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This might be the most unusual piece of theatre you see this year. Or rather, take part in. Because Rider Spoke is immersive theatre at its most creative, and asks you to get on your bike for a ride around Keswick in the Lake District.
Staged, if that’s the right words, at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake, Rider Spoke invites you on a cycle ride guided by a narrator and a rather beautiful soundtrack. With a smartphone attached to your handlebars, you’ll discover heartfelt stories told by people around the world, take time to reflect on the people and moments in your life that mean the most while you ride, and then decide whether to leave behind a story of your own.
The theatre will provide the bike, the helmet and a smartphone, or you can come along on your own bike if you prefer. Non-cyclists can take part on foot, in a wheelchair or a mobility scooter. It’s the ultimate in intimate, accessible theatre.
Rider Spoke was created by the award winning, internationally acclaimed Blast Theory and has been presented at over 30 locations around the world including Adelaide, Madrid, Copenhagen, Athens and London. It was developed in collaboration with the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham, Sony Net Services and the Fraunhofer Institute as part of the European research project IPerG (Integrated Project on Pervasive Gaming).
Blast Theory make interactive art to explore social and political questions. The group’s work places the public at the centre of unusual and sometimes unsettling experiences, to create new perspectives and open up the possibility of change.
Led by Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, the group draw on popular culture and new technologies to make performances, games, films, apps and installations.
Blast Theory have shown work at the Venice Biennale, Tribeca Film Festival, ICC in Tokyo, Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin, the Barbican and Tate Britain. Commissioners include Channel 4, Sundance Film Festival and the Royal Opera House.
The artists work closely with researchers and scientists and have collaborated with the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham since 1997, co-authoring over 45 research papers. The artists teach and lecture internationally including at the Sorbonne, Stanford University and the Royal College of Art. They curated the Screen series for Live Culture at Tate Modern.
They’ll be taking to the streets around Theatre by the Lake from Friday April 14 to Sunday April 16, setting off every half hour between 2pm and 7pm. Each session lasts around 90 minutes, and is suitable for anyone over 16. For more details: CLICK HERE