The Festival of Live Digital Art is back for its 7th year. The only festival of its kind in the country, it explores the idea of live performance mixed with digital technologies. Adrienne Wong has come to Kingston from the West Coast to present SmartSmart, a show featuring the phones you’re likely reading this review on! I asked Adrienne about the show, crafting, and accessible theatre.

1. Could you please introduce yourself to my readers and talk a bit about your role with  SmartSmart?

I’m Adrienne Wong. I’m a theatre maker and producer based in Victoria, BC. My show, SmartSmart is about the supercomputers that we carry in our pockets — our smartphones! I’m the writer/performer, and I’m working with Andie Lloyd who is the digital designer.

2. What was the process like creating a piece which will be performed both digitally and in person?

It is often very mind-bending. There are aspects of the show that the in-person audience will experience asynchronously, but the online audience will experience synchronously and in a different order. So we are regularly checking in about each choice we make and how it will impact both audiences, and how we might be able to harmonize their experiences.

3. Any time I see that there’s crafts involved in an event, I’m automatically excited! Do you have a favourite craft or one that you’ve been practicing for a while?

I have an extensive  craft practice! Right now I’m knitting a shawl using a mystery knit-a-long design by Stephen West. I sew clothes with my daughter for her stuffed animals and I have a regular zentangle practice (or distraction, depending on how you look at it!). I spend more time thinking about crafts than making crafts these days.

4. Could you please talk a bit about why you chose to have all of your shows in a  relaxed environment? 

By working with artists who live with disability and  activists for  disability justice, I’ve learned about how removing access barriers and promoting inclusion benefits everyone. The kind of theatre that I make is participatory. That means that I’m asking the audience to meet me in the performance as themselves. Now, I don’t ask anyone to do anything dangerous or scary, but I never know. What is simple for one person could be intimidating for another person. So I try to build in multiple ways that people can engage, from very low engagement (being in the room with us) to high engagement (doing crafts, using their personal device and conversing with me). I’m not planning to work in a “relaxed environment”, but that type of environment is a by-product of considering the needs and comfort of the audience members.

5. What’s your hope for the future of digital theatre as a medium?

Digital theatre is a small term that captures a broad range of performances. What I hope to see is a continued exploration and expansion of artists’ exploration of digital tools in live performance. The potential to collaboration and engage with audiences continues to grow, which is inspiring.

I want to thank Adrienne for taking the time to answer my questions! From one knitter to another, I wish I could bring my work in progress and see SmartSmart in person! For more information about FOLDA, check out: https://www.folda.ca

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