EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- #Instalove
By: Natalie O'Donoghue Jul. 20, 2017
About the show:
Inspired by cynicism. Based on romance. One woman finds herself on the brink of love, lust, fear and hope. You, the audience, are her prospects. You decide how her story unfolds. #Instalove is a stormy yet joyful celebration of all the reasons we seek love and why we seek the partners we do. How do you ever know what you really want? Or who you really are? In this participatory show, you experience, first-hand, the flux and flow of identity, based on relationships and our social bonds.
What prompted you to bring #Instalove to Edinburgh?
Edinburgh's open and curious audiences! It's the largest arts festival in the world -- so it draws in endless personality, voice, and perspective. #Instalove is a participatory show, so it's all about what the audience brings to the stage! A full run at Edinburgh with a different audience every night is a dream come true. The audiences are savvy, ready to explore and play. It's a perfect venue for #Instalove. Not to mention, I get a steady date for three and half weeks - who wouldn't want that?
What do you feel sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe? Why should people come to see it?
#Instalove is a participatory show, a grand social experiment under the guise of theatre! It's truly unique -- as it uses game design as a dramaturgical approach to get audiences up on stage and to make meaningful choices that not only impact the show but also have consequences beyond the performance itself. People will interact with me and with each other. They will vote for one of my four characters/dating candidates over the course of five rounds of interactive dating, narrowing their options as the show moves forward, until a single winner remains. #Instalove creates a space where audiences can explore and start a conversation about love, relationships, personal needs, and desires. It's scandalously fun, honest, intimate, and full of surprises.
Who would you recommend comes to see you?
Anyone who's ever loved, lost, desired, or tried at the game of love. Anyone who is ready to experience and play a new kind of game at the intersection of art and love, who wants to witness real people making art in real time. Anyone who has questions about this thing called "love" that we try again and again, who wants to hear what others are thinking and to witness exquisitely honest moments by non-performers and performers alike. Anyone who has an itch to stretch but needs a nudge in the right direction. And seriously, anyone who's up for a hot date and a good time!
Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch at the festival?
I've been dying to see Our Carnal Hearts by Rachel Mars for the longest time. Finally, I'll be able to catch this sell-out raucous music/performance art at Summerhall! I'll also be checking out multimedia performance Show me the Money by Paula Varjack at Bedlam Theatre.
Timings and ticket information for #Instalove are available on the edfringe website.
Videos
