Choosing Children // Industry Page - Ben Fredericks [Collaborations]

A new interactive theatre experience about genetic engineering and the impact it will have on the children we bring into the world

On Tour 2023

See it at:

Attenborough Art Centre
MAC Birmingham
Mansfield Old Library

More announcing soon…

WHEN WE CAN ALTER A CHILD BEFORE THEY ARE BORN
WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ALTER THE CHILD?
OR THE WORLD THEY COME INTO?

A Thought-Provoking Experience

Choosing Children is a dramatic and interactive live spectacle for an intimate audience. It asks audiences to explore one of the most challenging dilemmas of our time: To what extent should new reproductive technologies impact the type of children we have in the future? And, what might this do for the life chances of the next generation of disabled people?

Explicitly developed for Blackbox Spaces, Choosing Children is an ‘other worldly’ theatrical experience that questions what we value most about the human condition.

Show More...... Show Less

Through the use of digital projection and avatars, audiences will experience a transformative narrative, taking them from the birth of the universe to the development of genetic engineering, at which point they will be asked to assume the role of an expectant parent. In this role, audiences will explore the positives and negatives of using genetic engineering on unborn children. The work looks to explore what can be achieved with this technology and the moral implications of using it, by asking the audience to consider a series of critical dilemmas, in which their answers will affect the very nature of the environment they are in through interactive digital technology that is intuitively linked to the set design.

About the Experience

Overview

Choosing Children is a self-contained interactive experience for up to 20 people with the potential for non-interactive viewing in larger studio spaces.

Requirements	Details
+Performance space with in-house lighting and sound +Wifi connection +Power +Space for off-boarding (Cafe space or alternative)	+20 x AR headset +20 x chairs +2 projector walls and projectors +30 Orbs +Additional lighting and sound

	Quick Info
Lenght	60 Mins
Max Performances Per Day	5
Capacity	+ 20 Interactive Audience + Raked seating (when available)
For	Studio spaces
Access	BSL, Audio Description, Captioning for every performance via a unique AR System
Actors	2
Crew	2
Get in time	4 hours

Target Audience

• Experience Seekers
• Younger people (18-40)
• The disabled community (engagement work will be done with local community groups prior to the performance to engage this audience)
• Those interested in popular science
• People impacted by the issue including parents and expectant parent

Set Design

Set Design Concept Image with Live Actor and Two Avatar Images – Ingrid Hu
Set Design Concept Image with Live Actor – Ingrid Hu
Set Design Model – Audience View – Ingrid Hu
Set Design Layout 10m x 10m Black Box- Top View – Ingrid Hu
Set Design Layout Large Studio – Top View – Ingrid Hu

Innovative Digital Access: A Creative Case for Diversity

Choosing Children aims to be fully accessible and inclusive. In every performance, audiences can request British Sign Language, Audio Description, and/or Captioning through an integrated Access System streamed to the AR headset each audience member will wear during the

performance.

Meaning audience members can have a uniquely personal and fully accessible experience without any other audience members being aware

Script

Programmers Pack:

For booking enquires email info@benfredericks.co.uk or contact +44 (0)330 223 2350 (UK)

Creative Team

CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Ben Fredericks
PRODUCER – Mark Mallabone
WRITTEN BY: Ben Fredericks, Nicky Watkinson, & Shey Hargreaves
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR: Dr. Jenny Jolly

Show More...... Show Less

COSTUME: Lauren Pulford
SET: Ingrid Hu
VIDEO DESIGN: Ben Glover
PROGRAMMING: Dominic Mathuse
ADDITIONAL ACCESS DEVELOPMENT: Joe Strickland
CONCEPT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: Above and Below Studio