Research into variety shows
Definition of variety: A theatrical show consisting of a series of unrelated performances or acts, such as comedy skits, songs, dances, sketches etc. (1)
As the Big Top would be a variety show I did some research into how modern day Varieties are filmed.
In the UK the most well know variety show is "The Royal Variety Performance" where many different talents come to perform in front of royalty.
(2)King George V and Queen Mary were the ones who attended the first "Royal Shows" in 1912 and 1919, they then became the patrons of the Royal Variety Charity from 1921.
To this day the reigning monarch continues to show patronage demonstrating the Royal family's support for the entertainment industry.
(3) "Derived from the taproom concerts given in city taverns in England during the 18th and 19th centuries, music hall entertainment was eventually confined to a stage, with the audience seated at tables; liquor sales paid the expenses."
After a licensing act got passed in 1751 to present these expenses the larger taverns hired musicians and installed "scenery".
These eventually got moved into "Saloons" where a variety of musical and comic entertainment happened.
The usual show consisted of 6 to 8 acts, possibly including a comedy skit, a juggling act, a magic act, a mime, acrobats, a dancing act and a singing act.
As the Big Top would be a variety show I did some research into how modern day Varieties are filmed.
In the UK the most well know variety show is "The Royal Variety Performance" where many different talents come to perform in front of royalty.
(2)King George V and Queen Mary were the ones who attended the first "Royal Shows" in 1912 and 1919, they then became the patrons of the Royal Variety Charity from 1921.
To this day the reigning monarch continues to show patronage demonstrating the Royal family's support for the entertainment industry.
(3) "Derived from the taproom concerts given in city taverns in England during the 18th and 19th centuries, music hall entertainment was eventually confined to a stage, with the audience seated at tables; liquor sales paid the expenses."
After a licensing act got passed in 1751 to present these expenses the larger taverns hired musicians and installed "scenery".
These eventually got moved into "Saloons" where a variety of musical and comic entertainment happened.
The usual show consisted of 6 to 8 acts, possibly including a comedy skit, a juggling act, a magic act, a mime, acrobats, a dancing act and a singing act.
When cirque de soleil performs the cameras do a lot of slow moving pans, high angled shots and establishing shots of both the act and the audience.
This is something that we'd like to do for the Big Top, due to the performances we'd have this kind of camera work and isolated colour lighting would work really well. It's also something that we could experiment with on location for VTs.
Overall from this research I learnt the general structure of a variety show and the kinds of performances that would be included in them. I've been able to see how professionals film, light and choreograph the performances (specifically the circus performances). I was also able to gain some ideas from all of this that I could put in my own show.
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(1) Collins English Dictionary: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/variety-show
(2) History of the Royal Variety Performance
www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-performance-home/history-of-the-royal-variety-performance
(2) History of the Royal Variety Performance
www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-performance-home/history-of-the-royal-variety-performance
(3) Music Hall and Variety
www.britannica.com/art/music-hall-and-variety
www.britannica.com/art/music-hall-and-variety
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