Application to Showcase - BREAKDOWN Gaurav Singh

Email. gauravnijjer@gmail.com
Website. www.gauravnijjer.com
Outline of Project or Digital-Artistic Approach

Title: Considering The Audience in the (Post)Digital Scene

Over the last few years, we have seen immense innovation by theatre practitioners to push the boundary of
performance and technology. However, in pursuing new technical methodologies, softwares and virtual tools, the
audience is often left behind. From onboarding to technical challenges and becoming familiar with the tools to
actually become comfortable with the (digital) performance environment, the post(digital) scene must consider the
audience as an equal stakeholder in the experience creation.

In my presentation, I will share a technical case study of my show ‘Lifeline 99 99’, an interactive one-on-one theatre
performance that took place over a live phone call. The critically acclaimed performance saw 250+ individuals dial
in from 5 countries to have a one-on-one conversation with a living, breathing character on the other end. As the
co-director and the designer of the project, I will share how we used IVRS technology to create the audio-only
experience over a telephone call (ie a technology of the past) and how this allowed us to reach a diverse set of
audiences. Lastly, I will share a list of challenges and best practices around audience engagement in digital
formats. We will examine the challenges, considerations and points of view of the audience in interacting with new
technologies and softwares in digital theatre, significantly how technologies of the past can shape better audience
engagement.

Outline of Practical Approach to Presentation Idea

The presentation will cover the following topics:
● Contextualising the role of the audience in digital theatre
● Tracing the burden of technical knowledge for digital theatre audiences
● Introducing the show ‘Lifeline 99 99’, its technical design and its audience outreach
● Sharing contextual examples of managing audience engagement (onboarding, technical, communication)
● Discussing best practices and guidance for considering the audience central to the technical design

Information on Presentation Format

The presentation will be delivered using a Powerpoint, in a discussion-based format. It will be delivered in English.
The slide's content will mostly be visuals (images, videos, diagrams) and audio. Text written in English will carry
translation in German. The only requirements are a screen/projector for the presentation and microphone/speakers
depending on the room setup.

Information on Accessibility Needs

No additional accessibility needs are required. I can share an audio-version of the talk and a copy of the
presentation with participants on request.

Short Biography
Gaurav Singh Nijjer (he/him) is a theatre-maker, creative technologist and arts manager from New Delhi, India. He's
the General Manager at Kaivalya Plays, an Indian performing arts company and works as a freelancer with arts
collectives across India and Europe. He graduated with MA in Advanced Theatre Practice (Distinction) at the Royal
Central School of Speech and Drama in 2021, receiving the prestigious Chevening Scholarship from the UK
Government. In 2022, he moved to Berlin, Germany to undertake the German Chancellor Fellowship where he is
conducting a 12-month arts research project on audiences for digital theatre and hybrid performances with the
Berlin-based Rimini Protokoll as his host organization. As a theatre-maker, his artistic practice investigates live
performance and audience-performer interactivity using technology and distanced composition. He brings his
professional experience in marketing, technology and data to explore new ways of engaging audiences, in the
theatre, at home and otherwise. In 2021, he co-directed and designed ‘Lifeline 99 99’, a unique one-on-one
interactive performance on the telephone that re-imagined performance formats for the pandemic and received
widespread critical acclaim. He served as the technical director for ‘The Flabby Breasted Virgin & Other Sordid
Tales’, a playful, irreverent digital performance exploring how women's bodies are taught, perceived and practised
within medical education in India. In 2021, he received two grants under the C3: Codes, Creativity and Community
program by Goethe-Institut India and BeFantastic to create open-source community platforms for arts funding and
arts education.
Title: Considering The Audience in the (Post)Digital Scene
Subtitle: Use of audio-only and other "technologies of the past" to craft audience-friendly experiences.

Biography:
Gaurav Singh Nijjer is an Indian theatre-maker and arts manager, who leads the Delhi-based collective Kaivalya
Plays. His artistic practice spans interactive, improvised and hybrid performances that challenge the
audience-performer relationship. He received the German Chancellor Fellowship (Bundeskanzler-Stipendium) to
conduct a research project on audiences for digital theatre in Berlin, with the collective Rimini Protokoll as his host
organization.