Brace yourself for a spine-tingling experience as Metro Arts’ Company in Residence Counterpilot invites audiences into the Scaredy House.
Described as an interactive theatre event for fearsome families, Scaredy House challenges fears in unexpected ways. Think Goosebumps meets Minecraft with an existential twist. Counterpilot’s Nathan Sibthorpe gives us the low-down…
USE THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE SHOW…
Nathan Sibthorpe (NS): Spooky, Playful, Existential
WHAT CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT?
NS: Recently, Counterpilot made an installation that we referred to as a ‘reverse escape room’ – it used all of the conventions of an escape room to play with ‘escapism’ as a bigger idea. In this project, we’re trying to build a ‘reverse haunted house’ that will pull apart what it means to stage a haunting.
Here, we’re interested in fears that don’t belong in ghost stories – those things we’re scared of deep down, like not fitting in, or not knowing who we’re meant to be. But then also what if the house itself felt those feelings
It’s probably best that audiences expect the unexpected. Scaredy House is an unfolding situation that demands the audience. You’ll have to bring yourself, and we’ll bring ourselves, and together we’ll do our best to face the dark. It will be gloomy at times, and mysterious of course. There might be bad drawings, shifty smoke machines, and torn-up paper.
We’ll make sure there’s some light in there somewhere – probably some twinkling ones that make you feel cosy inside.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A PERFORMER/CREATIVE?
NS: I’m a serial collaborator – theatre is a thing that happens in the space between people, so I believe the best processes happen between people.
With Counterpilot, we’ve developed something special in the space between each other. We understand the world better when we work together and butt against each other, smoothing out each other’s edges. I feel the same is true of most things in life – it makes more sense when we focus on the space between things.
This is why I make theatre – because there’s magic in the space between people, and when we all come together for a moment we can tap into that.
WHO INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?
NS: Children. Because they are braver, bolder, and more hopeful than all of us.
For this project, we’re particularly inspired by Lemony Snicket, for his playful blend of whimsy and melancholy. The ways he generously serves up some truth, some style, some wit, and some deep resounding sadness, all held together with a bit of cheeky fun.
But we’re also vibing on Goosebumps, The Trap Door, Freaky Stories, Aaaah Real Monsters, Paul Jennings, and all of the morbid twisted content we grew up on…
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR PERFORMING ARTS?
NS: Jesus. Look. I don’t know if I do love performing arts. Theatre is a disease that has infected my life and I no longer know how to treat it. I can’t fathom a life without it.
Catch Scaredy House at Metro Arts’ 19 – 26 June, at New Benner Theatre, West Village, West End. Click here for more details.
