UC San Diego

In this paper I will discuss the ways in which the context and concept of the “sharedspace” and “shared temporal experience” in theatre have rapidly evolved by necessity as a response to the social distancing mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To discuss this evolution, I will examine several productions for which I designed scenery at UC San Diego while in pursuit of my MFA. The focus of this thesis will center on two productions: Orestes 2.0 by Charles Mee, directed by Joseph Hendel MFA ’20 and produced mere days before the COVID-19 shutdown, and Heap by fellow MFA candidate Vivian Barnes, directed by Colette Robert, and conceived, produced, filmed, and viewed entirely remotely during COVID-19 lockdown.