Comments on: Wondermart http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/wondermart/ Group authored publication covering theatre and the performing arts in London and beyond Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:24:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Imagine the future of theatre: autoteatro on your iPod | Matt Boothman http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/wondermart/#comment-5420 Imagine the future of theatre: autoteatro on your iPod | Matt Boothman Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:33:02 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=2449#comment-5420 [...] companies are building on the foundations Rotozaza have laid - including Rotozaza themselves, whose Wondermart sends participants out of the theatre and into the local supermarket.  Swedish practitioners [...] [...] companies are building on the foundations Rotozaza have laid – including Rotozaza themselves, whose Wondermart sends participants out of the theatre and into the local supermarket.  Swedish practitioners [...]

]]> By: Andrew Eglinton http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/wondermart/#comment-4111 Andrew Eglinton Sun, 24 May 2009 10:30:44 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=2449#comment-4111 I'd be interested to know whether any participants in this piece had interactions with the 'general public'. Also after the event, when you were back shopping at your local supermarkets, did you carry anything from the <em>Wondermart</em> experience with you, and if so did it triggered any thoughts or reactions on the nature of shopping in general? I’d be interested to know whether any participants in this piece had interactions with the ‘general public’. Also after the event, when you were back shopping at your local supermarkets, did you carry anything from the Wondermart experience with you, and if so did it triggered any thoughts or reactions on the nature of shopping in general?

]]> By: Matt Boothman http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/wondermart/#comment-4110 Matt Boothman Sun, 24 May 2009 09:32:15 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=2449#comment-4110 Sounds like you were an 'A' like me, Simon - it'd be interesting to hear comments from someone playing the 'B' character, which struck me as less nervous and more mischievous than 'A', and so I imagine would have provided a bit of a different experience. Sounds like you were an ‘A’ like me, Simon – it’d be interesting to hear comments from someone playing the ‘B’ character, which struck me as less nervous and more mischievous than ‘A’, and so I imagine would have provided a bit of a different experience.

]]> By: Simon Hicks http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/wondermart/#comment-4082 Simon Hicks Sat, 23 May 2009 16:13:03 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=2449#comment-4082 Wondermart was the first Rotozaza production that I've experienced, so I had little idea what to expect. Initially I was concerned that the conspicuous headphones made me stand out, but I quickly realised how little notice people take of each other in London, especially when they're intent on shopping. Once inside, performing my first shopping task to music set me at ease, and I felt increasingly able to submit to the voice's instructions. I had a similar experience when it came to performing activities in sync with my fellow participant, but this was something that I'd never experienced as part of an audio-guided theatre piece and it's this aspect that I will remember most about the work. Convinced as I was that I was about to be told to attempt a shoplift ("but today you're going to do something different...") it was hilarious when the other participant had clearly been told to place all the items they hadn't yet returned to the shelves into my trolley and, without advice from the voice, I was powerless to resist! I'd be interested to know if Rotozaza had told Asda what they were planning to do. It would be a testament to the piece if we'd looked so much like normal shoppers that the CCTV teams, mentioned by the voice, didn't notice us... Wondermart was the first Rotozaza production that I’ve experienced, so I had little idea what to expect. Initially I was concerned that the conspicuous headphones made me stand out, but I quickly realised how little notice people take of each other in London, especially when they’re intent on shopping. Once inside, performing my first shopping task to music set me at ease, and I felt increasingly able to submit to the voice’s instructions.

I had a similar experience when it came to performing activities in sync with my fellow participant, but this was something that I’d never experienced as part of an audio-guided theatre piece and it’s this aspect that I will remember most about the work.

Convinced as I was that I was about to be told to attempt a shoplift (“but today you’re going to do something different…”) it was hilarious when the other participant had clearly been told to place all the items they hadn’t yet returned to the shelves into my trolley and, without advice from the voice, I was powerless to resist!

I’d be interested to know if Rotozaza had told Asda what they were planning to do. It would be a testament to the piece if we’d looked so much like normal shoppers that the CCTV teams, mentioned by the voice, didn’t notice us…

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