Come Bargain With Uncanny Things

An interactive immersive opera-ritual by the creators of We Sing/I Sang and The Perfect Opera.

They exist in the forgotten spaces.
They are beautiful.
They are terrible.
They never lie.
They hoard the truth.
We can bind them.

They are the Uncanny Things.

You have been requested and invited to come bargain with Uncanny Things.

This is a world much like ours, with one exception.

Those creatures in old stories and legends: the fey in the shadow of ancient trees, the hellkin lingering in bloody cellars, the bastions chanting at the edge of hearing: they are real.

That flicker of movement in the corner of your eye, the faint laugh heard in an empty house - those were Uncanny Things. So too the unexpected gift, or inexplicable sickness. Not always, but often.

Doors to their labyrinths - strange pocket-worlds formed around the Things - bloom and vanish in stone henges, fog-filled streets, and oil-slicked puddles. Sometimes, they extrude into this world, causing phenomena known as the Wyrd.

However, if a community comes together and performs a ritual of bargaining, the Things’ power can be bound, controlled, used, or abused.

You have been asked to attend such a ritual in these difficult times. You will decide who to help and how as you master rituals, make offerings, craft powerful invocations, and above all, negotiate with the strange and powerful Uncanny Thing.

As the wyrd rises, what will you do?

“an original, atmospheric, immersive role-play opera with real promise.” ★★★★ The Stage

“experimental, challenging, innovative work.” ★★★★ LondonTheatre1

“an elemental and intuitive experience… a truly affecting performance” OperaWire

Cast 

The Invoker, Guildmaster McCall: CN Lester
The Offerer, River: Michelle Kelly
The Observer, Carol Schuster: Sarah Griffin 
The Wyrd Gazer, Gabriel Erikson: Will Davies
Understudy: Zoe Flint

Creative Team

Designer: Charley Ipsen
Music Director: Erika Gundesen
Worldbuilder & Director: Leo Doulton

Interaction FAQs

While at Come Bargain With Uncanny Things, you can interact as much or as little as you like. You might choose to take a central role in the ritual, you might decide to sit back and enjoy what others do; most people are somewhere in-between, quietly adding to the world of the show.

You will not be required to sing, unless you especially want to.

Accessibility

We want to ensure that everyone attending can feel safe and enjoy their time at Come Bargain With Uncanny Things. You will be required to wear a face mask. If you have an exemption, that is completely fine; please let us know on arrival. If you are able to take an LFT test before arriving, that would be appreciated.

Unfortunately, due to the constraints of the building, this event is not accessible to wheelchairs.

Content Advisories

Please note that as an improvised interactive show, it is possible that things may come up that are not included in these content warnings. 

However, we will strive to make this a safe and enjoyable space for all, with a generally calm and ritualistic tone.

Breakout spaces will be available for those who need a break from the show.

The following may come up during the show:

Fictitious occult ritual

Manipulation of and by supernatural creatures

Moderate threat to children & adults from supernatural creatures and events

Moderate swearing

Offstage, but described: 

Death, dying, human sacrifice, insomnia, magically-caused delusion and misperception of reality, missing children, sickness

The venue has a licensed bar which will be serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Images © Claire Shovelton. This show and its R&D have been funded and supported by the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, the Opera Awards Foundation, the Britten Pears Foundation, and Tête à Tête.