Halcyon Playhouse will continue their vision of presenting multi-sensory, immersive experiences when they bring 'Possession: Fear Never Sleeps' to Fringe World in Perth.
Five strangers suffer from sleep paralysis. They each partake in a non-conventional exposure response programme, soon discovering that things might be a little more sinister than once thought.
The show uses sight, sound and smell to create the perfect atmos-fear for a gripping show – and no two performances will be the same, as actors are subject to different stimuli each time. The show is set on ground level, which means everything is a stage and audience members will truly feel a part of the action.
“The idea came from my own experiences. The story arc that my character goes on is built heavily around that,” Halcyon Playhouse Creative Director Ryan S McNally says. “The venue is so unique because the floors, roof and walls are all painted black and there is very little light. . . Perfect for what we are doing, right?”
Image © Darkest Raven Designs
While there's a narrative to 'Possession', it also relies on elements of improvisation to drive it forward. “It was really important to the team to make sure that our characters were well fleshed out, so that we were never caught out,” Ryan continues.
This will be the second incarnation of 'Possession' (it was first performed in December 2019), with original leading cast members Paul Reed, Bernadette Ward, Nikita Harwood, Devetta Ridgwell and Zack Inglis set to reprise their roles.
“I love scary stories,” Zack admits. “It's been a thrill to be able to express yourself in such a dark play. The immersive work of Halcyon is always exciting to be involved with.”
Image © Darkest Raven Designs
“In a year when the theatre has been so hard hit by COVID-19, it’s wonderful to see original works take to the stage for Fringe World 2021,” cast (and founding Halcyon) member Devetta Ridgwell adds. “It’s exciting that WA writers, performers and crew able to still get together and create such different works.”
“Sleep paralysis affects four in ten people, so seeing the audience relate to the characters is something,” Devetta continues.
“You cannot beat an audience's reaction.”
