As digital content
seems to reach a saturation point, and new ways of telling stories are sought
out, the frontier of immersive theatre is a brave new world of possibility.
Sitting somewhere between art installation, theatre, and real-life
do-it-yourself adventure storytelling, immersive theatre can be created on as
large or as intimate a scale as the space and resources allow, with the
intention that no two experiences are identical. British theatre company Punchdrunk are game-changing pioneers in this
scene, and their work is nothing short of phenomenal, bringing “cinematic [levels] of detail”
to large-scale installations in often unexpected locations.
Part of The
Rocks’ Village Bizarre festival, Mongrel
Mouth’s The Age of Entitlement
is a home-grown piece of immersive theatre set in a turn of the century world where
the audience is given semi-autonomy to wander in and out of rooms, building the
(a?) narrative from the fragments and scenes we glimpse. You are invited to
follow a character and/or storyline, because the ending is purportedly in the
audience’s hands every night. The Age of Entitlement is about
power, wealth, ambitions and love, about trying to achieve your dreams in the
face of adversity, and how even the strongest and best of intentions can be
corrupted. Expanding upon the format of and experiences gained from their first
show earlier this year, The Silence Came, Mongrel Mouth’s new
production has flair and verve, but there still feels like there is a way to go
before the concept is perfected to the degree of unpredictability which the
form demands.
