Overview
Sometimes, we all need to get a little lost. We need to leave our comfort zones — and the homes we've spent so much time in during the pandemic — and go wandering through an otherworldly realm. We need to play with echo light chambers, bound our way into giant bubbles, wander between shimmering digital vines and take a leap into a three-metre abyss, too, and just completely forget about our day-to-day troubles while we're moseying around a multi-sensory installation.
If all of that sounds like your idea of heaven at the moment, it's about to become a reality in Melbourne again from Friday, November 12. That's when Imaginaria is bringing its immersive playground for kidults and children alike back to The District Docklands, and setting up shop until the end of January.
If you weren't one of the 100,000-plus people who caught Imaginaria's last Melbourne season late last year and early this year, here's your chance to head along. And if you did make the trip last time, there's plenty to tempt you back for a return wander, including new installations and a collaboration with French filmmaker Thomas Vanz.
This time, that aforementioned echo light chamber will respond to your movements — and you can jump into that three-metre cosmic abyss. The giant bubble will be filled with Vanz's hypnotic imagery, or you can recline on a seven-metre rotating bean bag perched underneath a light and sound constellation. In general, you can soak up an ambient soundscape that's designed by Alexander Albrecht and Nico as well.
All of the above will still fall within a space that's made up of different structures, each filled with lights, sounds and smells. And yes, you'll still take your shoes off first, before exploring Imaginaria's new otherworldly realm.
Melbourne's second dance with Imaginaria will be a choose-your-own-adventure kind of experience again, so you can spend 15 minutes skipping through or take your time. Open to all ages, it'll also have capacity limits and strict hygiene measures, with tickets starting at $29.95 a pop for adults.
Imaginaria will set up at The District Docklands from Friday, November 12–Sunday, January 30, with tickets on sale now.