Werewolf gets audience in on the action
Theatre fans will have a chance to be up close and in on the action as the horror show Werewolf comes to Palmerston North this week.
The show is billed as an immersive performance, allowing fans to play a part or just be a fly on the wall.
Wellington group Binge Culture are in the midst of taking Werewolf on a nationwide tour, and will perform at The Dark Room tonight and tomorrow.
Actor Joel Baxendale, who performs in the show, said the show worked on the basis of the performers and audience being locked down during awerewolf outbreak.
They had to survive six nights in the safe house, rotating between day and night scenes.
Each audience member was given a different card on entry to the theatre, which gave them a prompt as to how they could interact with the show.
There was a narrative through lines, but the show changed based on the actions of the audience.
‘‘Sometimes the audience becomes super active, and we become more like facilitator than actors.’’
Performer Arlo Gibson said all the performers had experienced shows of this nature, so they had a bit of an idea about how the audience might react.
The audience being involved was one of the most interesting parts of the show, but a bit of skill was required to keep the show rolling.
They had taken the game Werewolf, also known as Mafia, and turned it into a performance with a narrative.
‘‘It is based off a parlour game and I think that spirit is really in the show.’’
Gibson said when people heard ‘‘audience interaction’’ they could get scared, but it was completely up to audience members how much they wanted to be involved.
Tickets for Werewolf can be bought online from Centrepoint Theatre.