Audience Responses & Participant Feedback
“We had an extraordinary time last night, thank you Four of Swords!!! We were still talking about it when we got home last night. I think you should keep the gender swap aspect- Sarah as Winston and maybe to make it more contemporary her partner in crime is a ‘Julia’ rather than a Julian. It links to current discourse re gender/queer identity and perhaps Big Brother the fascist that it is, also targets and suppresses anything beyond binary relationships and gender. It will speak to the audience as there’s so many nasty actions out there with media coverage of ‘Gay hate’ crime and the challenges many in the Trans community currently face.” Feedback from academic at University of Plymouth
“You were all fantastic this evening. I love the way the experience starts from the word go. Even waiting downstairs, seeing the 2+2=5 on the side of the building. Your main character was interesting, the part of Winston, who was a male in the film. I wonder how the other comrades would have reacted to ‘electrocuting’ a male character? Would they of been less sympathetic? Ramping up the amps?! It was uncomfortable watching you in so much ‘pain’. You were so convincing, well done. Did we feel more sympathy and compassion for you because of your sex?”
“I thought the way you instantly started to strip the audience of their sense of their individuality was very effective. The VR element was great too. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was really impressed by how you used it and how effective it was. Congratulations to you on the team, I hope you get to develop it further!” Feedback from digital team member at Exeter Phoenix
“Well done, lots of excellent ideas, the Brother avatar worked well and has lots of possibilities, suitably and increasingly uncomfortable, Winston did a very good job. Felt timely (as ever) especially in the re-writing of history, the pervasive narrative etc. Liked the use of What 3 Words and the intrigue of arrival. The pre-survey: scope to develop this and a good idea; it also summed up something I wrestled with in the scratch piece- I started answering more as I thought you would want me to/needed me to, and I guess I felt that encountering the piece – so an ambiguity about how much you are asking me to be me, or to be a player/part of the performance? In itself that’s interesting, but complicates things – in the Milgram experiment they thought it was all real, they didn’t know actors were involved… we know this isn’t real.“
“The use of windows and media screens is double plus good. I watched much of the Interrogation scene via the media screens – partly because I couldn’t easily access the windows – although I did toggle between the two when I could. This allowed me to choose how I watched depending on how I felt [uncomfortable mostly!] – enabling me to have a ‘remove’ from the action whist questioning myself why I did it; wondering whether it was because we have become de-sensitized by watching distressing events through screens [rather than ‘live’].” Feedback from fine artist
“We at Maketank were thrilled to host this latest R&D by Four of Swords. While we have collaborated and provided space for the company previously, this is the first time they have used our building as a site-specific venue for their work. It was, for us, a pitch perfect match. The hidden yet central location, the distressed stairwell leading to a spacious and stark room full of houseplants and technology, all evoked the imaginative world of Orwell’s masterpiece. The show begins with a playful use of the ever-present British questionnaire and quickly entwinnes the audience into an uncomfortable relationship investigating our own individual complicity in torture. The use of technology, particularly the Big Brother as smarmy young AI kid, similarly invites the audience into a game – how might we get to play with authority while realizing that all authoritarianism ends in horrific abuse. The performance ends with a powerful and brilliantly performed scene by the co-directors of the company, both tender and deeply disturbing, proving why Four of Swords remains Devon’s foremost immersive theatre company. We look forward to seeing where and how this show develops and would be very proud to continue to be the site for its full scale production.” Feedback from Maketank (venue and partner)
