Hidden Track Theatre will give audiences the exciting chance to roll up their sleeves, get involved and create their own country when their new show Drawing the Line premieres at the Albany Theatre’s Deptford Lounge in May. Book your tickets now.
Running from 9 to 25 May 2019 as part of the Deptford venue’s REBELS season, Drawing the Line is a theatre experience that combines storytelling, gaming and group decision-making. For every performance, ‘the line’ divides the audience into two rival nations. Each side then determines how their nation grows. Strongly influenced by current political developments, the show will inspire the creation, destruction and rebuilding of unique communities every night.
Audiences have a number of choices about their involvement in the action. They can simply sit back and watch as the story unfolds, or take much more active part by waving flags, building cities, singing the national anthem and even defending their nation on the battlefield.
Speaking about the production, director Anoushka Bonwick says:
“Drawing the Line is an experience designed to inspire regardless of the level of interaction chosen by an audience member. We work hard to remove the ‘don’t pick me’ elements of some interactive performance, and create a safe and fun space to have vital conversations. I think it’s safe to say we need to talk about politics right now. We need to be playing, thinking and imagining together to work how we’ve got to where we are, and how we can come together to move forward.”
Drawing the Line follows the success of Hidden Track Theatre’s multi-award-winning game about class, Standard: Elite, which won the company the Best Newcomer Award at the Brighton Fringe in 2018, and the Best New Writing Award at the Greater Manchester Fringe. That production was described as “The perfect vehicle to spark conversation” by Spy in the Stalls and “Social commentary at its finest” by The Badger.
Drawing the Line was first staged in London as a scratch production at Camden People’s Theatre. At those scratch nights, when audience get to experience a work-in-progress production, feedback described the show as “audacious, unique, super fun,” and “funny and eye-opening”, while other audience members also commented that “The audience participation genuinely didn’t feel daunting at all.” The action is led by a cast of Nisa Cole, Elliot Hughes and Steph Reynolds.
The Albany’s REBELS season is a season about politics, protest, breaking the mould and celebrating difference, in which the south London venue aims to support ambitious companies and individuals trying to shake the status quo. Running from 11 April to 1 June at three venues – The Albany, Deptford Lounge and Canada Water Theatre – it features events ranging from a clubbing experience and boundary pushing cabaret to crafting and protest drumming. Drawing the Line was commissioned specifically for this season.
Hidden Track Theatre was formed in 2014. Led by Elliot Hughes, it aims to make theatre that is fun and accessible with a political voice, bringing working class voices and audiences to the stage.
Meet the cast
Nisa Cole has appeared in War Horse at the National Theatre and on tour, and in Much Ado About Nothing at Hackney Empire. On screen, her credits include Vera and Waterloo Road.
Elliot Hughes is the Artistic Director of Hidden Track Theatre. A writer, performer and creator, his work is informed by a working-class upbringing dodging bailiffs and being raised by a single mother on the poverty line.
Steph Reynolds has a passion for interactive performance and has recently appeared in Voices from the Moon (Hidden Door Festival) and Live at Lyme (Waterside Arts Centre).
