Theatrical Place in a 3D CVE: An Online Performance of Plato's Allegory of the Cave in a Distributed 3D CVE

This paper discusses a theatrical performance in a 3D collaborative virtual environment (3D CVE). Place in a performative 3D CVE is contingent on immersion and presence generated by social interaction. It discusses the production of an online performance of Plato's Allegory of the Cave involving students from three different continents. It was found that theatrical activities in a 3D CVE share some of the characteristics of both cinema and traditional theatre. The paper identifies different types of places in 3D CVE and discusses their role in an educational context.