Leicester Curve to release '360° panoramic' broadcast of Calamity Jane

Leicester Curve has announced plans to "harness the very latest technology" by releasing a 360° panoramic performance of Calamity Jane.

Described by the venue as a "technological breakthrough", the production, which stars Jodie Prenger in the title role, will be available to view for free at 360.curveonline.co.uk from the 22 to 24 July via tablet or computer.

Artistic director Nikolai Foster commented: "It is thrilling that our play about a group of pioneers from the 1800s has been filmed in 2015 using cameras and technology even ahead of their time today.

"I was amazed when I met Tom Mills of VR Web Design and learnt about his boundary-busting work. All of us at Curve and the Calamity Jane team are very excited to be the first to test this new technology onstage."

The panoramic technology allows viewers to choose the angle they view the action from. The Curve is the first theatre to utilise the technology, and hopes to develop a regular series of 360° broadcasts.

"The benefits of using this technology and being the first theatre in the world to use it could be enormous," said Curve's commercial director Alister de Ternant. "Not only in technological advancement but in terms of what it actually enables by making theatre truly accessible to all."

The Guardian will also host the performance on its website, from 10am on 22 July.