PUBLISHED April 11th, 2018 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 02:57 pm
Are you an adventure seeker who lusts for the unknown? Then, the Secret Theatre Project is for you. Making its debut in Singapore for several weeks in May, the sell-out production has passed from London to Los Angeles, and New York to Hong Kong, to much applause.
The concept itself is perhaps the most boundary-pushing and disruptive theatrical shows of our time. There is a password to enter, there is a dress code to adhere to, and the location is revealed only upon ticket purchase, if you’re fortunate enough to get one. Other than that, you don’t have much to go on. It sounds dubious, but there’s no denying that people sopped it up, from ‘Edward Scissorhands’ to ‘Freakazoid’ and ‘SE7EN Deadly Sins’ – on a speedboat no less.
Founder and Artistic Director, Richard Crawford, shares with us more about his project.
Hi Richard! What got you started on Secret Theatre?
Secret Theatre started in New York in 2008. It was a reaction to theatre trends we found boring, and those were often aimed at tourists rather than the people that made up the fabric of that city. We wanted to use the city as our set, instead of traditional theatres, and we wanted the audience to go on an adventure, to find themselves immersed in the narrative of the show where they felt part of the action.
In a sentence, how’d you say Secret Theatre differs from traditional theatre?
The audience are part of the show, the pulse, and energy of the piece. They are given an opportunity to assist the characters in the outcome of the production.
What’s the big challenge of doing immersive theatre?
There are many challenges, from finding the right venue, to performers who can handle this style of production, but these challenges make the whole experience more exciting – so we’re really looking forward to the Singapore show in May!
Is it difficult getting people to participate? There’s always that concern in interactive theatre.
In our shows, the action is in real time and site-specific, so the audience can indulge or step back as much as they like. No one is forced to do anything in our shows.
Where do your ideas stem from? They’re always so bizarre, like what you did with Project Mayhem and SE7EN Deadly Sins.
Normally over a few drinks! I also have a talented team who has worked on many productions and films all over the world. One of the actors, Robert Hoare, just finished work on the new Star Wars film. Simon Wan just completed the second Fantastic Beasts film and Jessica Alonso has starred in many immersive productions, from London to Hong Kong. So you come together, and keep pushing the boundaries of excitement and fun for the audiences.
It can also come from an inspiration of the city where the show is taking place. Singapore, for example, is completely different from New York, and that dictates the tone and mood of that piece.
When planning a new work, do you write it out first or build it around the venue?
Each show has to be written for the specific venue, as it’s not just a normal stage. The new show in Singapore is in more than one venue, so each space is essentially a stage with its own life, that needs to be taken into account writing-wise.
What can we expect for the Singapore edition? Is it going to be a completely new creation?
It’s a secret! We always use different venues and spaces specific to that particular town, so each production is totally unique and the audience will have a varied experience from city to city. We have learned a lot over the last 10 years, so this production in Singapore will really be a celebration of all those experiences.
The Secret Theatre Project is happening from 3 May to 10 June 2018 at a secret location in Singapore. Tickets are priced from $150, available here. Do note that there is an age requirement of 21 years.