Founded just seven years ago by Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw, Digital Theatre now captures and distributes theatrical productions to 185 countries around the world through cinemas and online. As a pioneer of ‘event cinema’, Delamere has been screen director on all of Digital Theatre’s live captures, filming theatrical and operatic productions ranging from The Crucible (Old Vic) and Ghosts (Almeida), to Don Giovanni (Opera North).
In each case, Digital Theatre’s creative team embeds itself within the venue and uses discreet cameras and stunt mics to capture the performance. While retaining the ‘liveness’ of the theatre experience, the films rely on the language and processes of filmmaking to bring the event to the screen (Delamere storyboards the filming of each production).
While still working as a writer and director of theatre, Delamere’s previous roles include being associate director of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres – where he was responsible for setting up a new writing programme – and creative director of Amnesty International, where he worked on a range of creative and campaign projects including the 2008 ‘cinecast’ of the Secret Policeman’s Ball to participating screens in the UK, Australia and Canada.
BELOW: Trailer for Ghosts
As both the reach of Digital Theatre’s distribution and the scope of its coverage increases, the company continues to develop the educational wing that has evolved out of its work – Digital Theatre Plus is now one of the world’s leading online educational arts services with over three million students able to access the platform.
BELOW: Trailer for The Crucible
