Review of 'Where We Meet' on at the Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone

Whilst there are plenty of immersive experiences which use technology to enhance the experience e.g. donning VR headsets in 'War of the Worlds', I don't think that I'd ever heard or seen technology enhanced dance. So, intrigued, I happily accepted the invitation to experience 'Where We Meet.'

There are 2 ways to participate in the show:

The Immersive Explorer: For up to 10 active participants who wish to fully engage with the interactive elements. Wearing a headset and tracker, these participants are able to move freely through the space, connecting with characters through optional interactions or quiet observation. All of this was very gently done, some people joined in the dancing with the dancer they were observing, some just watched slightly outside of the spotlight. It was a little surreal watching this happening from the seated area.

The Compassionate Observer: For those preferring a seated experience, this ticket provides headphones and a tablet, allowing up to 25 participants to connect with characters virtually while remaining in their seat. I was a bit of a wimp and chose this option.

A set of headphones, a theatre ticket and a tablet on a seat — The kit for The Compassionate Observer

The premise of the 'Where We Meet' is being able to hear another person's thoughts; their opinions of themselves, their struggles, their doubts and the big question of how do we meaningfully connect with other people?

Dancer wearing interactive technology interacting with 2 other people — Interacting with one of the dancers

There are 3 dancers, each with their own story:

Becki, a social butterfly seeking meaningful connection over fleeting interactions.
Adam, a driven perfectionist reevaluating the meaning of success. Hip-hop dancer Ryan Naiken tackles this role, exploring 'Imposter Syndrome' in his story arc.
Faith, a reformed self-critic reimagining her relationship with her body.

Each character is spotlit within a circle and the Immersive Explorers are invited to stand near the edge of the circle and interact with the dancer. The dancer is wearing a device which allows them to interact with the audience in front of them - this means that no two performances will be the same. The Compassionate Observers get a tablet and can remotely move from dancer to dancer, hearing a little of each of their internal monologues. I found that I moved whenever one of the dancers was interacting in an interesting way with the Immersive Explorers. Each dancer's inner thoughts repeats the line, 'And this is Where We Meet' when connections are made. There is a strong well-being message within each story, utilising techniques familiar in hypnotherapy and yoga.

It's only one for the next couple of days, so if you were planning on heading into town, this is certainly worth 30 minutes of your time. It's thought provoking, but leaves you feeling optimistic.

Show Times: Friday, 28th February 2025: 5:00pm, 6:15pm, 7:30pm, 8:45pm

Saturday, 1st March 2025: 2:00pm, 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 6:15pm, 7:30pm, 8:45pm

Sunday, 2nd March 2025: 1:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm, 5:15pm, 6:30pm, 7:45pm

Creatives:

Led by Artistic Director and Creative Technologist Clemence Debaig,

Collaborating with Co-Director and Wellbeing Coach Livia Massarelli

Writer: Emma Nuttall

Music Composer: Christina Karpodini

Voice Artists: Caterina Grosoli, Lisa Ronkowski, Iain Ferrier, Zoë Trassl

Creative Technologist: Branden Faulls

Other Contributors: Steph Clarke, Noelle Lahaye, Samuel Lepoil, Julie Rollin-Mousteou, Vas Papageorgakopoulos, Hilltops Recording, Rob Hall

Dancers: