Developing sensors and sensibilities for an absurdist theatre piece at Malthouse Theatre: Homunculus and the functioning of a complex educational and theatre project. An evaluation using Narrative research methods

Abstract

During Semester 2, 2005, Hybrid (formerly Music and Multimedia Hub) at Victoria University supported a special project that implemented simple sensor technology for theatre production “Homunculus”. The project represented an innovative pedagogical direction, in that an educational context (a unit of study for the TAFE diploma, involving the full cohort of enrolled students) was combined with the production of a dramatic work, as well as exercising the sponsorship relationship that Victoria University enjoys with the Malthouse Theatre. Within this context of institutional encounter, a creative exploration took place on a number of levels, involving staff, students, actors, musicians, production and theatre staff. This exploration involved the construction and utilisation of sensors that were embedded in the theatre set and in the costume of the actors. In addition, a concurrent research project was initiated that collected and analysed the experiences of the participants in this complex multi-layered project.