Take Me Somewhere | Patrick Blenkarn + Milton Lim - asses.masses

Part of Take Me Somewhere Festival, 15 to 26 October 

The unemployed donkeys have one demand: the humans must surrender their machines and give all donkeys their jobs back. But revolution is never easy!

asses.masses is a custom-made video game about labour, technophobia and sharing the load of revolution, designed to be played from beginning to end in a live theatre. This is gaming as performance; an immersive, cheeky and highly original work. Brave spectators take turns at the controller to lead the herd through a post-Industrial society, where asses are valued more for their hides than their potential.

Confronting automation driven job loss, nostalgia as a barrier to progress, and the role of technology in adaptation, we are encouraged to find space between the work that defines us and the play that frees us. 

asses.masses is Animal Farm meets Pokémon meets Final Fantasy: as exciting in form as it is in content. No previous gaming (or donkey) experience required.

We encourage you to stay for the entire duration, to go on a journey together, from start to finish. The experience is not designed for audiences to come and go anytime, or to arrive late. Intermissions take place every two episodes, approximately every 1.5 hours, with food and drink provided all day.

Recommended for ages 14+

ACCESS
This performance is highly visual with no spoken text. All language is visual, with written text based prompts integrated into the performance. A BSL interpreter will be present during breaks for conversational BSL.

This performance is a durational video game, played collectively by the audience.

7 + hours with regular intermissions serving food and drink.

This show embraces some elements of a Relaxed Performance. For assess.masses, this means :

Audiences can leave and re-enter the theatre

Audiences are welcome to move, tic, stim or make noise

House lights never fully go down

A pre-show access information guide and social story is available

A breakout space will be available pre, during and after the show

Ear Defenders, Ear Plugs and Dark Glasses will be available to borrow

Visit the Take Me Somewhere Festival Access Page

Sensory notes:
Flashing Lights
Rapid Moving Images
Audience Participation

Content:
References to violence
Strong Language
Simulated Sex (human)
Simulated Sex (donkey)
Police Brutality
Reference to Drug Use
Reference to Suicide

Credits

Co-direction, Text, Programming, Pixel Art, 2D Animation: Patrick Blenkarn (Canada)
Co-direction, Text, Sound Design, Video, Shaders, 3D Visual Effects: Milton Lim (Canada)
Dramaturgy, Text, Touring Producer: Laurel Green (Canada)
Original Music, Sound Design: David Mesiha (Canada)
Pixel Art, 2D Animation: Clarissa Picolo (Brazil)
Pixel Art, 2D Animation: William Roth (France)
3D Environments: Ariadne Sage (Germany)
Additional Programming: Samuel Reinhart (USA)
Tour Operators: Patrick Blenkarn, Milton Lim, Laurel Green, David Mesiha, Stéphane Noel
International Distribution: Stéphane Noël / Materialise

Created with support from Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, The Theatre Centre, VIVO Media Arts, Embassy of Canada to Argentina and Paraguay.

Developed with the funding support from Creative BC, the British Columbia Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts.

Produced in association with the National Arts Centre of Canada’s National Creation Fund.