Swindon theatre company Wrong Shoes has got off on the right foot by winning a place at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.
Actors from Wrong Shoes first trod the boards in 2012 when Luke Marquez set up the company to explore drama where the audience actively experiences the performance.
Wrong Shoes aims to challenge perceptions of what theatre needs to be.
Luke said: “What is important to me is that we make theatre accessible and fun.
“Going to the theatre should not be as a symbol of cultural superiority – it should be an enjoyable experience, which can’t be found anywhere else.’’ The Edinburgh International Festival is paying tribute to the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War with its theme of exploring the relationship between culture and conflict.
The Swindon theatre company has taken this on board with its own production called The Anima Project.
As a warm-up to their debut at the famous Fringe Festival, the actors will be performing at Swindon’s Town Hall studios on Saturday, July 19 at 4pm and 8pm, when they will be asking for feedback from their audience.
The show is an organic production presented as a promenade.
Luke said: “Our audience can walk around the action and choose how they experience the performance.
“We like to take people out of their comfort zone and break down the barriers between actor and audience.”
The show was written and developed by the theatre company and features music, black comedy and horror.
Hannah Baker from Wrong Shoes said: “Set in the near future, where genetic screening is routinely undertaken to determine a person’s place in society, The Anima Project uses controversial therapy to cure those with unfavourable genetic personality traits. It is used on those who would otherwise be condemned to death or sent to the work camps.
“Playing the part of press and investors, the audience are invited to experience the first live clinical trial of the pioneering research and follow the fate of four undesirables.’’ Wrong Shoes will be performing in Edinburgh from August 3 to 9 at 2.20pm daily in the India Buildings in Victoria Street, and the actors will be sending a regular blog of their experiences in Scotland’s capital to the Swindon Advertiser.
Tickets to the Swindon show are £10 (£7.50 for students) available from www.wrongshoes.co.uk.
– Flicky Harrison
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