Entitled PETRICHOR, the dystopian play will be accessible to watch anywhere in a theatre building using socially-distanced seating and VR headsets, or through immersive virtual reality at home. The company hopes that it will encourage audiences to re-engage with theatre-going and boost revenues for theatres around the country.
The show is part of ThickSkin’s new series of MATCHBOX productions, which aim to engage a range of audiences with theatre, including young people and non-traditional audiences. Created by the company’s associate artistic director Jonnie Riordan, with co-director Jess Williams and animator Ben Walden, PETRICHOR combines movement, sound, pace and tension to create an immersive experience, mixing the language of theatre, gaming, cinema and virtual reality. It is set in a dystopian parallel universe and explores escape and connection through two performers, an original soundtrack and projected animation.
In order to support learning and access to the play in schools and colleges, ThickSkin has developed a Discover bundle priced at £200+VAT and suitable for students aged 13+. It has been designed with curriculum links for GCSE and A Level and offers 6 months of online access to the PETRICHOR VR film, a behind-the-scenes documentary including interviews, and additional teaching resources including tasks led by the company’s artistic director. A live Zoom Q&A with members of the company is also available for an extra £50+VAT, as well as an onsite visit and performance for £500+VAT.
Artistic director Neil Bettles said, ‘Our MATCHBOX productions are the ideal opportunity for us to experiment and find new ways of creating. I want ThickSkin to be innovative in the way we connect with audiences, and creating a piece that can be accessed in lots of different ways feels like an exciting response to these uncertain times.
‘As a company with a younger audience, I’m excited about the potential of PETRICHOR to present our trademark visual style in a whole new way. Audiences will be at the centre of the action, experiencing the world in 360°, and in touching distance of the virtual performers, providing an immersive, intimate experience that races towards the finish line.’
The tour runs from 26 October to 13 December 2020. Tickets for the play and booking for the Discover bundle are now available at www.thickskintheatre.co.uk.