Hinterlands by Pell Ensemble
Inspired by microorganisms called extremophiles that live on the edge of habitability, in some of earth’s most inhospitable environments, Hinterlands is a mixed-reality headset experience on the speculative futures of human evolution. Movement, spatial sound and mixed reality create a space that unfolds differently for yourself and the dancer. Through an invitation to move, you will explore our entanglement with the natural and digital world and possibilities for surviving, evolving and becoming.
Wearing a headset you will see both the world around you and a mixed reality layer. At certain points, the dancers' movements affect the augmented layers through the use of a motion capture suit. One dancer and multiple audience members navigate this space together. An experience that considers how extending participants' kinesthetic and spatial awareness in MR changes their appreciation and connection to self, other and environment.
Presented by South East Dance in partnership with Dreamy Place.
Key info
- Recommended for ages 12+
- The performance is 23mins duration and the performance slot is 45mins long to allow for set up, fitting of VR headsets etc.
- You will be fitted with a VR headset and over ear headphones.
- This experience is interactive, you will be invited to move with the dancer that is in the space with you The invitation is gentle and you can sit, walk, stand and dance as much or as little as you wish. But we would only suggest booking this ticket if you would like to move and interact with this experience. You do not have to have any movement experience to enjoy this mixed reality performance.
- To protect the floor and dancer you will be asked to either take your shoes off or wear shoe covers in the space (so wear your good socks)
- Each ticket is for 1 person only and allows access to one set of VR equipment.
- Please arrive 10mins before your allocated slot.
- If you arrive any more than 5mins after your allocated slot, you may not be able to join the experience, and unfortunately we are unable to refund your ticket.
- Please note, this experience includes images of insects and 90 seconds of flashing lights
Accessibility
Personal assistants/ carers are welcome, you do not need to book a ticket for them.
For audience members who are hard of hearing, the headphones fit over most hearing aids. There is 30 seconds of spoken word at the beginning of the experience, but it is not essential to hear this to understand the work.
For audience members with low vision, the headsets fit over most glasses. For those that are Blind, unfortunately we do not have audio description for this work.
As the work is mixed reality, and you can see the real world around you, this often lowers the barriers for those that struggle with motion sickness or overwhelm in virtual reality.
For neurodivergent audience members, we have clear ways to communicate consent throughout the work. The work is very permissive and participants have choice of how little or how much they participate. People can sit down, and decide to go in and out of headset through out the work. We can offer a quiet space on site for those who need it.
The experience includes 90 seconds of flashing lights at approx 18mins into the work. For audiences who are sensitive to this, the team can remove the VR headset at this point and then put it back on after that section is done.
Pell Ensemble have created an accessibility document, which can be read here.
Credits
Hinterlands is a concept created and directed by Choreographer Rebecca Evans in collaboration with Lead Creative Technologist Clemence Debaig of Unwired Studio, Creative Technologists Rebecca Evans and Jon Higgins, Animation and VFX Alexander MacKinnon, Dancers Ania Varez, Jan-Ming Lee, Anna Kaszuba and Antony Daly Luna, Sound Artist Christian Duka, Dramaturg Joanne Skapinker and Intimacy and Consent coordinator Mira Loew. Mentoring and support from Alexander Whitley and Naomi Smyth.
Partner support from UWE Bristol, Knowle West Media Centre, The Studio, and Studio Wayne McGregor through Resident 6. Also supported by PICOXR.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Image by Mira Loew.