In a new, unique technology in Latvia, the Operetta Theatre has created an educational lecture-performance OPERETTE CREATIVE LABORATORY, which can be viewed with virtual reality 3D glasses, virtually taking the viewer to the centre of the production itself on stage, in the hall or backstage at the VEF Culture Palace, experiencing the effect of a surprisingly real presence and actively following the events around them, in a 360° radius.
In this programme, children will take a virtual journey with the most popular children’s operetta characters Carlson, Peacock and Smaug, to the Wild West, where they will meet members of two ancient Indian tribes who, after a long-lasting conflict, will find a common language and restore peace and harmony thanks to Carlson, Peacock and Smaug.
During the journey, children will learn how operetta and musical theatre differ from dramatic theatre, what acting is and what can be considered real choreography, what set design is and why props are needed, where the parter is and where the balcony is, what the mystical stage sets are and other terms. A separate episode is devoted to theatre grimm and costumes.
Another important benefit of the play is the moral: the importance of respecting and loving each other, living in a friendly way, listening to your fellow human beings. Both the picture and the sound for this programme were recorded with 360° perception equipment.
The programme is recommended for audiences aged 6-12, but the technology used will also be of interest to older children. We provide the full set of hardware and software needed to enjoy the programme, as well as the virtual reality goggles needed by the viewer.
This programme is included in the Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Education Programme “Latvian School Bag”.
About Virtual Reality Goggles: Virtual Reality Goggles (VRGs) are computer-based devices that provide a fully immersive virtual reality experience. It is the latest high-end hardware with a fast processor and a high-resolution display. The glasses are embedded with three-dimensional video filmed by a 360° video camera, so that everyone who puts on these VRBs experiences virtual reality in a very real way. With VRBs you virtually get the best seat in the house, on stage or even backstage and get an amazing live experience.
