The Sound of Theatre

In theatre, as in everyday life, we are continuously surrounded by sounds. Sounds in the foreground which we actively turn towards, such as voices, effects, music, but also background soundscapes, sonic tapestry, atmospheres, acoustics of space. What sounds in the theatre and how it sounds is of the utmost importance and has significant impact – on theatre-makers and audiences alike. Research interest in music and "sound" (in a broad sense) in theatre, however, is low and mostly disintegrates into its individual aspects (e.g. voice, sound design, acoustics, composition).

The CAS Research Group "The Sound of Theatre" therefore pursues two important goals toward a sonic aesthetic of theatre: 1) Deeping and expanding current research on theatre music in particular as a relational and performed practice. With the help of international experts, the current significant gap in research on this topic would be addressed and their findings made accessible to a broader, international public through the joint publication of a carefully curated volume. 2) Furthermore, however, the topic will be considered in the context of a more holistic perspective: going beyond the study of theatre music, the group will consider a more comprehensive aesthetics of "sound" in theatre. How do artists and audiences sound, hear and listen? What constitutes the sonic signature of a theatre, an ensemble, a directorial team? These new, explorative approaches will be presented and discussed in a conference that analyses the acoustic, epistemic, performative, phenomenological and social conditions, effects, and meanings of "sound" in theatre practice across all genres.

This podcast offers reflections on theater music, sound design, sonic practices and experiences and sheds light on the wide range of interplays between theatre, music, sound, voice, acoustics, and technology.

Find links to the podcast here