Telematic dramaturgy in the time of Covid-19

This combined video and written essay reports on the pivot to online delivery in order to teach devised theatre during the COVID-19 lockdown. It charts the rapid development of intermedial dramaturgical techniques and the production of two plays - Us and Them, and Lost in Place - performed through Zoom webinar. The essay discusses the way both productions loosely followed the conventions of telematic theatre and reflects on the strengths and limitations of Zoom for generating affective qualities (such as intimacy, immediacy, kinaesthetic energy) associated with live theatrical performance and the pedagogical challenges of directing student actors through video conferencing technologies with particular reference to three key themes: liveness, intimacy and dramaturgy.