The Space of/in a Theater: “Virtual Architecture” and “Expressionism” as Possibilities-Towards Contemporary Iranian Experiences

Recently, with the rapid development of virtual reality (VR) technologies the architectural discourse which once was the discourse of form and style, has overcome these boundaries. Architecture now in the words of Silva (2006) characterized by the fusion of information, art, and most importantly technology. Virtual Reality (VR) is served as a novel method to create virtual spaces which are considered as architecture itself. The spatial experience in this virtual architecture is subjective and is manifesting through the cognitive process in each individual’s awareness of surroundings. This awareness is however related to the degree of immersion that users might have in which the sense of presence or being in the place will enhance. This study explores the possibility of defining such a virtual space for theatre performances. In this manner, an Iranian expressionist theatre performance has been chosen and the main features of space in both physical and virtual environments have been compared. Accordingly, the virtual theatre space is defined as the immersive virtual environment which gives the audience an opportunity to be inside the performance and have a more tangible theatrical experience. However, it does not mean that virtual theatre space is intended to replace the physical one; but it means that architectural theory and practice will no longer be attached to conventional static conditions that previously defined designs. What has been a theatre for hundreds of years is now changing; theatre in this new virtual platform is no longer just focused on the here and now, but the here, now, and everywhere. Keywords: Theatre Architecture, Virtual Reality, Virtual Theatre Space, Expressionism, Expressionist Theatre