Virtual Pre-Production - The Royal Ballet And Opera’s 3D World
Watch on demand: Discover how the Royal Ballet and Opera is bringing theatre productions to life in a virtual 3D world.
In this PLASA Show 2026 seminar, the Royal Ballet and Opera shares how detailed virtual environments are transforming its approach to pre-production, lighting design and the revival of established productions.
Using a digital replica of the Royal Opera House and realistic 3D models of sets, scenery and theatrical effects, the team can prepare productions long before they reach the stage. Featuring examples from The Nutcracker, The Magic Flute and other productions, the session demonstrates how visualisation can improve creative collaboration, support technical planning and make the most of limited rehearsal time.
Key topics explored:
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Creating a virtual theatre: How detailed 3D models of the Royal Opera House support technical planning and production preparation.
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Lighting design and pre-production: Using virtual environments to programme, test and refine lighting before stage rehearsals.
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Reviving established productions: Preserving the original creative vision while adapting existing shows to modern lighting technology.
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Building realistic 3D environments: The modelling, texturing and rendering techniques used to recreate scenery, props and theatrical effects.
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Collaboration across departments: How visualisation brings creative and technical teams together earlier in the production process.
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Future possibilities: Exploring further integration of automation, video, performer models and other production elements.
Watch the full seminar for a behind-the-scenes insight into the technology, creativity and collaboration behind virtual pre-production at the Royal Ballet and Opera.
