For hundreds of years believers and sceptics alike have consulted the Tarot for guidance; now Adelaide audiences can entrust their fate to the cards in the fully immersive story telling experience ‘TattleTales’.
Making its South Australian premiere at Adelaide Fringe ‘TattleTales’ puts audiences in the driver’s seat in a collaborative choose-your-own-adventure style experience which is completely improvised – guaranteeing that no two shows are the same.
Guided by the story teller (Davey Seagle) participants create their own world full of rich settings and diverse characters whose actions and decisions are influenced by the cards audience members draw from the tarot deck. Each card has the potential to bring untold happiness or destructive chaos to the story and it is up to the audience to decide how the power of these cards should be used.
With his expressive and enthusiastic story telling style, Davey delivers a spectacularly fun performance as the story teller, bringing the audience's world to life in vivid detail. His beautifully crafted opening monologue engulfs the audience in the magic and potential of the show through a whimsical combination of welcome to country and a celebration of First Nations and Norse stories.
Davey clearly enjoys the spontaneity of the show and his ability to adapt to a constantly changing narrative without faltering is testament to his ingenuity. There was more than one curve ball thrown during the 6pm show (26 February) and Davey relished in each one, growing more and more excitable with every plot twist we delivered. His passion and imagination created a palpable sense of excitement which encouraged the audience to take risks and get involved. As can happen when a room full of strangers share ideas, there were the occasional disagreements about how the plot should unfold, and Davey mediated those moments beautifully by inventing multiple scenarios from which the audience could choose.
Image © Aaron Cornelius
‘TattleTales’ is designed for small audiences of up to 20 people which is fortunate given the intimate setting in which it takes place. With a small, sparsely furnished stage consisting of a table, some candles and of course the tarot cards, ‘TattleTales’ relies heavily on lighting and music to set the scene for the story unfolding and on Sunday night, deep shades of red turned the stage into an ominous place where trouble was brewing while soft hues of blue, purple and yellow signified happier times.
Each significant moment of the story was accompanied by a musical score which perfectly captured the emotion of the moment – an incredible feat considering it is an improvised experience with no real way to prepare for what happens next.
While it is fully immersive, audience members have complete control over how and when they participate, making the show safe for introverts too. A thoroughly enjoyable experience, ‘TattleTales’ encourages audiences to unleash their creativity and create their own legendary tale.
