Foreign Radical by Theatre Conspiracy
Theatre-game hybrid that explores security, profiling, freedom of expression, and privacy in the age of cybersurveillance.
Attended Summer 2015.
Attended Summer 2015.
Directed by: Jeremy P. Waller & Tim Carlson
Script by: Tim Carlson Performers: Mehdi Darvish, Marilyn Perreault & Anjela Magpantay Sound & music by: David Mesiha Video by: Cande Andrade Lighting design by: Kyla Gardiner Dramaturgy by: Kathleen Flaherty (Playwrights Theatre Centre) Early dramaturgy by: Bruce Barton (Centre for Drama, UofT) Costume Design for The Host by: Sasha Schaepe (UK Tour 2018) Foreign Radical was co-created by Tim Carlson, Jeremy Waller, David Mesiha, Kathleen Flaherty, Milton Lim, Aryo Khakpour, Florence Barrett and Cande Andrade. It was developed with the assistance of Playwrights Theatre Centre, The Cultch and Banff Centre, and premiered at The Cultch in 2015. |
Foreign Radical invites 30 participants into an intriguing theatrical game that explores security, profiling, freedom of expression, and privacy in the age of cybersurveillance. Mobile throughout the performance, the participants collaborate, compete, investigate, debate, and spy on each other.
The Foreign Radical set is divided into four play areas where participants, depending on personal and group responses to various questions posed by the game’s ‘host’, witness different perspectives on the action. They are at times divided into groups or left all alone to gather evidence from dramatic scenes and documentary media that colour their views and how they play the game. Foreign Radical is an interactive, multimedia experience with multilingual elements in English, Farsi and Arabic. Each performance is unique in that the audience dynamic influences the outcome.
The Foreign Radical set is divided into four play areas where participants, depending on personal and group responses to various questions posed by the game’s ‘host’, witness different perspectives on the action. They are at times divided into groups or left all alone to gather evidence from dramatic scenes and documentary media that colour their views and how they play the game. Foreign Radical is an interactive, multimedia experience with multilingual elements in English, Farsi and Arabic. Each performance is unique in that the audience dynamic influences the outcome.
Awards and Press
"It’s a show that gets under your skin." — The Scotsman
"Theatre Conspiracy has created a boundary-pushing new work in Foreign Radical. "— The Skinny
T"his is a clever, provocative show. ... Foreign Radical is urgent, timely and necessary." — The List
"Relevant, provocative and disturbing." — Broadway World
"This thrilling interactive experience sticks close the soul." — A Younger Theatre
"Highly entertaining...and infinitely political." — VOIR, Quebec
"Foreign Radical ... remains one of the most thought-provoking shows I have seen in a very long time. It works on multiple levels, with the most profound coming in the exploration of one’s own beliefs." — Vancouver Presents
Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2017
Jessie Award for Critics’ Choice Innovation
"Theatre Conspiracy has created a boundary-pushing new work in Foreign Radical. "— The Skinny
T"his is a clever, provocative show. ... Foreign Radical is urgent, timely and necessary." — The List
"Relevant, provocative and disturbing." — Broadway World
"This thrilling interactive experience sticks close the soul." — A Younger Theatre
"Highly entertaining...and infinitely political." — VOIR, Quebec
"Foreign Radical ... remains one of the most thought-provoking shows I have seen in a very long time. It works on multiple levels, with the most profound coming in the exploration of one’s own beliefs." — Vancouver Presents
Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2017
Jessie Award for Critics’ Choice Innovation
Presentations
- Théâtre aux Écuries: Montreal, QC, 4-6 March 2020
- La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins | Théâtre à Ottawa/le Théâtre du Trillium/Théâtre la Catapulte: Ottawa, ON 27-29 February 2020
- New Theatre Royal Portsmouth – StageHouse: Portsmouth, UK 17-19 September 2018
- Heads Up Festival: Hull, UK 21-22 September 2018
- Paint the Town Festival: Medway, UK 28-29 September 2018
- Arts Depot: London, UK 8-10 October 2018
- Strike a Light Festival: Gloucester, UK 12-13 October 2018
- High Performance Rodeo: Calgary, AB 17 - 20 January 2018
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe: (UK premiere) Edinburgh, Scotland 2 - 28 August 2017
- Carrefour international de théâtre festival: Quebec City, QC 9 - 10 June 2017
- Studio 1398: Vancouver, BC 7 - 11 February 2017
- Shadbolt Centre for the Arts: Burnaby, BC 14 - 16 July 2016
- The Cultch: (world premiere) Vancouver, BC 7 - 25 April 2015
- Banff Centre of the Arts (interdisciplinary residency): Banff, AB 22 February - 2 March, 2015
- Your Kontinent Film and Media Arts Festival: (in-process) Richmond, Canada 22 - 26 July 2014
- University of Toronto: (in-process) Toronto, ON 24 May - 3 June 2014
- Black Plastic (in-process): Vancouver, BC 20 - 21 December 2013