This evening I attended a reading of a new play. The arrangement was interesting in that we sat around in a big circle.
The performers sat at one end, and the audience rounded out the circle. Using only words and the power of their voices, the readers created an entire world for us, a world of imagination.
I could not help but think, as I pondered the empty space in the middle of the circle, how wonderful it would be if we were to use some sort of augmented reality to fill in that imaginary world. My mind began conjuring up fantastic visions that would not have been possible in traditional theater.
I cannot say whether that would be better than the experience of the reading that I attended this evening. It would certainly be different, and not too long from now it will become practical.