Dear colleagues
Would you be willing to help me in a very small way with a piece of
research I am currently undertaking? In association with Picturehouse Cinemas
(
For myself, I am interested in the ways in which these performances may
throw light on the meanings of ‘liveness’ for different kinds of
audiences. ‘Liveness’ is of course a topic that has been the
subject of extensive debates, but very differently within the two spheres of television
and new media studies, and theatre and performance studies. To my knowledge,
there is very little in the way of a consideration of this from an audience
perspective, and that is what I am hoping to open up. Picturehouse Cinemas
meantime are trying to learn more about what contributes to, or diminishes,
audience pleasure and participation in these events. The research as I have
designed it will hopefully make contributions to both interests.
The research is being advertised at a number of the venues – but
not all of them – where such streamed performances have taken place. You
could help me greatly if you are in a position to do either of the following
two things:
1. Complete the short questionnaire that is available online, if you have
been to any of these events yourself, recently, or indeed if you go to any
between now and Christmas. It can be found at:
www.streamedperformances.org.uk.
2. Let other people know about the questionnaire, by simply forwarding
this message to likely individuals or places.
I will be enormously grateful for your help in either of these
directions.
Best wishes,
Martin Barker
Research Professor, Department of Theatre, Film & Television
Studies