10 shows. 10 Writers. 23 actors and you.

 

Each night a new script is brought to life and the audience is invited behind the scenes to contribute to the show in a working theatre space. EDGE is an immersive theatre experience. It's theatre made with you.

 

This immersive season was developed from the desire to share with audiences the first moment in rehearsals where something new is discovered; where something massive drops in for a performer or a key realisation is made. You only ever see that moment if you are in the room and it can never be replicated, so we developed an immersive process that invited audiences to witness these initial moments of discovery by making the show with them.

 

Each night focuses on one short script, which the audience influences through facilitated development tasks, exposing something new in every repetition. The tasks are designed to give the audience agency and the performers room to play through shifting the context, imagery, symbolism and staging of each scene. 

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Immersive Forms

Exposing Theme

At the start of the show, the scene is read twice. The first reading focuses on the script, with the stage directions read aloud. The second reading introduces character and objective.

The audience identifies the themes and issues they saw within the work and they write them onto palm cards. These are read aloud by the cast - at pace - and discussed as a group.

 

Given Circumstances

The audience is invited to suggest a set of given circumstances for the script. This is done by voting on suggestions with coloured paddles. Once a set of circumstances has been decided, we run the scene within this new context. We develop at least two sets of given circumstances and the audience votes on the context they want to explore for the rest of the evening.

 

Rewind

This is a simple improvisation exercise that gives the audience the autonomy to rewind the dialogue and see a different version of that moment. It is a gold mine for unexpected action and physicality.

We play the scene, and when the audience wants to see a moment played again, they clap, and the performers rewind three lines and play the scene with a new action and intention.

 

Object as Subtext

The audience is asked to choose an object from a selection of props that we have brought with us: coloured ropes, elastic, paper, bed sheets, torches, etc.

The scene is played using the object to express the subtext, intentions and objectives within the scene. This form unlocks physicality for the performers and surfaces imagery based metaphor from the scene.

 

Object as Symbol

The audience chooses a theme within the scene and an object to symbolise that theme. They are encouraged to think beyond what we have brought with us and choose from any object in the space.
 

Architecture and Staging

The audience is invited to suggest a unique immersive staging of the scene. This is a challenging request for any audience so we always have something prepared as a backup.

 

Sound and Light

A number of scripts called for music, soundscapes or immersive lighting, which the audience were enlisted to create. There were always objects, torches and a variety of light sources available to be used.

 

Stage Management and Tech

All the tech in the space was operated via Bluetooth remotes. This meant that we were able to operate lighting and sound from anywhere in the room. This was important because the staging could change at any moment. We also had a spotlight on the floor with gels for creating a colour wash and an ever growing kit of things to play with over ten weeks.