Networked Theater: the production of presence in the pandemic virtual experiments of the Magiluth group and
Armazém Theater Company
Digital Theater; Production of Presence; Magiluth; Armazém Theater Company; Performance; Aesthetic Experience
This dissertation investigates the production effects of presence in the works "Tudo que coube numa VHS"; by Grupo Magiluth and "Parece loucura mas há método" by Armazém Companhia de Teatro. Created during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil in 2020, when in-person gatherings were prohibited, these works were developed for online, live performances using digital platforms and their specific tools to propose artistic experiences that encourage audience participation. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Materialities of Communication and Production of Presence by Gumbrecht, Performance Studies, Platform Studies with Carlos D’Andréa, and Actor-Network Theory, and referencing scholars such as Diana Taylor and Josette Féral, as well as theatre researchers like Jorge Dubatti, and digital culture, the aim is to analyze the strategies employed by these theatre collectives to establish close relationships with the audience through machine mediation and stimulate the sense of presence, even from a distance. The research also provides a historical overview of the relationship between theatre and digital technologies and examines how the aesthetic experience of spectators may have been shaped by the particularities of the historical context and the use of digital tools.