Due to the tech reliance I hope to have in my solo performance, my audience capacity will be severely limited. With the world and atmospheres I hope to create within my performance it would be a shame for the involvement and extension to a larger audience to be limited because of certain technical elements.
From the initial idea of having a varied amount of books, a different book for each participant, this became condensed to the idea a maximum of 5 books which then controlled various lighting states in the studio space. Here is a diagram to show this:
Each number represents a different section of audience, and each section will contain 3 people.
The different coloured lines represent different lights directed at the different groups, which change at certain points within the piece.
Each section of audience will be given a different book to read/listen along. To create a different experience for each for each audience member – as well as each section reading a different book – the lights will also effect each audience member differently within each group. Depending on where they decide to sit within the space, the lights will affect and light each audience member in a different manner, giving them a new and different experience while still enjoying the space as a whole.
The books:
The Gruffalo
Harry Potter
Pride and Prejudice (or another classic like Jane Eyre)
Elsewhere
A horror?
By choosing different genres of books the experiences within the space will vary. Especially if some of the books (well, sections of books) finish before others, therefore allowing those audience members to enjoy the space which has been created around them – with the sound of a page turning every time I turn a page, accompanied by light changes effecting my space while I continue to read in silence, with the constant background sound of what I consider my reading list.
The only difficulty with this concept is that is relies greatly upon the live technical element. With having 5 groups having all different experiences at different times within the space, to make sure that each group has as substantial and immersive experience then becomes difficult.
The concept of hanging different iconic characters from the rigging alongside origami characters still stands, creating a more dense and fictional world the further we venture into the space. Physically walking from ‘reality’, through a curtain of ISBN numbers and entering a ‘fictional’ world, surrounded by items which I associate with reading while creating a world at which the audience feel comfortable in – giving them the chance to for the time of the performance, to live within this fictional world.