Becoming real (2025) – A Virtual Exploration of my Artistic Research in Theatre & Technology, Berlin

Welcome to "Becoming real", a virtual experience created as part of my artistic research into the use of digital technology in theatre. I’m Elsbeth Hoefkens, a dramaturg and theatre maker from the Netherlands, and this world is a creative reflection of the insights, questions, and visions that emerged during my research residency in Berlin. 

This project was made possible through the support of Culture Moves Europe and in association with the Ernst Busch University of Theatre Arts. Over the course of six weeks, I attended 33 performances across 8 theatres and engaged with 27 different makers — from emerging artists to renowned collectives like Rimini Protokoll and Gob Squad. I explored how technologies such as video, live feeds, AI, and digital media shape theatrical experiences, and spoke with 14 professionals working at the intersection of theatre and technology. 

Alongside this virtual world, I wrote the essay "Materializing the Digital: A Double-Layered Approach to Technology in Theatre", in which I analyse three performances from a dramaturgical perspective. Together, the essay and "Becoming real" form a dual approach to the same question: how can digital technology transform how we experience theatre? 

I also created a video recording of the full virtual world. If you'd rather watch that instead of exploring it yourself, feel free to do so here. The essay is also available on my site if you're interested in reading it: https://elsbethhoefkens.nl/en/projects/a-dramaturgical-and-artistic-research-into-theatre-and-digital-technology/.

This space is not a definitive answer, but an imaginative response — an invitation to explore theatre’s digital future through my lens.