Multimedia Technologies in Contemporary Theatre: History, Functions, Methods, Typology

In the master's dissertation "Multimedia in Contemporary Theatrical Art: History, Methods, Function, Typology" the research of the problem of synthesis of multimedia with theatrical art is presented. Interest in the topic of using digital technologies in the art of theater arose from the author of this dissertation work after attending the play "Elion. Version 2.0 ", shown at the Fairy Tale Theater. The whole action of the performance was connected with multimedia: in the center of the stage was a large screen, on which were displayed various animation fragments with which the actors on the stage were in interaction. In addition, great importance was attached to the sound accompaniment and the play of light. This topic is important for understanding the state of theater art today in terms of influencing new, constantly changing and improving multimedia tools and tools, as well as further prospects of their interfacing. Since the theater is synthetic by its nature, its connection with multimedia technologies or even with multimedia art is quite natural. In the space of scenography includes a video series, computer projections and three-dimensional computer graphics. All this is a single structure. The role of the actor is assumed by the artist himself and even the viewer, who is invited to interact actively with the work, to become a player and play his own performance. The topic of the thesis is relevant not only in the context of analysis of the most interesting multimedia solutions used in scenography, but also in the context of the fact that St. Petersburg is a city of theaters in which there are all prerequisites for the further development of an organic synthesis of traditions and innovative trends. Analyzing the history of the theater, the author shows how exactly multimedia technologies affect theatrical art.