Abstract:

This work examines the concept of "total theatre", explores the potential contribution of Augmented Reality (AR) in revitalizing this artistic form, and sheds light on the transformative impact of augmented theatre—the most mature manifestation of total theatre—in the realms of arts, culture, and education.
Total theatre represents a theatrical form that seeks to immerse the audience through the integration of diverse artistic and sensory elements. Rooted in a rich historical tradition, total theatre has engaged numerous artists, theorists, and art movements throughout its evolution. Noteworthy figures such as Richard Wagner, Antonin Artaud, Jerzy Grotowski, the Theatre of the Absurd, Jhon Cage, or Robert Wilson have actively pushed the boundaries of traditional theatre, aiming to captivate audiences through innovative and multisensory experiences.
While total theatre has achieved a certain level of success in creating immersive and interactive theatrical experiences, it remains constrained by the limitations imposed by the physicality of the real world. The objects on stage, the stage itself, and even the actors are bound by the laws of physics and the materiality of everything represented in the theatre, including the various forms of total theatre explored throughout the 20th century.
Augmented reality emerges as a potential solution to these constraints by seamless blending real and virtual elements. AR expands and enriches the physical stage, enabling dynamic interactions between real actors, physical objects, locations, and virtual holograms (both characters/actors and objects). This new form of theatrical representation – we called it "Augmented Theatre" -- opens up new horizons for innovative and captivating experiences, where almost anything becomes possible. By utilizing wearable glasses or other cutting-edge technologies, audiences can perceive virtual elements superimposed onto the stage, or can even actively participate in the theatrical performance by interacting with virtual actors and influencing the progression of the plot.
The integration of augmented reality (AR) and total theatre marks an exciting frontier, not solely within the realm of theatre, but also for the broader landscape of arts, culture and education. This breakthrough enables artists, cultural operators, and educators to transcend physical limitations, empowering them to design captivating and immersive experiences that push the boundaries of audience engagement. Augmented theatre emerges as a powerful tool for transforming the way we perceive and participate in artistic expressions, fostering a deeper connection between the audience and the performance.
The final section of this paper illustrates how augmented theatre presents a myriad of creative opportunities within various educational contexts, including schools, universities, cultural centers, and educational organizations. By offering immersive, engaging, and enjoyable experiences for students of all ages, augmented theatre applied to education has the potential to reshape and revolutionize the very concept of education, introducing entirely new ways of teaching and learning.

Keywords:

Total theatre, augment theatre, augmented reality, augmented learning, augmented reality, education.