AN UNFORGETTABLE IMMERSIVE AUDIO EXPERIENCE FOR a blindfolded audience
At edinburgh fringe 2023
Ghost river theatre’s critically-acclaimed production TOMORROW’S CHiLD was PRESENTED BY ASSEMBLY FESTIVAL AT THE 2023 EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAl, ACHIEVING four star REVIEWS from the guardian, broadway world, starburst magazine, and more!
Ghost River Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of Canada Council for the Arts of this international debut.
NOW BOOKING ENGAGEMENTS FOR 2024 AND BEYOND - Inquire about touring information.
11:40 AM, AUGUST 4 - 28, 2023
ASSEMBLY CHECKPOINT
3 BRISTO PLACE, EDINBURGH
Edinburgh FRinge 2023 credits
Adapted from the Ray Bradbury story, Tomorrow's Child, by Matthew Waddell, Eric Rose and David van Belle
Based on the short story “Tomorrow Child” by Ray Bradbury, originally published as “The Shape of Things”© 1947; renewed 1975 by Ray Bradbury. Performed by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc.
Direction and Sound Design: Eric Rose and Matthew Waddell
Technical Director: Anton deGroot
Head Audience Service Mech and Company Manager: Marina Buston
Featuring
Tyrell Crews as Peter
Anna Cummer as Polly
David van Belle as Dr. Wolcott
Wren van Belle & Aubery Hall as Py
Additional Performers: Geneviève Paré, Aaron Zeiffer, Helen Knight, Joleen Ceraldi, Evan Medd, Eric Rose, Matthew Waddell, Molly-Raine Dale
Additional Sound Mechs: Jozsef Iszlai, Cluj-Napoca, (Romania), Todd Helsley, Evansville, (Indiana), Tim Crawshaw, (Montreal)
Choir Mechs: Sarah Albu, Etienne Capacchione, Clayton Kennedy, Anne-Marie Lozier, Katherine Black, John Fitz, Elan Force, Willow Crump, Bruce Bart, Sam Callperk
Additional Credits
Original Music: Jesse Osborne-Lantheir and Sarah Albu
Pyramid Design: Anton deGroot and Tauran Wood
Graphic Design: Laura Anzola
Publicity: Mobius Industries
Technical Support (Calgary): Tauran
Production Assistant (Edinburgh): Elissa Webb
Ghost River Theatre’s critically-acclaimed TOMORROW’S CHILD is a one-of-a-kind immersive audio experience for blindfolded audiences. The show invites you to fully immerse yourself in the world of sci-fi giant Ray Bradbury’s Retro-Futurism through 3D audio effects.
Adapted from Bradbury’s short story, TOMORROW’S CHILD explores our sense of hearing and crafts a landscape of sound that goes far beyond our everyday listening - it re-imagines the quirks of 50’s sci-fi within a multi-layered sonic environment.
The story follows two new parents, Polly and Peter, in the imagined retro-future of 1988, as they confront the reality that their baby has been born into an alternate dimension. Will they accept the interstellar divide between parents and child? Or is there another spacetime solution?
Praise for Tomorrow's Child
“Impressive” ★★★★ - Mark Fisher, The Guardian, UK
"It’s an engrossing adventure that showcases a remarkable use of sound design." ★★★★ - Cindy Marcolina, Broadway World, UK
"A unique theatre experience and a delight for fans of retro science fiction." ★★★★ - Ed Fortune, Starburst Magazine, UK
"This is perhaps one of the most unique experiences on offer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival." ★★★★ - Justin Clarke, Theatre Thoughts, Australia
"Tomorrow’s Child is a fascinating piece of automated theatre, an experience rather than a performance which will not evolve or adapt through its run, but one which is daring, innovative and technically superb in its execution and beautiful in its final reveal as sight is dazzlingly restored." - Michael Flett, Geek Chocolate , UK
“…your ears receive the audio equivalent of a five-star dinner.” Stephen Hunt, Calgary Herald, Canada
“…an intriguing immersive experience combined with compelling storytelling.” Jessica Goldman - CBC Radio, Canada
“Ghost River has adapted Bradbury’s story with cutting edge sound technology and the experience is fascinating…. It makes for an engaging story told in an innovative fashion. Tomorrow’s Child is a different take on storytelling. It is immersive, innovative theatre and I can’t wait for the other instalments in the 6-sense series.” - Theatre Blogger Jenna Shummoogum, Canada
“Fucking Awesome” Audience Member.
“I think I had an out of body experience. Spin more. More GRT.” - Audience Member
Production history
March 2014: Premiered in Calgary at the West Village Theatre, as part 1 of Ghost River Theatre’s Six Senses Performance Series.
September 2014: Beakerhead Festival, University of Calgary (with the Support of The School for Creative and Performing Arts)
January 2016: High Performance Rodeo, Vertigo Studio Theatre, Calgary
April 2016: The West Village Theatre, Calgary (with the support of Willow Park School)
August 2016: SummerWorks Festival, Toronto (part of the National Presentation Series)
February 2017: Undercurrents Festival, Ottawa
October/November 2017: Presented by Theatre Projects Manitoba at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
March 2018: Presented by The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby, BC
March 2018: Presented at The Belfry Theatre’s SPARK Festival, Victoria, BC
June 2020: Presented digitally with Vertigo Theatre, Calgary, AB
August 2023: Presented by Assembly Festival at Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh, UK
awards
Best Technical Design (Matthew Waddell), 2014 Calgary Critics Awards
Nomination - Best Creative Concept, 2014 Calgary Critics Awards
Nomination - Outstanding Sound Design or Composition (Matthew Waddell and Eric Rose), 2015 Betty Mitchell Awards
Nomination - Outstanding New Play, 2015 Betty Mitchell Awards
Original production credits
Adapted from the Ray Bradbury story, Tomorrow's Child, by Matthew Waddell, Eric Rose and David van Belle
Direction and Sound Design: Eric Rose and Matthew Waddell
Assistant Direction: Evan Medd
Production Intern: Gillian Clark
Original Music: Jesse Osborne-Lantheir and Sarah Albu
Sculpture: Emily Promise Allison
Audio Engineer: Carolina Rodriguez
Head Audience Service Mech: Jamie Konchak
Additional Sound Mechs: Jozsef Iszlai, Cluj-Napoca, (Romania), Todd Helsley, Evansville, (Indiana), Tim Crawshaw, (Montreal)
Choir Mechs: Sarah Albu, Etienne Capacchione, Clayton Kennedy, Anne-Marie Lozier, Katherine Black, John Fitz, Elan Force, Willow Crump, Bruce Bart, Sam Callperk
Featuring
Tyrell Crews as Peter
Anna Cummer as Polly
David van Belle as Dr. Wolcott
Wren van Belle & Aubery Hall as Py
Additional Performers: Geneviève Paré, Aaron Zeiffer, Helen Knight, Joleen Ceraldi, Evan Medd, Eric Rose, Matthew Waddell, Molly-Raine Dale
Special Thanks: Caitlin Gallichan-Lowe, Laura Anzola, PK Sound, Beakerhead, University of Calgary, Patrick Finn, City of Calgary, Ray Bradbury Estate, Katie Grimm, Craig Hall, Rose Brow, High Performance Rodeo
Based on the short story “Tomorrow Child” by Ray Bradbury, originally published as “The Shape of Things”© 1947; renewed 1975 by Ray Bradbury. Performed by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc.
Poster image by Laura Anzola
THE SIX SENSES SERIES
Tomorrow’s Child is the first instalment of GRT’s Six Senses Performance Series. The Series is a rigorous exploration of what happens to the boundaries of narrative when you focus on stimulating the audience’s senses. When you take away sight—our primary gateway in the world— how do our imaginations open up to narrative? How can being deprived of sight prime us for a unique performance experience? How does the audience imagination/engagement factor into the overall narrative experience of performance?
At the forefront of our work is the question of liveness: how we unearth and reveal the world differently for audiences based on the immediacy and interactivity of the performance experience. The Six Senses Series challenges us in our devised practice to break down our ‘total artwork’ approach to creation into its component parts, in order to better understand and trust the imaginary space our audience needs to fully engage in the live performance experience.
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