From Megaphone To Microphone

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An eight-part history of British theatre and its technology.

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Can You Hear Me At The Back?

19990921

Russell Davies journeys from Cornwall's outdoor Minack Theatre to the acoustic perfection of Birmingham Symphony Hall, in search of the technical changes which have affected the sound of performance.

Somewhere There

19990928

Russell Davies traces the technical development of architectural practice in theatres of the 20th century and sees how this has altered performance.

Lurking In The Shadows

19991005

Russell Davies views the pre-electricity days of candlelight in the theatres and discovers the revolution of the trimmable wick and the shocking arrival of gas light.

Let There Be Light

19991012

Russell Davies looks at the technological achievements in theatre lighting from the arrival of electricity.

How did one man's research into war radar affect performance? And how did the Compton organ become a standard controller of lighting in Drury Lane?

The Sound Machine

19991019

Russell Davies traces the impact of recorded sound on the world of performance, from the earliest pre-recorded atmosphere tracks to the modern expectation of CD-quality sound.

Trickery, Effect And Technology

19991026

Russell Davies looks at how technological advance in industry has brought changes in the theatre, from automated scenery straight from the mills to new set paints developed in the building trade.

Russell Davies looks at how technological advance in industry has brought changes in the theatre, from automated scenery straight from the mills to new set paints developed in the building trade."

Showing Vision

19991102

Russell Davies looks at how technology in the theatre developed compared to that of cinema and television.

08 LAST

Robots In The House

19991109

Russell Davies finds out how intelligent lighting, virtual Elvises and video projection are becoming a reality in our live performance spaces.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	Can You Hear Me At The Back?	19990921	Russell Davies journeys from Cornwall's outdoor Minack Theatre to the acoustic perfection of Birmingham Symphony Hall, in search of the technical changes which have affected the sound of performance.
02	Somewhere There	19990928	Russell Davies traces the technical development of architectural practice in theatres of the 20th century and sees how this has altered performance.
03	Lurking In The Shadows	19991005	Russell Davies views the pre-electricity days of candlelight in the theatres and discovers the revolution of the trimmable wick and the shocking arrival of gas light.
04	Let There Be Light	19991012	Russell Davies looks at the technological achievements in theatre lighting from the arrival of electricity. How did one man's research into war radar affect performance? And how did the Compton organ become a standard controller of lighting in Drury Lane?
05	The Sound Machine	19991019	Russell Davies traces the impact of recorded sound on the world of performance, from the earliest pre-recorded atmosphere tracks to the modern expectation of CD-quality sound.
06	Trickery, Effect And Technology	19991026	Russell Davies looks at how technological advance in industry has brought changes in the theatre, from automated scenery straight from the mills to new set paints developed in the building trade. Russell Davies looks at how technological advance in industry has brought changes in the theatre, from automated scenery straight from the mills to new set paints developed in the building trade." "
07	Showing Vision	19991102	Russell Davies looks at how technology in the theatre developed compared to that of cinema and television.
08 LAST	Robots In The House	19991109	Russell Davies finds out how intelligent lighting, virtual Elvises and video projection are becoming a reality in our live performance spaces.