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You had to be there… Or did you

Emily Philip relives the excitement of QPAC’s simulcast of American Ballet Theatre’s ‘Swan Lake’ and discusses the value of simulcast performances to Queenslanders.

Moving a company of 130 people, such as the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), from New York to Brisbane is a big deal in itself. But attempting to move that same company all around Queensland is near impossible! Queensland is a big state and for many Queenslanders, coming to Brisbane for a performance is also simply not an option. A live simulcast is as close as it gets to being in the theatre for the show.

During the ABT’s 2014 debut season at QPAC, a live simulcast of Swan Lake was broadcast to nine venues in regional Queensland* as well as to a big screen set up on QPAC’s Melbourne Street Green outdoor venue. The simulcast audience around the state was over 4250 people and allowed people in centres north, east, south and west to see ABT perform their Artistic Director’s renowned interpretation of this classic ballet for free.

I attended my first simulcast at Maryborough’s Brolga Theatre along with another first-time simulcaster, the Arts Minister, the Honourable Ian Walker MP. The close to full-house Brolga Theatre audience cheered when the Minister spoke live on stage and cheered again when a pre-recorded message from the Minister appeared shortly after on the big screen! In fact, that’s one of the most amazing aspects of being in the simulcast audiences: although the audience may have been 250km away from the live action, they were synchronised in their clapping, cheering and gasping with the ‘live’ audience in Brisbane.

When I talked to people at interval and after the performance they spoke about how they were impressed with the quality, look and feel of the simulcast. Some people had never been to QPAC; some had but were unable to go to the performance this time around; some had their children with them and said they felt more comfortable bringing them to a simulcast than to the live performance.

What the audience had to say about the simulcast:

“Spectacular! Wonderful opportunity for regional Queensland.”
 “I really enjoyed it and hope there can be more like it.”
“It was fantastic. Wonderful. A sheer delight.”
“Amazing opportunity. Thank you so much. Absolutely beautiful performance.”

The logistics of capturing live performance and translating it to the big screen involves setting up six cameras in QPAC’s Lyric Theatre to film the stage from different angles – two in the first balcony, three in the stalls and one roaming camera to capture side-stage and even the orchestra pit. A Director, trained in capturing both live action and being able to read/follow a musical score, calls the entire show live from an Outside Broadcast (OB) van outside QPAC; think of something similar to how the Oscars or Emmy Awards are directed. The images are then sent live via satellite around the state to each venue equipped with a high definition big screen.

While there is no substitute to being in the theatre during a live performance, a simulcast is absolutely a wonderful way to see a performance and have a fun night out. For many people in smaller regional communities, the chance to see live performance is limited – especially of a huge, internationally-renowned ballet company like ABT. Being audience to a live simulcast was a great experience and one I recommend.

Were you at the ABT’s simulcast or have you been part of a similar experience? What did you think? What simulcast would you love to see in your city/town? Let us know in the comments section below.

*Simulcast locations

AYR – Burdekin Theatre
BUNDABERG – Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
CHARTERS TOWERS – The World Theatre
GLADSTONE – Entertainment Convention Centre
MACKAY – Entertainment and Convention Centre
MARYBOROUGH – Brolga Theatre
MOUNT ISA – Civic Centre
ROCKHAMPTON – Pilbeam Theatre
TOOWOOMBA – Empire Theatre

Emily Philip works as a Senior Administration Officer in QPAC’s Marketing Department. Her role includes government reporting, drafting internal and external communications and liaising with government on a range of issues.

 

 

Feature Image: The audience at the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, Bundaberg enjoying QPAC’s live simulcast of American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake. Photograph by Paul Beutel.