✨ The Meadow - Immersive gig-theatre experience Moodboard ✨

OVERVIEW: An immersive gig-theatre experience based off of Bay Bryan’s concept album ‘The Meadow’. Accompanied by a live band of musicians, Bay takes us on a personal journey of internal conflict: to accept the ‘call to adventure’ or stay where we are comfortable. By way of song, physical movement and crafted stories ‘The Meadow’ is contemplative, at-times comedic, and empowering. The audience joins Bay and his band in The Meadow, an empty space encircled by columns of fabric with trees projected on to them —these fabric columns are used cleverly so that other things can be projected onto them throughout the show. The meadow space feels cozy, warm and inviting with lighting that reflects the text: earthy goldens, yellows, oranges; this is contrasted by the peripheral edges of the space beyond the trees where we see cool blues disappearing into darkness —as if the woods are endless. The audience have the show in their ears via headphones which makes the experience both isolating-yet-communal. The show will feel unique and yet accessible to both theatre and music gig goers alike —somewhere along the lines of: that quirky immersive alt.space at a festival, or a sofar sounds gig that “really went there.” Gentle yet bold like if Labi Siffre were housed in Taylor Mac’s body or if Laura Marling performed like Christine and the Queens.

STAGE DESIGN:
- an empty space encircled by columns of fabric initially with trees projected on to them —these fabric columns are used cleverly so that other things can be projected onto them throughout the show
- play space and audience area are ‘the meadow’ space contained by the ‘trees’
- are audience seated? standing? bit of both?
- does the play area need to be slightly raised or should there be slightly raised areas? slightly raked?

LIGHTING DESIGN:
- default meadow lighting that reflects the text: earthy goldens, yellows, oranges or ‘meadow’ area; this is contrasted by the peripheral edges of the space beyond the trees where we see cool blues disappearing into darkness —as if the woods are endless
- other lighting states for moments like “sweet joan” with the feeling of being around the fire under the stars; and that would compliment or be replaced by the lighting created by visuals.

COSTUME DESIGN:
- is it more of a styling job or are there pieces made for the show?
- costume changes or keep it simple?
- band wearing the same thing as Bay?

VISUALS:
- In an ideal world I would collaborate with a visuals artist and create visuals for this show. I think this would be a potential pricey part of the initial cost of the show. But simpler visuals could be an option.
- The visuals above are examples of self-made basic visuals used for live performance at HOMOBLOC 2023; Created using photoshop, after effects and premier pro.

SOUND:
Audience - listens through headphones
Performers - have in-ears and head mics and ideally wireless set up if we want to have full flexibility of moving about the space; maybe the band stays static and only Bay moves.


DRAMATURGY:
- there is a version of the script that has stories already written and further development could be needed to adapt it to this version of the show.
- identify if development/editing is needed
- identify if other elements of the production (ie. movement or lighting) might replace what the text is trying to convey
- current script (downloadable pdf)


DIRECTION:
- work directly with dramaturg (or maybe they are the same person)
- block the action in rehearsal


CHOREOGRAPHER:
- would be lovely

SHOW RUNNING TEAM (list of possibles):
- sound tech
- lighting tech
- stage manager
- box office
- security
- hosts
- merch table staff
- cast members

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PRE-SHOW -
- do they enter the meadow whenever they want or do we welcome them 5min before show begins.

AFTER SHOW -
- 30-to-45min for merch, people getting to chat (bar?)
- is the meadow space open for this bit?

PROJECTION VISUALS INSPIRATION

visuals that incorporate movement and also an immersive nature. projection onto multiple surfaces including the floor.

BAY - MOVEMENT EXAMPLES

NOTES:
Sticky Shadows also gives the idea of primary meadow “Costume”
Freestyle gives sense of inspiration for use of movement in the piece