Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Complicité

January, 2023 

I was lucky enough to be invited to press night for the debut run of Drive Your Plow at the Bristol Old Vic. I'd been involved in the research project using the show as case study to investigate how the difference between live theatre and online theatre effects audience immersion. The show itself however incorporates a large amount of digital technology primarily in the form of projection mapping. 

As is expected the show itself is absolutely incredible, having not read the book or any information I went in completely blind and was absolutely blown away by the story, the characterisation and the acting. It was an incredible example of how well digital practices can be woven almost seamlessly into a performance. The projection mapping was used in so many different ways to create different atmospheres and settings. I was particularly intrigued by the large section of set in centre stage that was somehow transformed into different uses. At times it was a see through glass, at others a mirror where the audience could see themselves, and also used as a projection screen. I assume the set piece was made from a one way mirror. 

An element of the projection mapping that I particularly loved was when the cast took their black coats off and flew them and the projection mapping was onto the coats as they moved across the stage. It was something really novel that I'd not seen before. They also really carefully used the different levels of flats on the set to give an almost 3D feel to the projection design. I sometimes feel with projection mapping that it is over used and doesn't add much benefit to the production but this definitely felt like all the mapping was carefully chosen and not out of place to aide the performance rather than overwhelm it. Especially given that the majority of the show felt like it was set where there was limited tech so it could have been quite jarring. 

Overall this was a really inspriring performance that felt like a really impressive display of digital technology and where it can go, the olny minor improvement was that one of the back projectors did give a little glare into the audience at points but this didn't majorly detract from the overall impression of the show. I would definitely recommend catching this while it's still on tour.