Video technology meets theatre when the Ground & Field Theatre Festival (GFTF) at UC Davis offers a workshop of a new play that incorporates live motion capture animation. The event also includes a demonstration of a video game that enables virtual design and performance of scenes from Shakespeare.

The event takes place on Sept. 15 in the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre on Old Davis Road and is free and open to all ages.

Beginning at noon, the open live motion capture animation workshop is a rehearsal of a few scenes from the romantic comedy, “Kill the Wabbit,” by Jonathan Luskin. The scenes were selected to demonstrate the integration of live action stage performance and live motion capture animation. The play mixes real-time motion capture sequences with film and video game animation to examine how performers combine traditional skills and new technologies to connect with an audience. 

The motion capture hardware and software have been repurposed from the Shakespearean themed “Play the Knave,” an augmented reality video game developed by Gina Bloom, professor of English at UC Davis. Bloom will lead a demonstration of “Play the Knave” at 2 p.m.

Presented in conjunction with the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance and the Theatre and Dance Ensemble, GFTF provides a venue for the development of new theatrical works and emerging voices in theatre. For more information, visit the community events link at groundandfield.com.

The Ground & Field Theatre Festival and the Arts at UC Davis and the Theatre and Dance Ensemble are proud members of Arts Alliance Davis. Support for this program has been provided by City of Davis Arts, Culture, & Innovation Funding.

The UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance is housed in the College of Letters and Science. For more information about additional performances, visit www.theatredance.ucdavis.edu.