As part of our Professional Development scheme, aimed at organising training and events to share best practices on the latest trends in theatre, we are thrilled to invite ETC Member Theatres to the webinar 'Digital Possibilities on Stage' with speaker Mario Simon (Artistic Video Department at Schauspiel Köln), on Tuesday 24 March 2026 from 14:00-15:30 CET.
Webinar Description
This webinar is designed for beginners and anyone curious to explore the potential of digital tools on stage.
In this session, we will focus on a range of digital possibilities for live performance. We will cover spatial mapping and 3D scanning of both architectural spaces and human bodies, with an emphasis on creating digital avatars for use in live stage productions.
Participants will be introduced to the use Unreal Engine as a real-time engine, along with AI-powered workflows that significantly simplify and accelerate artistic production processes. Characters can be generated from simple selfie images, developed into fully realized 3D avatars, and animated live on stage using facial tracking technology.
Webinar Details & Registration
ETC Professional Development Webinar: Digital Possibilites on Stage
Tuesday 24 March 2026, 14:00-15:30 CET
Theme: Digital Theatre
Format and Location: Online Workshop
Length: 90 minutes
Open to: ETC Members only
Deadline: Thursday 19 March, 17:00 CET
Webinar Speaker
Mario Simon
Artistic Video Department at Schauspiel Köln (Germany)
Mario Simon studied German, literature and cultural studies, film and media studies, and philosophy at the University of Bonn, TU Dortmund, and Fernuniversität Hagen. His artistic career began at Schauspiel Dortmund under Kay Voges, where he worked from 2013 to 2020 – first as assistant director, then as video artist, and later as head of the video department, shaping the visual language of many productions. He collaborated with directors such as Kay Voges (“Die Borderline Prozession”, invited to the Berliner Theatertreffen 2017, “Die Parallelwelt”), Claudia Bauer, Jörg Buttgereit, Klaus Gehre (“Minority Report – Der Live-Film”), Marcus Lobbes, and the collective sputnic. His work often explores the intersection of theatre, film, and digital technologies. In 2017, he received the Young Talent Award of North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2019 to 2025, he oversaw media production at the Academy for Theatre and Digitality in Dortmund. Since 25|26, Mario Simon has been part of the permanent artistic video department at Schauspiel Köln.
