When the weather is as cold as it has been these past few days,
it’s a great surprise and pleasure when you have a chance to discover a new
immersive theatre show which not only involves each audience member, but also
opens a debate about what we are doing to our planet.
LASTheatre’s latest immersive production, New Atlantis, explores humanity’s relationship with water in the year 2050. The location
is perfectly chosen: The Crystal is a gorgeous futuristic building near Canary
Wharf which, positioned between the London cable cars and the O2, makes you
think it could fly away into space.
As I entered the space, the music and fog set the urgent scene
straightaway. I was told that I was an “Agent”. My task for the evening was to vote
for a new government for our state New Atlantis
in order to find the best solution to deal with the water crisis of 2050. The Agents
could select between three ministries to save our planet in the face of higher
population numbers and fewer resources: the ministries of Defence, Industry or
Reform. We were then encouraged to explore The Crystal and talk to
representatives of the three ministries in order to make up our minds, before
the big debate. The task was not easy!
What is special about this show is that alongside actors, the
cast includes high-profile UCL (University College London) scientists and
engineers, including BBC’s Helen Czerski, who add a sense of pressing realism
to the futuristic narrative.
I started with the ministry of Defence, who explained to me the
influence that the atmosphere has over the oceans, and how important it is that
we stop polluting our air in order to save our water. What they suggested was
to control the resources in order to ensure its distribution to everyone.
The ministry of Industry had the most innovative ideas, and were
always thinking about the practical side of things. They had a plan to develop
new energy through algae, and the scientists who interacted with the “agents”
were very convincing indeed…
But of course, in an ideal world, we knew that Reform was the
most ethical choice. Unfortunately, apart from very good democratic sentiments
and their motivation to find a way to preserve our glaciers, they didn’t have a
proper plan. I did have my best conversation of the evening with a Reform
scientist, talking about what eating meat is doing to our planet, how we need
to focus on buying food locally and the importance of dialogue between the
government and the population. But how can these changes really happen? How can
we not realise how urgent this is? The answer seems to be: I’m too busy! How
frightening.
The idea of placing the show in 2050 was truly great, as it made
me think about generations past and future and about who I will be in 2050. The
politicians who we were supposed to vote for were more or less the age I will
be when that year comes. They talked about the end of the 20th
century with wisdom, and it seemed so far away already. I think everyone was
fearfully asking themselves: what activities I am doing now are going to influence
my life in 35 years’ time? If I am part of 2015’s “youth” and I think my elders
are not brave enough, won’t 2050’s youth think the same of me?
It was also quite unique to involve scientists and engineers
into the conversation. The mix between actors and scientists worked very well –
and added to the excitement and fear. I do believe that this is the reason
there were people of all ages and backgrounds (scientific and non-scientific –
like me!) at the show, which I think is a sign of success.
Perhaps one thing that was lacking during the show was… time!
After a 7:30pm start, the debate already started at 9:00pm which meant some Agents
missed certain important conversations with scientists. I had a nice encounter
with a sort of mad scientist who collected water in little bottles in his
laboratory. I do think the man was an actor, and thought it would have been
nice to encounter more people like him – again, there wasn’t enough time.
Also, as the members of the three governmental departments were
wearing distinctive colours, the Agents could have also been encouraged
(perhaps before the show) to choose between one of the three colours, or to
carry specially prepared banners, to feel even more immersed in the political
feel of the night. In the spirit of a treasure hunt or quiz, some Agents could
have had tasks to do or clues to find.
While I’d rather not reveal the outcome of the debate, or the
grand finale, it lacked a clear message for me. Why not send everyone home with
a specific task for the week to make a difference?
Despite this, this was a very enjoyable and thought-provoking
night, and conversations carried on long after the evening.
Climate change and policy’s influence on it is such a delicate
subject that needs to be dealt with. New
Atlantis is an unusual night and a nice way to make us think.
Review by Sophie Tergeist
Rating: ★★★★
New Atlantis plays at the Crystal until the 25th January 2015
