Digital Puppetry

Digital Theatrograph is a hybrid media performance supported by a cinematic theatrical object. We call this device the Cinetroscope-a miniaturized live interactive studio for theatrical performances. This object was developed in response to a multidisciplinary challenge of adapting the literary work " Peregrinação " into an augmented paper theatre. Fusing the theatrical performance with the cinematic techniques we found a novel puppetry genre that we entitled " live cinematic-puppetry ". This genre incorporates the improvisation and spontaneity that characterizes the puppet theater, as well the narrative structure of cinematography supported by its visual techniques. In this paper we present the concepts associated with this performative object, as well as the description of our methodology. The feasibility of this technological platform was partially demonstrated through several successfully performances.

Abstract
Cinetroscopio can be understood as a cinematic theatrical object, a miniaturized live interactive studio for theatrical performances. This object was developed in response to a multidisciplinary challenge adapting the Fernão Mendes Pinto literary work “Peregrinação” into a paper theatre production. Our proposal combines theatrical performance with cinematic techniques to present a novel theatrical genre that
we can call “live cinema”. This genre incorporates the improvisation and spontaneity that characterizes
the puppet theatre and the narrative features of cinematography. In this paper we present the concepts associated with the show and with the performative object, as well as, the description of the methodology on the development of the technological platform that supports it. The multiple public presentations of this show demonstrate the viability of our model.

Resumo
Cinetroscópio pode ser entendido como um objecto teatral cinematográfico, um estúdio de cinema interativo em miniatura para representações teatrais. Este objecto foi desenvolvido em resposta ao desafio multidisciplinar da produção da obra “Peregrinação” de Fernão Mendes Pinto em teatro de papel. A
nossa proposta procura fundir a performance teatral com os recursos cinematográficos para dar corpo a
um novo género teatral a que podemos chamar de “cinema performativo”. Combinando o improviso e espontaneidade que caracteriza o teatro de marionetas com os recursos narrativos da cinematografia. Apresentamos neste artigo os conceitos associados a este espetáculo e ao objecto em causa, bem como, a descrição da metodologia relativa ao desenvolvimento da plataforma tecnológica que o suporta. As múltiplas apresentações deste espetáculo demonstram a viabilidade do nosso modelo.