Spikes Asia 2017: The theatre company that never stops innovating

As a part of the FCB’s Never Finished Creators Series, Josephine Pan, CEO, FCB Shanghai engaged in conversation with Lucas Wang, Director of Beijing's Inside-Out Theatre. 

 

"A never finished idea is driven by a strong sense of purpose, creative behaviour and strengthens the brand purpose.It always leaves one with the thought, what can we do better...," said Pan, in her introductory remarks.

 

Wang, who had no theatre background said that he fell into theatre almost by accident. According to him, theatre was not just entertainment, or a performance, but a social responsibility."

 

With that strong sense of purpose, the Inside-Out theatre has innovated with several formats. In one case, it got a Swiss Director to direct an English script to cater to a Chinese audience. The result was a drama where the couple speak about the insecurity of planning for a child in a set that resembles a see-saw and the resulting tension from their conversations rubs off on the audience as well. 

 

In another case, it adapted a play where the lead actor gets only one chance to play the role, that too without a rehearsal. 

 

Speaking about the usage of technology on stage, Wang cited the case of using VR in theatre. The audience consists only of 30 members who witness the conversation between a detective and the witness in a murder mystery. The conversation is in theatre and the evidence is presented using VR.