I suppose I have seen many spectacular buildings and gardens whilst travelling around in SL, but I was totally stunned when I visited the Rose Theatre, a showcase sim owned by Kaya Angel.   The vast ornate building looks beautiful from the outside, but exploring the interior opened up a purely magical sight.  Elegant galleries with high painted ceilings and crystal chandeliers, resplendent decorated pillared rooms set with ormolu.  It will take any visitor a little while to wander through the Rose Theatre, as the building is extensive and there is much to see.  Period furniture can be purchased there, exquisitely made by Kaya.  There are signs throughout the galleries too, inviting people to display their art for free.   As well as the entrance hall, great hall, and central hall, there are the Ballroom, Opera House and Cinema, not to mention the luxurious gardens surrounding the building.

I was lucky enough to meet Kaya, who was on line whilst I was visiting.  He kindly came over to talk to me, giving me a tour of the ballroom which has it’s own stage. The ballroom is furnished with tables and chairs, draped in lush red damask, around a dark marble dance floor.  The theme of the red drapes is also applied to the sides of the Ballroom where there are balconies with gilded railings.   A grand staircase leads down onto the dance floor from the halls above.

I asked Kaya how long it had taken him to build the sim and he told me that it was two weeks, one to build the structure and the second week to furnish it.  I wanted to know if it was based on a real life building and he told me “no :-) all from my head.”  Kaya had come into SL, with his friend Eponie Angel, specifically to build the theatre and has carried his talent from real life into SL.  He explained “In real life I am a professional lighting designer and have worked in theatres all across the UK. I currently work for the NEC Group based in Birmingham who are one of the UK’s largest event companies. In real life my day to day job involves working with artists and clients to provide them with a lighting design that enhances their performance or event. So now that we had a venue in SL it just seemed like the natural evolution for us to start doing productions and shows.”  Kaya continued “Our very first show was a cut down version of phantom of the opera. We did this by streaming in a soundtrack while actors would move around the stage with animations and act out the scene. We built large sets with costumes and a range of props. This was massively successful and a venue was packed for every performance. And there is no question in my mind that this was the turning point in which we started to explore what performance can be within this virtual environment. As time went on the venue was changed and adapted to transform from a normal ballroom to an active and working theatre in which we focused on live performance.”

The Rose Theatre is the latest version of theatres that Kaya has built.  He said ‘The Rose Theatre as it is at the moment is the third version of the theatre and between ourselves we often call it the rose theatre mark lll. There are still many design features from the first theatre that appear in the building today.”

Kaya told me that the Rose Theatre can be used by theatrical SL groups and artists for free, he said “we offer free exhibition space and free use of the performance spaces if the performance is of good enough standard.”  Kaya has a website which explains more (http://www.impl.org.uk/HomePage/Home.htm).  The website states “The Rose Theatre is a building within Second Life that explores immersive design with the context of virtual buildings.  It also explores the presentation of live events within this media.  Aiming to bring professional skills in set and lighting design to enhance what performance can be in Second Life.  With a mix of Live Performances, Productions and Exhibitions.”

The ballroom stage itself is spectacular and the lighting effects are amazing.  Kaya showed me the various sets he has designed with the colours and beams of light altering the atmosphere as I watched him change the settings, even producing a mist over the floor of the stage for one set.  He explained “we make the set and light match the songs just as I do in real life.”

Kaya is truly inspired, but he says “Well I would like to change the word inspiration to motivation, because although there were a number of real life buildings that inspired the theatre for me the greatest push has been the motivation provided by the wonderful people that are also part of the building. The original team of people that started the very first Rose were myself Kaya Angel, Eponie Angel, Kezzy Forwzy, and Elvera Lerner. And although I built the Rose on my own these three people have played a massive role in providing the motivation to build and expand and make The Rose Theatre what it is today. Eponie who is my dear friend that I have worked with for something like seven years now. She has been a great person to bounce ideas off because I've always known she gives honest answers to my sometimes over ambitious ideas. Kezzy has been the light relief in the group. After a busy day building I could always count on Kezzy to come over or drag me away to do something mad and crazy, which sometimes you need to do!!. Elvera found us very early on not long after she had just started second life. She has been one of our favourite performers and also works with me to produce an active programme of events.”

Kaya brings all his expertise into SL to the delight of anyone who visits the sim, I can only wonder how performers feel being able to play in such an awe inspiring venue, and I think this may be the very best that SL has to offer.

I would like to thank Kaya for talking to me and also to Eponie Angel and Kezzy Forwzy for making me so welcome.

The Rose Theatre http://slurl.com/secondlife/Angel%20Manor/133/182/22/