When engaging with a piece of theatre, more often than not we do so in a room full of strangers, everyone seeking out their own interpretation and meaning from the art being presented in front of them. Ontroerend Goed’s latest show seeks to blur the boundaries between performer and spectator, placing emphasis on the camaraderie of collective experience, as opposed to the convention of individual analysis.
Thanks For Being Here makes use of digital livestream, pre-recorded audio and live audience reaction, placing everyone in the auditorium at the heart of the show’s narrative. We’re not being asked to do anything, however; we’re simply invited to be present and to be receptive to the company’s offer of a performance that may never again be repeated in the same way.
The on-stage unity between the quartet of Karolien De Bleser, Charlotte De Bruyne, Patricia Kargbo and Leonore Spee highlights Ontroerend Goed’s synergy as a company, and their proficiency at amplifying interactivity without making anyone feel uneasy about the experience. The slow camera pan across rows of audience members silently accentuates our individual attitudes towards being immersed – some shift in their seats with nervous anticipation, while others jump in full throttle, making silly faces and hand gestures to stand out from the horde.
There’s humour in the performers’ faux direction of the audience filing in and out of the space but also something fascinating about how they zone in on the predictability of our actions. By celebrating the simple act of being together at the same time and place, Ontroerend Goed show that there can be a profound sense of beauty in the mundane.
Thanks for Being Here, ZOO Southside, until 24 Aug (not 18), 1.45pm