If you’ve ever wanted to experience what life is like in a dystopian world and learn how you would behave (are you a rebel who crosses the line, or are you a drone who follows instructions implicitly?), then Dreamland Isthmus is a must-do experience - brought to you by Dream Drivers, a diverse group of digital enthusiasts from a range of backgrounds in technology. Consisting of a mainly South Australian cast, they are held together by their love of creative technology, and by Hong Kong immersive theatre artist, Onnie Chan.
Be prepared to give up your colour and venture into the bleak, post-war future of commercialised dreams and rigid asinine rules of Dreamland Isthmus. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? But, instead, you find yourself and your team of strangers enthralled by the challenges of completing puzzles using AR (augmented reality) technology through Instagram, whilst being indoctrinated into the realities of this futuristic world.
The performers met with members of the audience, who ranged between 10 to 80 years of age (just be warned there is a fair amount of walking involved!), assisting the participants in working the technology needed. Those who do not have an Instagram account are ‘lent’ an account, allowing more people to participate and struggle towards their chances of acquiring their own ‘dream gas’. Be wary, though, as the ‘dream gas’ product is still working out a few kinks.
On the note of kinks, there are a few issues that need to be ironed out with the VR. Images are likely to spin too fast or too slow, or run off your screen completely, and, while I can appreciate their existence, the subtitles in their videos can easily be lost in the background or cut off.
The open-plan of the warehouse venue worked to the benefit of the performance, with white tape on floor and staff members keeping a keen eye out for stragglers who dare cross the lines. The openness also enhanced the sense of competitiveness between the teams, as each team's success was announced and applauded. The next venue, Arthurs Art Bar, where Dreamland Isthmus will next appear from March 9-13 & 15-19, will be a different experience from the warehouse, with teams being cloistered away in separate rooms. I’m looking forward to seeing how the teams navigate the different settings.
Similar in nature to escape rooms, Dreamland Isthmus is a fantastic team building and ice breaking activity, which would be enjoyable for parties, or solo. If a group that has only been working together for just half a year can make this performance using such innovative techniques, then I cannot wait to see what they will create next.
Correction: was previously stated to be a production by Lab Rats, however is actually by Dream Divers. Also, Dream Divers have been together for half a year, not 2 years. The technology stated was VR (virtual reality), when in fact AR (augmented reality) was used.