Twilio > Case Studies > Interactive Theatre Meets Urban Digital Gaming: Root Experience's Twilio-Powered Innovation

Interactive Theatre Meets Urban Digital Gaming: Root Experience's Twilio-Powered Innovation

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Bluetooth
Wearables - Augmented Reality Glasses, Headsets & Controllers

Applicable Industries

Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Speech Recognition
Time Sensitive Networking

About The Customer

Root Experience is a theatre company based in Brighton, United Kingdom. Founded in 2006, the company specializes in developing interactive art projects and workshops. Root Experience combines interactive theatre with urban and digital gaming to create research-based interactive experiences. The company's Artistic Director, Simon Magnus, has led the company in producing seven productions of increasing complexity and ambition. Root Experience's latest production, The Rise And Fall Of Geo Goynes, is an urban treasure conspiracy story that explores themes of surveillance, privacy, espionage, and deception.

The Challenge

Root Experience, a UK-based theatre company, was faced with the challenge of creating a dynamic and interactive theatre experience that could break the 'fourth wall' between the cast and their audiences. The company wanted to leverage the recent surge in popularity of interactive theatre and explore new mediums to enhance audience engagement. Their latest production, The Rise And Fall Of Geo Goynes, was an urban treasure conspiracy story dealing with themes around surveillance, privacy, espionage, and deception. The challenge was to automatically send custom voice calls to audience members, making them active participants in the show. The company needed a solution that could seamlessly integrate with the performance and provide a unique, immersive experience for the audience.

The Solution

Root Experience turned to Twilio's Programmable Voice to create an interactive theatre experience. At the beginning of each performance, audience members were handed pre-programmed phones with Bluetooth linked headsets, replacing their personal mobiles. These tools became an intrinsic part of the performance, with a fictional news bulletin setting the scene of the story. As the performance progressed, the audience was guided by their headsets to meet at designated locations for further instructions. The audience had to solve a series of challenges and puzzles, some involving physical clues attached to landmarks around the town/city, others requiring interaction with new characters. The production culminated in a dramatic finale that required all team members to coordinate their positions remotely using their phones. Twilio's technology enabled Root Experience to create a truly immersive and interactive theatre experience.

Operational Impact

The use of Twilio's Programmable Voice technology transformed the theatre experience for Root Experience's audience. It allowed the company to break the traditional 'fourth wall' between the cast and the audience, creating a more engaging and immersive experience. The audience became active participants in the show, solving puzzles, interacting with characters, and coordinating their actions using the pre-programmed phones. The technology also enabled the company to explore new themes and narratives, pushing the boundaries of traditional theatre. The successful integration of digital technology into their production has opened up new possibilities for Root Experience, allowing them to create more complex and ambitious productions in the future.