A Play Toward

What is this?

This is a game about putting on a play.

Every character in A Play Toward has some role to play in staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream, whether onstage or offstage, and the rehearsal process is central to the structure of the game. A lot of time will be taken up with performing, planning, and analysing a work of theatre. We want to capture the pressurised excitement of competitive rehearsals, buzzing backstages, and bright stage lights. A group of big personalities pulling together to capture a single precious moment - or at least trying to…

This is a game about ordinary people.

Staging this play together isn’t purely a re-enactment exercise, it’s also a way to tell meaningful, personal stories about the people involved. A complex, contested environment that naturally brings out tension and emotion.  Although the characters of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will loom large, we’re most interested in the people bringing them to life. What draws them to perform, create, pretend? What does it mean to act as a hero, or villain, or comic relief? What gives iconic stories their power over us?

This is a game about subtle magic.

Every character will fall under the influence of spirits from the play, whether lured into their schemes or outright possessed. Characters’ thoughts and desires may be twisted, obscured, or abruptly pulled to the fore. The ensuing chaos will push characters to new discoveries; confronting challenges and exploring untapped parts of themselves.

What is this not?

Competent stage-craft or critique.

We encourage a “play to lift” style where characters’ performances can be evaluated irrespective of their players’ abilities. You are very welcome to find fun in performing your character’s role to the best of your own ability, but shouldn’t rely on other people doing the same. You won't be expected to learn any lines!

We explicitly do not allow playing on any critique or negative evaluation of other people’s work, unless they are using an established mechanic to signal out-of-character that something isn't quite right with their character's performance.

Acknowledging the magic

The elements of magic and supernatural influence in this game aren’t intended to be researched or understood. Though we have clear out-of-character mechanics for expressing them, they should never occur to the characters. Like Puck’s magic in the play itself, any changes happen unconsciously, just outside of awareness. We think it is much more interesting if strange behaviour is treated as a change of heart or cruel prank, building on existing drama rather than distracting from it. Ultimately, the climax of the game lies in facing individual dilemmas and making it through the dress rehearsal, rather than confronting any external forces.