Six theatres from the OLA network are implementing XR Stage, a Finnish technology that incorporates AI and augmented reality for production design.
The Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Teatro Municipal de Las Condes, Centro GAM, Teatro Regional del Maule, Teatro Biobío, and Teatro del Lago have implemented the innovative XR Stage platform, through a project led by Ópera Latinoamérica in collaboration with the Centre for the Technological Revolution in Creative Industries (CRTIC), and with the support of CORFO.
XR Stage is a technology developed by the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, which enables the design and production of stage performances through augmented reality and other immersive experiences.
The implementation of this platform in Chile, presented on Friday 31 May at the Teatro Municipal de Las Condes, marks a milestone in innovation within the performing arts, with a view to building new networks of collaboration and trust among creative teams.
After two months of intensive training, twelve professionals from six Chilean theatres have implemented XR Stage —a technology developed by the Finnish National Opera and Ballet for the production of stage performances— in an initiative led by Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA), together with the Centro para Revolución Tecnológica en Industrias Creativas (CRTIC) with funding from CORFO. Factoría Creativa programme, Inception stage 2023.
This marks the first step for the Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Teatro Municipal de Las Condes, Centro GAM, Teatro Regional del Maule, Teatro Biobío, and Teatro del Lago to develop their artistic work through an innovation that enables more efficient processes and fosters the creation of collaborative networks among creative teams.
Picture: Franco Davico
Originally developed by the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, XR Stage is a platform that, using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, enables artistic and stage teams to design and iterate scenography, reduce set-up and transportation times and production resources for performances, as well as minimise risks, among other benefits.
During a demonstration held at the Teatro Municipal de Las Condes on Friday 31 May, representatives from the Finnish National Opera and Ballet and technical teams from the participating theatres presented progress on the integration of this platform. The event also featured a live demonstration, using virtual reality headsets, of the innovative technology in operation.
The training process, which began in April, has also helped strengthen relationships among the technical teams of the participating theatres.
“One of the key strengths of XR Stage is that it fosters collaboration between theatres. That is why, in Chile, we chose to implement it at an ecosystem level, with training sessions designed to build trust between teams. Over these weeks, this community has taken shape, and we believe this is the best way to ensure the long-term potential for co-producing through this innovation and, of course, to move towards a more sustainable sector with greater social impact. The results have been very positive, and together with the Finnish team, we hope to scale the implementation of the platform across Latin America,” says Alejandra Martí, Executive Director of OLA.
Picture: Franco Davico
The implementation of XR Stage in Chile is supported by the Centre for the Technological Revolution in Creative Industries (CRTIC), an organisation that promotes the adoption of advanced technologies in the creative sector.
“For us at CRTIC, this project is a source of great pride because it directly contributes to improving performing arts production systems and opens up pathways for innovation and technological adoption within the cultural sector. We hope this project will be the first step towards making Chile the first country to digitalise all its theatres,” says Isidora Cabezón, Executive Director of CRTIC.
A collaborative project
The XR Stage showcase in Chile, held at the Teatro Municipal de Las Condes, marks the conclusion of the first phase of this project. During April and May, training sessions were carried out on the use of Unreal Engine, the software used to create digital and immersive replicas of the participating theatres’ stages.
Unreal Engine, known for its use in productions such as The Mandalorian and games like Fortnite, enables the creation of hyper-realistic visual environments which, when applied to the performing arts, offer immersive stage experiences that were previously unthinkable.
Picture: Franco Davico
During May, technical teams in Concepción and Santiago received Kalle Rasinkangas and Riku Zukale, representatives of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, who supported the strengthening of XR Stage implementation through meetings, training sessions, and progress evaluations of the work carried out.
The professionals also delivered a masterclass at the Teatro Biobío and visited emblematic venues in Concepción such as Teatro Lota, the CORCUDEC theatre, and Artistas del Acero. In Santiago, they visited the Teatro Municipal de Santiago and Teatro Municipal de Las Condes, as well as the second phase of Centro GAM, which is currently under construction.
Picture: Franco Davico
The arrival of this technology not only represents a technological advancement, but also an opportunity to reimagine the future of the performing arts.
“At Teatro Municipal de Las Condes, we always seek to enhance the experience of attending the theatre and to innovate in every possible way. It is therefore an honour to be part of this technological transformation. XR Stage allows us to explore new creative dimensions and offer audiences unique and immersive experiences. This platform not only changes the way we produce theatre, but also how our audiences —especially younger generations familiar with AI and augmented reality— engage with it. In this way, theatre is experienced in a more holistic manner, connected to current trends,” says Mauricio Camus, Director of Teatro Municipal de Las Condes.
