A unique immersive experience has landed in Lincoln for the Frequency Festival this week.
‘ARCADE’ is one of the creations debuting at the festival and comes from immersive experience creators DARKFIELD, based in London, who blend technology and theatre to deliver a unique story to visitors.
Using the nostalgic aesthetic of 1980’s video games, ‘ARCADE’ delivers a 30-minute narrative where players guide their avatar through a world ravaged by endless war, where every choice matters.
Artistic Director David Rosenberg: “Arcade shoves the player into the middle of an absurd civil war without enough background information to reliable choose the right side.
“Terrible decisions are made and some beautiful ones and hundreds of pathways open up. All the time your avatar struggles to make sense of your decisions and you fall deeper and deeper into an existential whirlpool of mayhem. Push the button, insert your tokens and try to be a good citizen in impossible circumstances.”
‘ARCADE’ uses binaural audio, sensory technology, and interactive storytelling, providing a fully immersive experience, which reporters Fin Gray and Will Forster for The Linc found firsthand after being sprayed with water in the face amidst complete darkness.
Anyone wishing to navigate the gripping story themselves, can do so by visiting the container housing the experience at The Lawn near Lincoln Castle and Cathedral.
Praise for the show is high, with Theatre Scotland hailing it as a “rare and exciting departure from conventional theatre” that “pushes the boundaries of art”.
A spokesperson for DARKFIELD said: “We’re very excited to present our most ambitious show to date, ARCADE. It’s been a long time in the making. We really hope our audience enjoys exploring the world they are immersed in, aware that there are many other paths through it they could have chosen. We’re looking forward to the conversations the audience will be having with each other afterwards, and hopefully seeing them return to discover new paths!”
DARKFIELD last visited Lincoln for Halloween in 2024 with their ‘Eulogy’ production, but is back for the ‘Frequency Festival of Light’ later this week (February 19 – 21) with show times from 12:15PM to 8PM, until Sunday 22 February.