Experiencing Renaissance theatre on Zoom: The creation of action choreography for online theatre and its unexpected insights into Renaissance theatre

Abstract

The new artform of online theatre performance created by isolated actors, which emerged during the COVID-19 lockdowns beginning in March 2020, is a new performance medium and creative artform, with a new theatrical discipline for online action choreography. This new art form and its attendant specialist discipline deserve their place in theatre industry and theatre history. The article focuses on the experience of one UK theatre company, Shake-Scene Shakespeare and their online action choreographer: Alexandra Kataigida. The emergence of online performance is outlined, with its attendant opportunities and challenges, and the soon-identified need for online action choreography. Different categories of action choreography are detailed: individual and shared actions, changing perspective, prop passes, combat sequences and dances. Reference is also made to insights gained into Renaissance theatre practices through this experience.