Open Lab Showcase

Two evenings of raw performance from Barbican Open Lab's emerging artists after their developmental residencies in the Barbican's Pit Theatre

The Open Lab Showcase presents new work by emerging and mid-career artists after their developmental residencies as part of the Open Lab programme in the Barbican’s Pit Theatre. Open Labs give artists the chance to experiment in a working theatrical space without the expectation of a final product, creating work right at the cutting edge of contemporary performance.

The Showcase promises two evenings of raw performance from some of London's most exciting emerging artists. Thursday 5 Oct includes work from Tian Glasgow and Dickson Mbi with Friday 6 Oct, which has been co-curated with Camden People's Theatre, showcasing a piece from The Lab Collective and an extract of a work in progress from Paula Varjack. Day two will also feature immersive performances throughout the day from Lowri James.

Day One performances

Race Today is a new piece of involving provocative theatre in development, where some decisions rest with the audience. Writers of colour have created short immersive vignettes as a part of a unique workshop engaging with the topic of race and representation in today’s society.

This was developed in the Barbican Open Lab scheme in January 2017 challenging the writers to attend the Black Cultural Archive in Lambeth to gain inspiration from the historical archive. By introducing the writers to the 1970's publication Race Today, their scenes gain a prism through which to tell stories of the modern British POC experience.

Artistic Director: Tian Glasgow

Three Degree Win, written by Sharmila Chauhan

The Dinner Party, written by Olu Alakija

Day Two performances

A new society is coming; plagued by the suspicion of strangers, a system has evolved to meet the demands of an angry and fearful population. Incoming/Exodus is an interactive, immersive experience which challenges attitudes towards immigration, with your voice centre stage.

You have been called upon to undertake a new form of civic duty, becoming immigration officers on behalf of a crumbling government. Working collaboratively with your fellow citizens, you must complete your assignment to make or break the new order.

In a world where humans have been turned into numbers, and the numbers are warped by those in power – will you break the system?

In a post-Brexit, post-UK, post-London world, Incoming/Exodus invites the audience to consider and re-imagine the fundamental building blocks of our society. Using interactive performance and elements of gameplay we ask our audience to participate in and question the decision-making process of those in power, whilst daring to imagine a different future.

Performed by the Lab Collective. Supported by CPT and Barbican Open Labs. Incoming/Exodus will be performed in full at Camden People's Theatre between 17th - 21st October.

Performed by Matthew Flacks and Amelia Vernede
Directed by Natalie Scott and Joseph Thorpe