Date: 2010-2020

Partners: Folly Games, Woodfordia Inc

Role: Producer, Writer (eventually dozens of writers), Director (handed over to Gianni Tills for the last few years)

Description:

The Game was an immersive game theatre experience at the Woodford Folk Festival and one of the largest of its kind in the world. It was played over the six days of the Woodford Folk Festival and included more than 5000 players at level one and had over 500 players engaging directly with the narrative and quest level of the game. There were dozens of quests and extended interactive adventures to choose from. There were between thirteen and six sets spread throughout the festival; a castle inhabited by ‘Elizabogans’, a train carriage with a train station cafe, a magical emporium, a troll’s treethedral, death’s game show, and a sunken time travelling sailing ship, and many more.

The Game can be played for 20 hours over the duration of the festival without any repetition of content. There were two game worlds, one that ran for three years and the second for seven years. Each year the story evolved based on player actions and character improvisations. At the end of the festival The Game ended with a spectacular finale in the centre of the festival in which one player wins a season ticket to the next festival.

The Game is created by a group of writers, actors, and game enthusiasts throughout the year. We had a build crew of 14 people making sets, costumes and props in the two weeks leading up to the festival. During the festival we had 34 people involved in acting and production.