நெருக்கடியான காலகட்டத்தில் கலை மற்றும் தகவல் தொடர்பாடல் தொழில்நுட்பத்தின் இணைவு: கோவிட்-19 சூழலில் வட இலங்கையில் மெய்நிகர் நாடக ஆற்றுகைகள்

The Fusion of Art and ICT in Times of Crisis: Online Theatre Performances in Northern Sri Lanka in the Context of COVID-19

Abstract

Theatrical performances create a direct, emotional connection with the audience, a connection only possible when both performers and viewers meet in the same physical space. However, with the global lockdown announced in 2020, this norm became entirely unfeasible. In this context, the Active Theatre Movement operating in the Northern region of Sri Lanka, with the aid of information and communication technology (ICT), transitioned to online theatre performances, exploring new approaches. This study examines how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual theatre performances, integrated with ICT, reached audiences. It investigates how innovative experiences were created for viewers across borders and how connections were established with them. The Performative Theory proposed by Mary Gergen and Kip Jones is employed to explore the potential of live theatre through virtual video streaming technology and the emotional impact it generated. The study further investigates the impact of online theatre performances, conducted from Northern Sri Lanka, on Tamil diaspora families worldwide. The transformation of these performances through online communication technology served as a key means of connecting Tamil cultural identity and as a relational tool to engage remote Tamils. Additionally, the study highlights the significant role of online communication technologies in strengthening socio-cultural ties among the Tamil diaspora. The Relational Aesthetics theory, proposed by French art theorist Nicolas Bourriaud, serves as the philosophical foundation of this study. Data was collected through the researchers' own auto-ethnographic experiences. This study uncovers new methods of reinforcing Tamil identity through online theatre performances, even in challenging global circumstances, contributing to the creation of new dimensions in art and social science.