[english]

The Roaming is an immersive theatrical adventure in virtual reality, a wonderful and unsettling tale whose outcome depends on your own choices - and on those of the group you belong to. Two kids, Pearl and David, are hiding in the heart of a dark and disquieting nature. Having captured their mother, the terrifying Deputy Sheriff is now on their trail. Equipped with a virtual reality headset and your shoes off, you'll be able to enter this fable and help these children.

Pearl

A 6-year-old girl, brave and determined. She sets out into the night with her brother David in search of their mother Dorothy.

David

A 9-year-old boy, determined to do whatever it takes to find his mother Dorothy. Along with his sister Pearl, they are pursued by their own father, the Deputy Sheriff.

Dorothy

Mother of David and Pearl. She has just fallen in love with Pierre and wants to build a new life with him.

Mystic Man

A rebel living near the river. He is in love with Dorothy.

Deputy Sheriff

He is the father of David and Pearl. He is a disgraced police officer, convinced that he has rights over Dorothy.

Infrastructure of the roaming experience

The Setup

In this virtual reality play, groups of 8 spectators embark on the journey of two runaway children. Along the way, they encounter various characters, some of whom are portrayed by the same actor who also serves as their guide. Barefoot, hands-free, and equipped with virtual reality headsets, the 8 spectators immerse themselves in a 64 m² open stage where real objects and virtuality intertwine. Surrounding them, a 7.1 audio system expands the auditory perception beyond the visual field.

“The Roaming aims to bring out our heroic side, relying on our intelligence and empathy, urging us to stand up for ourselves and save the most vulnerable around us. This project aims to take a modest step in the right direction by questioning our individual ability to help each other and overcome seemingly invincible monsters.

I laid the foundations of this experience after two attacks, those of Paris and Charlottesville combined in my mind by having lived in both cities. I wanted to be a hero and stop the violence. What about the cathartic virtues attributed to immersive experiences, to empathy? I envisioned a tale with a narrative focused on aiding rather than destroying. In the climactic duel, we disarm our foe without resorting to their destruction. So, as David Bowie wrote, we can be heroes, just for one day.”

Mathieu Pradat - Director & Writer

The Actor

The actor performs on the stage amidst the spectators, portraying two characters from the play, the Mystic Man and the Deputy Sheriff, seamlessly transitioning between avatars. His movements are captured in real-time using motion capture and facial capture technology. The actor also controls other non-player characters who interact with him. When he performs ballads on stage, they become suspended moments, allowing for improvisation inspired by his creativity and the reactions of each encounter with the audience.

Axel Beaumont

Axel Beaumont is an actor-author who explores extended reality (XR), and has contributed to several innovative creations that fuse artistic performance and technology. In particular, he played Colin alongside Lou de Laâge in the interactive installation L'ECUMES DES JOURS XR and in ENTREZ DANS LA DANSE, immersive dome experience, both directed by Julie Desmet Weaver. As a motion capture performer, he took part in ENCOUNTERS by Mathieu Pradat. He is also the author of E.MOTION, an immersive 360° tale from the UNDERGROUND Sugar production.

 FAQ

  • The Roaming is rooted in the tradition of 1950s classic Hollywood cinema, and in particular film noir. The experience deals with violence, murder, and omnipotence, all profoundly disturbing events. It employs the language of fairy tales, reinterpreted by this genre, particularly emblematic films like "The Night of the Hunter" by Charles Laughton, to distance these themes and address them head-on.

  • The Roaming draws heavily from the grammar of moving images patiently crafted by cinema, to the extent that it now seems self-evident to us. This is true for the visual dimension of the images, as well as for editing and its ability to transport us from one space to another, from one world to another in virtual reality, without physically moving.

  • The Roaming departs from cinema by being an immersive and interactive experience. Spectators are part of the world and of the story of the piece. The narrative unfolds with and through them.

  • I laid the groundwork for The Roaming after two attacks, those of Paris and Charlottesville, linked in my mind by having lived in both cities. I wanted to be a hero and stop the violence. What about the cathartic virtues attributed to immersive experiences, to empathy? I imagined a story with a very strong narrative thread, whose goal is neither to destroy nor to kill, but to offer assistance. An experience where, during the final duel, one disarms their enemy without going as far as their destruction, whose cathartic virtues seem dubious to me. So we can be heroes, as David Bowie wrote, one day, to begin.