The Covid Diaries 49: Stratford East / ThickSkin, Petrichor (last chance to see)

A review of my first virtual reality theatre experience, Petrichor at Stratford East, courtesy of ThickSkin. In which I like seeing something different, but understand why VR headsets haven’t taken off.

What is Petrichor?

Petrichor often turns up on lists on the internet of unusual or beautiful yet under-utilised words. It is defined as ‘the scent of rain on dry ground’. Petrichor the theatre experience at Stratford East has at its heart that moment of beauty and stillness and connection to nature, while at the same time being one of the least ‘natural’ theatre experiences I have ever had. I don’t mean that in a negative way though.

Petrichor is a collaboration between several different parties. The website describes it as a MATCHBOX production for ThickSkin. From what I can tell, MATCHBOX is the name for VR productions by ThickSkin, who are a ‘physical theatre company’ making live and digital works. Petrichor has toured a few different theatres both online and in-person, finishing at Stratford East from 7-13 December. In addition to ThickSkin’s contribution, there’s also some animation by Ben Walden, and music by Neil Bettles. And a host of other creatives involved as well, of course.

So Petrichor at Stratford East is theatre in the form of virtual reality. I really found it to be a cross between Blindness at the Donmar Warehouse, and c-o-n-t-a-c-t which I saw in Central London in the summer; both of which were testing the boundaries of what theatre can be in the context of 2020. It also reminded me of the work of the theatre company 1927, mainly in the use of animation which actors interact with. Basically, there’s a lot going on.

Ok, But What Is It About?

So the plot of this 40 minute experience is as follows. Two individuals, one man and one woman, seem to have entered into an agreement with a machine or system called Petrichor. They have been sold an illusion, the idea that they can trade their cares and worries for certainty and security. They wear a uniform (that really reminded me of a UPS driver), and do nothing but work, eat and sleep. Until something changes, as it usually does in these stories, and the two make a human connection. This leads to them questioning their choice, but you will have to watch it to find out the ending.

However, even without the VR, this is already not a typical theatre experience. Petrichor is told more or less through interpretive dance, with key moments explained in voiceover and text. The two actors (Ayesha Fazal and Dominic Coffey) tell the story through their movement, and do it very well. A lot of what they do initially is synchronised and repetitive as they go through the motions of the lives in Petrichor. We also see them questioning and struggling, again without any dialogue from the actors themselves. There’s a sort of musical interlude, and some different sequences like flashbacks and visual effects which help to mix it up. But Fazal and Coffey carry a lot of Petrichor themselves.

What Was Petrichor Like To Watch At Stratford East?

I feel a little mixed on this question. The theatre-going experience was quite cool and different. The audience checks in first in the theatre’s restaurant space, before being led around the building to the stage door. You’re actually sitting on seats spaced out on the stage, which is a great view. Unfortunately you don’t enjoy it for long though as you put on your VR headset and headphones and make sure everything is working fine before the ‘performance’ begins. There is a video here which describes what to expect.

I have to say though, I’m not convinced that VR could be the saviour of theatre. There were a few small niggles that made the experience less immersive than it could have been, at least for me. These were things like not being sure if I had the image exactly in focus; wondering whether it was making me feel ill at times; being able to see a small sliver of my legs through the bottom of the headset; and getting tired of turning my head to look for the characters.

This last point is interesting – it is one of the selling points of VR that Petrichor is a 360° experience. But at the same time, the headset is heavy enough that it felt like a strain on my neck after a while to be turning all around. Sometimes I just waited for the actors to come back into my line of sight. I’m not sure what the answer is – I’m sure the technology will continue to evolve, and at 40 minutes it’s doable. I just find it a limitation of this format at this time.

So Should I Go To Petrichor at Stratford East, or Other VR Theatre?

I think probably yes. It’s different, and like some of those other theatrical experiences I referenced above, some boundaries are definitely being pushed this year. I don’t think the story itself will stick in my memory, but at £7.50 a ticket the theatre can’t be close to covering expenses, so I think this is more of a proof of concept. And unless they get that audience response and feedback, they won’t know which direction to take it in.

The current run finishes tomorrow unfortunately. But if you see other dates for Petrichor at Stratford East or elsewhere, give it a try! And wear that mark on your head from the VR headset like a badge of honour on your way home – you’re a theatre pioneer.

On its own merits: 3.5/5
Implementing Covid measures: 4.5/5

Petrichor until 12 December 2020