Virtual Theatre: Accessibility to the Stage | Joel Willison | TEDxKnox College

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COVID-19 forced the theatre industry to redefine what it views as a performance. Online productions include interaction in more and more inventive ways and, as a result, theater has never been more accessible. Post-pandemic, Virtual Theatre has become a new genre of performance - how can theatre capitalize on its newfound accessibility while still performing to the audience? Joel Willison (Artistic Producer, he/him) is a director and producer in Chicago. Having lived overseas from age 7-18 in Kampala, Uganda, Joel is focused on accessibility to stories/stage/theatre, and the intersection between the internet and live theatre. He produces work focused on new work development for new voices - curating a space for new/early-career artists to understand their craft and collaborate in community. Joel is the Artistic Director for Pocket Theatre V.R., a company member of Playground Chicago, a member of For The Group Chicago, and was selected for Directors Haven 6 in 2023. Recent directing credits include Assistant Directing for Tambo and Bones (Refracted Theatre Company), Stakeholders (The Runaways Lab Theater), Laments of a Brown Bird Summer (Haven), Dead at 24 (Pocket Theatre VR), A Kind of Blue (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre) and work with Playground - Chicago, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, and Stage Left Theatre. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx