a piece of theatre (e.g. car lights).	The stage won't be as visible and could be a danger to the actors.
Spotlight	To show and focus on one particular character.	Highlights the main character in a scene easily.	They heat up very quickly and can only be situated in certain places, restricting the actors movement.
Video	To show parts of the play in a different way, through exploring different media.	It can show a part of a play very quickly and gives the actors a chance to rest and get ready.	Much of it has to be pre-recorded and go through lots of editing stages, which can be very time consuming.
Text	To show sentences and words through text projected on the stage.	Words can be shown to show what the characters are thinking or feeling.	Takes up time during a piece as the audience has to read it - Some people in the audience may have bad eyesight or not be able to read.