TRAIL-BLAZERS An experienced cast made all the difference to production
directed the piece. “The first thing I realised as we were putting it together was that the audience also needed to be playing a role. This new genre we’re creating is different from a film or theatre. The audience needs to play an active part in the experience.“ State vs. Natasha Banina
level, they sought the help of interactive content creator and game designer Will Brierly, who had been collaborating with Arlekin producer Sara Stackhouse on other projects. Brierly had been doing interactive digital projects for
Adult Swim, mixing live animation with audience interactivity. These included things like a live, animated yoga show peppered with surreal moments – as well as the procedurally generated Space Ghost Coast to Coast . “I’m fascinated by digital experiences that are live, and doing things you couldn’t ever do on stage,” says Brierly, whose company, Snowrunner
effectively opened the door to a new realm of interactive theatre for the company. “We started doing that show for free, and suddenly one night we saw Baryshnikov in the audience,“ recalls Golyak. “Then we started seeing the artistic directors from Boston theatres, then a bunch of press, then The New York Times , then it exploded.”
SUDDENLY ONE NIGHT WE SAW MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV IN THE AUDIENCE
DIGITAL FASCINATION Baryshnikov saw the show four times in total, then invited the production to perform at his Arts Center, after which it went national. “We toured the show around the United States – and internationally from our living room.” The result was a partnership with Jessica Hecht ( Breaking Bad ) and Baryshnikov to develop an interactive adaptation of The Cherry Orchard , which also featured Baryshnikov’s daughter Anna ( Manchester by the Sea ). Using a Kickstarter campaign, Golyak launched the (zero-G) virtual theatre laboratory and adapted their space into a green screen studio. But to take things to the next
Productions, is also based in Boston. “Sara Stackhouse and I had been working together earlier on a live-streaming musical performance show.
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