As one of the oldest theatre companies within Second Life, the Avatar Repertory Theatre (ART) operates from their theatre in Cookie, and has been at the forefront of bringing diverse, live theatre to a widening audience through virtual performances since 2008.

Productions have included first-time realisations of works by living playwrights, through to major immersive productions such as their own adaptations of the classic Greek Drama Oedipus Rex and the works of Lewis Carroll via Alice in WonderSLand and Through the Looking Glass. In addition, the company’s theatre has played host to many and varied events and performances, including Seanchai Library’s The War of the Worlds, which I reviewed during its initial run in 2011).

However, while operating a theatre company in a virtual world is a lot more cost-effective than doing so in the physical world, it is by no means free. So, in October and early November, the company held a very special auction, the proceeds of which will go towards meeting their on-going running costs. The Shakespeare By Request Auction offered Second Life residents the opportunity to bid for a member of the Avatar Repertory Theatre company to perform a selection from the works of William Shakespeare.

Now all of those who took part in the auction and residents of Second Life as a whole, are cordially invited to attend the results of this auction in the Shakespeare By Request evening.

Commencing at 17:00 SLT on Friday, November 21st, at the ART theatre in Cookie, members of the ART company will present the winning bidder’s requests. On offer will be pieces from Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, Hamlet – and more!

So why not join the audience and enjoy a unique series of Shakespearian performances – and if you’re so minded, offer a donation to additionally help ART meet their running costs.

About ART

ART is a programme run by New Media Arts, Inc, a registered 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization in the United States, which has recently released its first Go Fund Me Video in support of their mission to develop graphical, theatrical, literary, educational, library and other fine and practical arts on the internet, in 3D graphical user interfaces, multimedia, new generation computing devices, and other electronic and digital communication media.

further information on ART can be found at the Avatar Repertory Theatre company’s website and via Facebook and Google+.