Please tell me about your piece and the inspiration behind it – what has provoked it, what questions are you asking?
A curiosity regarding how something, be that an materialistic item or a belief system, can evoke such wildly different responses ranging from indifference to passion. How something can mean the world to one person, yet to the next person it’s utter rubbish. The juxtaposition of treasure and trash.
Please give me three words that sum up your piece
Treasure, trash, journey
Who is involved in your piece and what are their roles?
This piece started as an investigation into creating immersive devised theatre, initially conceived by Director Joanna Turner, who approached Designer Petra Hjortsberg with the idea. Thanks to the wonderful input, generosity & creativity of our talented actors (Andy Daniel, Andrew David, Elisabeth Hopper, Erin Hunter, Stephen Myott-Meadows, Sophie Walton) we are now ready to take the audience on a treasure hunt journey around Bush Bazaar!
What is the background to your company? How did you all meet?
Joanna (director) and Petra (designer) originally met at a director/designer networking event. We got chatting & then started to go and see exhibitions and plays together. Out of our chats & gallery/theatre visits a working collaboration grew. A first operatic project led to another on a contemporary play and here we now find ourselves exploring new ground together.
Bush Bazaar has its roots in the idea of value and the price we put on things? What do you value most in your life?
Friendship. We think your friendships are the most important relationships in your life.
What do you think audience members gain from immersive theatre? Does it matter if an audience member is a bit shy or nervous? Will they still enjoy it?
I think sometimes the perception is that immersive theatre is either a bit pretentious or can be threatening for an audience. However, at its best immersive theatre should make an audience feel included in the world of the piece and so shouldn't be threatening. The great thing is the audience can feel much closer to the story and characters and more engaged with the piece of theatre because they are inside the world that is created and the actors directly interact with them.
Why should I come to see your act? What will I leave your act with? What will I gain?
People should see our piece as I think they will feel hopeful and uplifted by it as well as intrigued. There are characters people can engage and empathise with and provoking these traits in an audience is one of the aims of theatre. It should be both a fun and thought provoking experience!
