Senseless
A digital love story integrating live theatre with extended reality (XR) technology.
Available on our YouTube channel now.
All the scenes for the play, ‘Watchalong’ + Q&A session, as well as a series of ‘Making Of’ videos in which key members of Guildhall Live Events (GLE) production team talk about the creative and technical challenges involved in delivering this complex work.
James McDermott’s new multi-modal play is a timely exploration of love, longing and the challenges of communicating how we really feel. Fusing traditional stagecraft and live theatre with unprecedented use of state-of-the-art immersive film-making and XR techniques, we watch two people try to establish a loving ‘real’ relationship in a world where all communication and contact is slowly shutting down.
This experimental hybrid drama operates where the screen-based aesthetics of gaming meet live performance – if you’ve ever thought theatre isn’t for you, Senseless might change your mind.
Freed from the standard physical and budget limitations of theatrical work, McDermott uses technology not only to imagine innovative stage layouts and storytelling elements but also invites us to explore questions around contemporary relationships with technology within the play itself.
This experimental hybrid drama operates where the screen-based aesthetics of gaming meet live performance – if you’ve ever thought theatre isn’t for you, Senseless might change your mind. Freed from the standard physical and budget limitations of theatrical work, McDermott uses technology not only to imagine innovative stage layouts and storytelling elements but also invites us to explore questions around contemporary relationships with technology within the play itself.
Due to the pandemic, this work will only be accessible online. Enjoy work-in-progress scenes utilising virtual sets and holographic avatars operating in tandem with stage actors and a theatre set.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
If you’ve enjoyed this work, please take two minutes to give us your feedback at http://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/3QoQK6.
Your feedback will help us make improvements and continue to offer this programme to the general public for free.
Production Credits
Charlie Vince-Crowhurst
Lead Video Designer
Jon Armstrong
Lighting Designer
Guy Knox-Holmes
Associate Lighting Designer
Sam Ferstenberg
Sound Designer
Emanuel Vuso/Mackenzie Heynes
Actors - Adam/The Scientist
Jasmine Thomas/Sophie Doyle
Actors - Eve
Richard Moores
Technical Supervisor
Gwilym Huws
Programmer
Viktor Mileika/Fergus Kerr
Camera Operators
Clare Partington
Production Manager
Natalya Scase
Assistant Production Manager
Kim Nicholson
Production Assistant
Adam Woodhouse
Stage Manager
Andrea Støier Andersen
Stage and Costume Manager
Kieron Tilley
Account Director
Em Davis
Documentary Maker
Steve Waters
UEA Lead
Tim Wright
Executive Producer
Sasha Bergstrom-Katz
CHASE Researcher & Web Editor
Venue Partner
Norwich Theatre
Norwich Theatre is made up of three venues – Theatre Royal, Playhouse and Stage Two situated in East of England. Norwich Theatre welcomes over 400,000 people attending annually to watch 400 performances, ranging from shows for pre-school age children to grand opera, and everything in between. Theatre Royal (Norwich) Trust Limited is a registered charity, working with thousands of local people each year across training courses in theatre skills; educational visits and workshops, and work with the wider community as well.
