Shakespearean Play: The Tempest Sets On A Live Motion Captured Technology

In the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, the Royal Shakespeare Company tried the digital special effects for a new production of "The Tempest." The spectacular finale set the stage Stratford-upon-Avon on a 'live motion captured technology' stage. The play made a new kind of history.

The Tempest is play written by William Shakespeare. It was written in 1610-1611 and this was the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. Scholars believed that it was written between the times "The Winter's Tale" appeared to be written. Edward Blount presented The Tempest into the Stationers' Register on November 8, 1623. It was one of the 16 Shakespearean plays that were registered on that date. Recently, it is making a new kind of history.

The play drew heavily on the tradition set of romance and the fictitious description set up from ordinary life. It had the traditional structure from Italian commedia dell'arte. Romances were typically based on themes. These themes were supernatural, exploration, wandering and discovery. The Tempest was originally listed as a comedy in the First Folio of Shakespeare's play, however, subsequent editors chose to put it in the specific label of Shakespearean Romance.

The Royal Shakespeare Company had a four or five times more complex production and most expensive set ever. According to the young Intel programmer, neither the Royal Shakespeare Company nor Intel was allowed to discuss the costs of the production. The stage, set, sound and music, and the lighting design had a state of the art motion evolution. It was after two years of planning and consultation.

The stage had 27 video projectors and 26 motion capture cameras. The production had 20 designers and programmers. This gave more options to the viewers. The technology captured the spirit of the play and embraced the new era of literature. The Tempest is still set to play at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, until 21 January 2017.