National Theatre Wales’s next production pushes the boundaries of live performance with its theatre game concept, Bordergame.
The story, set in the Autonomous Republic of Cymru, sees the live audience attempt to cross the border illegally from the Royal United Kingdom of New Britain and Northern Ireland, whilst the online audience watches the live players’ journeys with their decisions influencing the outcome.
In part inspired by the UK Citizenship test, Bordergame is co-created by actor / producer / director / musician John Norton and graphic designer / illustrator / animator Matthew Wright.
John Norton, said: "I was first inspired to create a production on these themes in 1991, when my next-door neighbour in Manchester saved me from a particularly dangerous mugger by threatening him with a can of CS gas.
"My neighbour's name was Vadim. He was an undocumented migrant from Belarus, and he worked in a kebab shop. His boss was forever trying to exploit his lack of documents to not pay him. We drank a lot of vodka together.
"Years later, I found myself in Cardiff and had a vision of Welsh Customs officers asking people coming from England for their papers. I had a conversation with National Theatre Wales, and then began to work on a pilot project with refugees and asylum seekers who found themselves in Cardiff. From those conversations came Bordergame.
"Asylum cases are judged the world over by the stories the travellers tell about themselves. It seems that it's not as important that the story is true as it is important that the listener believes it is true—which is the same as in theatre."
Bordergame won the inaugural digital theatre Space Prize; this production is co-commissioned by The Space, with additional investment. It is recommended for those aged 18 and over.
Bordergame will take place from 5 to 21 November with Live Players in covert locations between Bristol and Newport; ticket holders must arrange their own travel. Online Players must register to take part.