A event on Thursday 3rd July. The event starts at 19:00.
In a collision of ancient ritual and cutting edge tech, Ritual Virtual is an immersive theatre experience which deploys video projections, robots, live music and virtual reality to offer you a glimpse of what it would have been like to be an initiate. For around two thousand years in ancient Greece annual initiations called the Eleusinian Mysteries were performed. Dedicated to the cult of Demeter and Persephone, this elaborate series of sacred rites and helped initiates overcome fear of death and achieve their best life.
Using the facilities and technology of The Bridge Studios at UWE’s Bristol Robotics Lab, you will pass through a baying mob to enter the temple where you will become a ritual participant. In ancient times the climax of the Mysteries was performed under the influence of hallucinogens. Now, through virtual reality, you will be immersed in the revelatory vision of Demeter’s quest.
The Mysteries influenced great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle whose ideas have informed Western civilisation. In these times of social fragmentation we offer a way to revisit these ancient pathways.
The Duvet Brothers - Peter Boyd Maclean and Rik Lander - were innovators of scratch video in the 1980’s. Their video art style was influential in the worlds of TV and advertising. This will be their first collaboration since then. Rik Lander was co-creator of I am Echoborg, which toured from 2016-24.
This exploratory research is funded by the University of the West of England's Bridge Exploratory Fund and will act as a proof of concept and evidence base for future research and development. It is supported by the Digital Cultures Research Centre.
Music composed by Gary Bridgewood and Peter Boyd Maclean. Additional sounds by Bioni Samp.
Content warnings
This performance contains references to drug use, death, grief and the afterlife. If you would like additional information, please contact [email protected]. A quiet room will also be available throughout the event.
You will have to wear a VR headset for part of the production. Some people may experience motion sickness, nausea, disorientation, blurred vision or other discomfort while viewing virtual reality content. Please speak to a member of the team if you need any assistance and feel free to stop the experience by removing the headset at any point if you need to.
This event will include some flashing lights sequences or patterns which may affect photosensitive audience members. A verbal warning will be given before these parts to give people the option to leave the space or look away.
Access
Accessible parking is available (parking details will be shared before the event). If you have any questions about access around the venue or the experience, please email [email protected].
Entry requirements: 14+
Using the facilities and technology of The Bridge Studios at UWE’s Bristol Robotics Lab, you will pass through a baying mob to enter the temple where you will become a ritual participant. In ancient times the climax of the Mysteries was performed under the influence of hallucinogens. Now, through virtual reality, you will be immersed in the revelatory vision of Demeter’s quest.
The Mysteries influenced great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle whose ideas have informed Western civilisation. In these times of social fragmentation we offer a way to revisit these ancient pathways.
The Duvet Brothers - Peter Boyd Maclean and Rik Lander - were innovators of scratch video in the 1980’s. Their video art style was influential in the worlds of TV and advertising. This will be their first collaboration since then. Rik Lander was co-creator of I am Echoborg, which toured from 2016-24.
This exploratory research is funded by the University of the West of England's Bridge Exploratory Fund and will act as a proof of concept and evidence base for future research and development. It is supported by the Digital Cultures Research Centre.
Music composed by Gary Bridgewood and Peter Boyd Maclean. Additional sounds by Bioni Samp.
Content warnings
This performance contains references to drug use, death, grief and the afterlife. If you would like additional information, please contact [email protected]. A quiet room will also be available throughout the event.
You will have to wear a VR headset for part of the production. Some people may experience motion sickness, nausea, disorientation, blurred vision or other discomfort while viewing virtual reality content. Please speak to a member of the team if you need any assistance and feel free to stop the experience by removing the headset at any point if you need to.
This event will include some flashing lights sequences or patterns which may affect photosensitive audience members. A verbal warning will be given before these parts to give people the option to leave the space or look away.
Access
Accessible parking is available (parking details will be shared before the event). If you have any questions about access around the venue or the experience, please email [email protected].
Entry requirements: 14+
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