The Encounter

Simon McBurneyhas produced and performs a quite extraordinary piece of theatre. Theatre of illusion, sound, immersive storytelling and fascination. Engrossing, clever and technically wizzy it may be but the story of Loren McIntyre's encounter with a "lost" Amazonian tribe.

What is so different about this show is that you take it all in via headphones - it is a true binaural production with a soundscape mixing live, live-looped and recorded sounds and voices to create the whole scene. You can watch with your eyes closed for a full experience or watch Simon create the sounds in front of you. Actually most people switch regularly between the two to try and keep a grasp on reality Even so, you could see half the audience look over their shoulder from time to time as a new sound - often that of hs daughter coming into the "room" - caught them unaware of what was "live" and what was part of te show..

Starting a little like a 1970's Hi-Fi test record (remember those!) with "this is the left speaker" etc ... then a "here i walk around your head" ... but once the initial gigles and squeals are over we'r etaken deep into the story - a truly extraordinary journey, a real experience. Binaural productions have been broadcast on radio before but seeing it produced live in front of you is quite amazing as you realise you are unable to differentiate between sounds, sound effects (video tape has never been used for so many things), recordings and live speech. Simon's quickness of foot on the looper controls is quite amazing.

Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea but I loved it and would happily see it again any time ... check it out if you get any chance ... an amazing production and a fabulous performance