Darkfield Archives - North West End UK

Set in a shipping container outside of Summerhall this liminal experiment uses binaural sound and haptic feedback to provide an experience unlike many at the Fringe. This year, Darkfield have also introduced speech recognition technology into the mix, and a series of questions are asked at the outset to allow the algorithm to curate a more individual experience. They are pushing the boundaries, and with the powerful tools they have, they are closing in on their goal of ‘participation theatre’ but are not there yet. The storyline is set in a strange hotel, where you are transported to different levels by a lift, which you can feel and hear moving. Air movement across your face adds to the virtual reality. You also have a guide, in my case a young woman who whispers in my ear, whic...

Before I even arrived at the courtyard outside the National Theatre, I could see the large white container with EULOGY written in black letters along the side. In the ten minutes I was waiting for the performance to begin, two people came up to me and asked me what it was. It’s unusual for something to stick out on the Southbank – there are street performers and installations most weeks – but there’s something mysterious about the Eulogy set up that immediately captures your interest. Performance isn’t quite the right word; Eulogy is billed as an in-person, immersive experience and I can’t think of another way to sum it up. We take our seats in our “suite” don a pair of headphones and are plunged into such extreme darkness that at times I wasn’t sure if my eyes were open or closed. I’ve...

Tag: Darkfield

Darkfield: Eulogy – Summerhall

Eulogy – National Theatre Courtyard