Ten tips for doing Lockdown/Remote Theatre

You’ll be pleased to know that we’re just about to launch the 2023 International Remote Theatre competition. To help get everyone ready for this, I’m republishing our Facebook live series - Top tips for lockdown theatre - here so that they’re all in one handy place.

i hope I’ve covered the essentials but if there is anything you think I’ve missed please add it in the comments below.

Remember too that our new digital version of Doing Remote Theatre is jam packed with advice about how to perform remote plays with learners of English.

1) Everything that is behind us will be interpreted by the audience - so backgrounds are very important in Remote Theatre.

2) Everything you need to know about using a green screen/virtual background in Remote Theatre.

3) In Lockdown Theatre turning on or off our cameras is the key way in which we can enter or leave the stage. This video looks at how to do this effectively.

4) In Remote Theatre, the actors’ faces are even more important than they are in face-to-face theatre. How can we maximise their potential?

5) Who do you want to be in your Remote Theatre piece? Probably not Samsung Galaxy S22…

6) Should we just use the built in microphone of the device we are using, or should we bring in an external one?

7) How to share music and other sounds to give the audience the best possible experience.

8) ‘Voices off’ is one of the most powerful remote theatre techniques we have. Learn how to do it in this video.

9) Explore the issues around using lighting in Remote Theatre.

10) No matter how effective everything else is, if the audience don’t understand what we’re saying the message of the play will be lost. Find out how to make yourself as clear as possible to the audience.