Play peeks into Wellington’s virtual future
In 150 years Wellington will look like a very different place. A magnitude 9 earthquake has hit and the harbour has been transformed into islands – Wellington Island and Hutt Island.
That’s the vision from one playwright at least, and in Atom Room virtual reality is used to give people a glimpse of the future.
Philip Braithwaite’s love story takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting.
As a prologue, in the Circa Theatre foyer before heading into the theatre, people can try virtual reality headsets and see what Wellington will look like in 150 years after tectonic shifts, global warming and nuclear devastation.
Director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford said she thought it was the first time VR had been used in the theatre this way in New Zealand. ‘‘It could even be first in the world.’’
The VR was created by Polytronik owner and creative director Tony St George and puts people in the world of Atom Room.
In the play, Sarah is trying to create a new world on Mars while her partner Danny stays back on Earth in Wellington. The pair meet in the Atom Room – a virtual reality space where people can spend their time.
‘‘[The Atom Room] is like Skype but if you imagined what Skype will be like in 150 years,’’ Rutherford said.
Atom Room is a love story, she said, but it also takes a look at what is happening to Earth and the damage done to the planet.
‘‘The reason why humans have gone to Mars is because the world is going down. Humans need to get off the world and fast.’’
Within the play itself, technology such as augmented reality has been added to create something a bit more spectacular.
‘‘I’m really into making theatre a real experience for people,’’ Rutherford said.
‘‘You’re battling with people on their phones, with Netflix but I believe that people do need quite a live connection to others and that is what the play is about.’’
As part of the experience, electronic Kiwi band Minuit signed on for the soundtrack of the show and created musical soundbites for the virtual reality aspect of the play.
‘‘They were really excited about the project and intrigued by the futuristic aspect of it as well,’’ Rutherford said.