Experiential trends in performance-based entertainment
Experiential trends 2024:
performance-based entertainment
Craving intense experiences, tech-savvy audiences seek shows that evoke strong emotions, challenge their perspectives, and break the performance mold. We explore five innovative examples, from live music to AI-powered theater, showcasing how entertainment is pushing boundaries.
1. Real-Life Sensory Wonder
2. Moving Spaces & Immersive Sound
3. VR Disruption
4. AI Human Dialogue
5. Provocative Interactivity
Real-Life Sensory Wonder
Las Vegas' Sphere venue (launched Sept. 2023 with U2!) sets a new tech standard. Their immersive, cinematic shows are mind-blowing, creating a shared cultural phenomenon. Meanwhile, live music is hotter than ever, with ticket sales soaring 65% since 2022 (Statista, 2023).
U2 rocks Vegas' Sphere with mind-bending 3D audio! The venue's dome is covered in a massive ultra-high-res LED screen. Beamforming tech (think super-smart speakers) creates incredible surround sound, filling every corner.
No dead spots here – the sound adjusts to the audience. Plus, vibrating seats, scents, and wind add to the out-of-this-world experience.
Credit: Sphere
Credit: Sphere
Moving Spaces & Immersive Sound
Manchester's brand new Aviva Studios opened with a bang in October 2023! Their first show, "Free Your Mind," reimagined storytelling through the venue's clever design. This ultra-flexible space can transform from a concert hall to an art exhibit to an immersive theater thanks to moveable walls, stages, and lighting rigs that cover the massive 13,350 square meter space. Get ready for a whole new way to experience art and entertainment!
Aviva Studios in the UK took "Free Your Mind" to a whole new level! This hip-hop dance reimagining of The Matrix (directed by Danny Boyle!) wasn't your typical show.
Factory International, the resident arts group, created moving dance scenes throughout the entire venue. The audience explored the space, piecing together the story as they went – a truly immersive experience!
Credit: Aviva Studios
VR Disruption
A quarter (26%) of adults worldwide are itching to see a VR play! (Statista, 2023) This shows a huge audience waiting to be wowed by VR theatre, as more people discover what it can bring to the table.
VR Theatre: Ready to Take the Stage? Get this: a quarter (26%) of adults worldwide crave a VR theatre experience (Statista, 2023). There's a hungry audience waiting to be wowed by VR plays as awareness explodes.
Enter Box Office VR, a UK company using VR to complement, not replace, theatre. They see VR as a tool to amplify the emotional impact of live shows, paving the way for VR pre-shows or mood-setting experiences across entertainment – even cinemas!
Credit: Box Office VR
Credit: Box Office VR
AI Human Dialogue
AI on stage? We're both excited and nervous! Over half of us worry about AI's impact, but 66% expect it to change our lives in the next few years (Ipsos, 2023). Dutch theatre group Nineties tapped into this feeling with "To Be Continued," a touring show where audiences interact with AI chatbots.
Ready for a mind-trip? We're all nervous about AI, but excited too (Ipsos, 2023). Dutch theatre group Nineties takes this head-on with "To Be Continued." It's a show with a twist: you chat with an AI bot before you even arrive! On Telegram (an app), the bot describes a futuristic world and asks philosophical questions ("What is time?"). It's creepy, but mandatory!
Then, at the theatre, the show gets even more interesting. A massive digital installation, inspired by your bot chats, comes alive with lights, music, and animations. It's NOT a feel-good experience – it's designed to make you think critically about your relationship with technology. And guess what? You can still chat with the bot during the show on your phone! It's unlike anything you've seen before.
Credit: Nineties
Credit: Nineties
Provocative Interactivity
U.K.'s Swamp Motel pushes boundaries with "Saint Jude!" This interactive AI show puts YOU in the story! For an hour, cutting-edge tech lets you experience a personal journey that's both physical and mental. It's London theatre like never before!
London's "Saint Jude" messes with your mind! In a unique hour-long experience, British entertainment company Swamp Motel presented Saint Jude, an interactive AI show in London (Jan-July 2023).
Audiences became volunteers at a fictional coma clinic, interacting with a responsive AI playing a patient. This individual, isolated in a retro console cubicle, made choices that shaped the story, blurring the lines between theater, film, and gaming. The focus on AI tech aimed to amplify the entertainment, making audiences central to the story and provoking a sense of vulnerability.
Credit: Swamp Motel
Credit: Swamp Motel
Key Learnings
Commit to Communal Multisensory Cultural Experiences
Live entertainment is exploding back onto the scene, but it's not just a revival – it's a revolution! Audiences are hungry for epic, shared experiences that push the boundaries of culture. Forget conventions! U2's shows offer a blueprint: infuse every element, from mind-bending visuals to room-thumping sound, with cutting-edge tech. This creates a multi-sensory experience on a grand scale, achievable even in smaller venues.
Let Venues Tell Varied Stories
Live events aren't just about the physical return of crowds, it's about attendee engagement! Audiences crave experiences that go beyond just watching – they want to explore and interact with the space itself. Take inspiration from Free Your Mind's approach. By shifting the narrative based on audience position, they create a new layer of storytelling. This blueprint of using spatial design and cutting-edge tech can be applied to theatre, music, and even retail, creating immersive experiences that leave audiences wanting more.
Prime Theatrical Engagement with Mini VR
Don't ditch the real world for VR just yet! Tech can enhance, not replace, live entertainment. Think bite-sized VR experiences like Box Office VR's fiery preview. These "mini-VR primers" can add an extra layer of challenge and intrigue to traditional storytelling. Imagine a theatre production or film where the audience gets a taste of the action through VR – it sets the stage for deeper engagement in the real-life experience. This is how tech can truly supercharge entertainment, not just offer an escape.
Give Curious Audiences the Tech Reins
Ditch the passive observer role! "To Be Continued" isn't content with simply showing tech anxiety; it throws you right into it. This show makes audience interaction with AI mandatory, creating a sensory and emotional rollercoaster. By handing the tech directly to attendees, it eliminates the distance between them and the story. They don't just watch, they feel. This is interactive storytelling at its finest.
Don’t Be Afraid of Dark Entertainment
Live entertainment is embracing a wave of "disquieting experiences," as seen in Saint Jude. This show ditches fantastical horror for a believable dystopia, tapping into the trend identified by The Fear Renaissance. Look Ahead 2024 highlights the power of exploring complex emotions, and Saint Jude delivers. By placing unsettling technology at the heart of its dark narrative, it lets audiences confront their fears head-on, creating a truly transformative experience.