Tis Pity She’s A Whore: Soundtrack

As I’ve said before, I loved the music that Heather Fenoughty composed for the Everyman’s production of “Tis Pity She’s A Whore”.

You can now buy it – and the music composed to accompany several of the plays in “Anthology” – direct from the artist. I’ve done so, and would recommend it.

On the subject of Anthology, I’ve now seen “The Sum of Parts” and “Rag and Bone” (party popper and feather respectively, for those already following the series) both of which were exceptionally well done. A more detailed review of both to follow.

In the meantime, do check out these reviews from Maria Barrett (LIPA) of “Tis Pity…” and “Anthology: We Sing Faster In The City” (milk bottle).

Innovasion: Review of the #Liverpool @Biennial Alt-Reality Game

Despite the impression yesterday’s posts might give, I hadn’t taken leave of my senses – I was playing the Liverpool Biennial’s alternative reality game, “Innovasion”.

Run by Hope Street Limited, Innovasion was played around the Biennial’s venues, with small teams of participants following a trail of clues set by the unseen WolfCrew.

Summoned by mysterious e-mails, we gathered in different locations around the city, to follow a trail of clues that led us to different public artworks and Biennial venues. Along the way we were accompanied – and filmed, followed, and surveilled – by actors from Hope Street Limited, playing the “agents” of the mysterious corporation, Creative Control.

Although it started as a conventional treasure hunt, my group found ourselves seeking passwords to e-mail accounts hidden in plain sight on buildings, collecting dead drops left around city centre streets – as much basic trade craft as orienteering.

The whole experience became distinctly surreal when a road accident outside Lime Street led to dozens of police dashing into the area, and closing off the streets – shortly before Creative Control was due to hold a “rally” on Lime Street plaza at 2.30.

God knows what the “civilians” watching made of it – a dozen identically dressed Creative Control agents standing to attention while a youth dance troupe performed, a succession of strange speeches about Creative Control’s massively successful international businesses, and a parade by Irish Republicans.

Not sure about the last one – who knew the Biennial could afford so many extras?

Afterwards, the race was on to finish the puzzles, and find our way to Creative Control’s mysterious “launch party” at 7pm. When we got there…well, something happened. But we seemed to live through it…

It was great fun – and in keeping with the Year of Health and Wellbeing, we more than got our exercise for the day! I went to Biennial venues I wouldn’t otherwise have visited, and also ticked off a few that I’ve been meaning to go to, but haven’t quite managed.

Overall, I really enjoyed myself, and would certainly take part again; from chatting to some Biennial peeps at the party afterwards, I understand it may run again. If it does, I hope they’ll look carefully at what worked, and what didn’t.

There were some issues; in particular, the design of some clues needed work – assuming knowledge of Cold War Cuba’s economy is a high standard of general knowledge, and if my group had crossed the street earlier, we’d have gone to FACT to watch “Back to the Future” in the mistaken belief it was the next step!

The main issue seemed to be a lack of thought about failure modes, or how to recover from them. My group found it impossible to achieve our victory condition – as we’d apparently jumped tracks to the trail followed by another team, who’d already completed it – and this, along with the earlier problems, didn’t go down well with some in my team, who felt a little cheated after a long day.

Personally, I thought that futility fit reasonably well with the back story, and I suspect it would have been less of an issue for the others if we’d known or suspected that we were effectively competing with other teams.

These issues were a real shame, given the hard work of all the performers involved, and the interesting back story (more of it next time, please!). These are the sort of things that can be easily addressed, and hopefully will be before the next Innovasion.

Innovasion: Party animals. #Liverpool @Biennial

Failure’s sitting well with the group. Well, it’s being cushioned by Creative Control’s free wine.

Who is Tyler Mack, and what do the Creative Control badges do?

There’s a strange device on the Creative Control booth in tne corner.And they’re starting.

Innovasion: Played, and played out. #Liverpool @Biennial

We were played. Not by them, but by the Lone Wolf.

I guess I have to respect the approach. He needed a back up plan, and we were it. But after a day of following his bread crumbs, we find his plan A got here first.

Mycroft Milverton got here first.

So, Tyler Mack, whyever your important, it wasn’t us who’s going to have saved you. We were just supporting players in this little play.

Sit back.

Relax.

The final act is yet to come.

Innovasion: Creative Control Speaks #Liverpool @Biennial

Their rally has begun. Dancing, then singing.

Now speeches.

Strange people are circulating; trying to find the Wolf Pack.

I think they want to trick us into identifying ourselves.

Innovasion: This is the voice of Creative Control #Liverpool @Biennial

Creative Control are getting ready to speak.

We’re watching. So are lots of others – not doubt some are following the Pack, but others must just be innocent bystanders.

The agents seem happy.

They seem happy.

Innovasion: Coincidences @Biennial

We walked.

They weren’t there for us.

Just a traffic accident; nothing to do with us.

Or Them.

I’m not paranoid. I know they’re watching us.

Now WolfsLair has switched media, using Facebook to gather the pack. I guess we get to find out how many of Us there are.

45 minutes to go.

Innovasion: Going to ground @Biennial

WolfCrew says that we should return when They are due to start their “show”. We decide to split up, and meet up later.

Then all at once the station plaza is swarming with police. We figured the game was up, that They had decided to take us out of the game.

Staying put wasn’t an option. My partner and I decided to make a break for it.

You walk. Walk, never run. If you run, you attract attention. You look guilty.

So we walk.

Innovasion: Questions and Answers @Biennial

Any questions, he says?

We could start with why you’re running our rag tag group across the city, why we’re being followed, and what the hell have you gotten us into.

Right now, it feels like we’re being watched by everyone who passes.

A lot of people pass you in a railway station.

We’re out on our own here, Lone Wolf. What do you want us to do next?

Innovasion: Email dead drops @Biennial

WolfCrew’s been clever – email dead drops, using passwords encoded into the city itself.

No sign of Them, the people we’ve taken to calling Agents. Mirrored sunglasses, cheap black suits, matching ties. They are not right.

We seem to have passed the test; but now we have to find the next test. Seems the old wolf is leery.

From: squirrelonthefloor@live.co.uk
To: squirrelonthefloor@live.co.uk
Subject: RE: As requested
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 12:29:22 +0100

don’t trick an old wolf like me
seems as if you allready in my little secret lair
any questions, young wolf?