This New Off-Broadway Show Encourages Selfies During the Performance
Yes, that's Daniel Radcliffe sneakin' a selfie.
While we suspect he'll always be remembered best as the world's most famous boy wizard, you certainly couldn't accuse Daniel Radcliffe of always playing in the same sandbox. Since wrapping up the Harry Potter series, the actor has played Alan Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, taken the stage in Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishman, and most recently appeared as a flatulent corpse in the surprisingly heartwarming indie film Swiss Army Man.
His latest project is an Off-Broadway play, one that is noteworthy not just for Radcliffe's part, but for its unusual policy when it comes to mobile phones. While whipping out your cell is generally considered sacrilege in the theatre, Privacy takes the opposite approach — actively encouraging audience members to take selfies during the show in order to explore questions of privacy and accountability in an increasingly connected world.
As Radcliffe dives into the open world of social media, audience members are able to post their photos to the theatre website, at which point they're projected onto a giant screen behind the actors. Further chances for crowd participation come when a character types "is it wrong…" into Google, with viewers prompted to shout out possible autofill possibilities.
Of course Privacy isn't the first time theatres have allowed or even encouraged the use of mobile phones. Theatres in Melbourne such as Malthouse and La Mama have experimented with special 'tweet seats' in the past, sparking furious debate as to whether the practice should be allowed. What's interesting in this case is how the play actually incorporates phone users into the performance. This could very well be the beginning of a brave new world.
Via PSFK.
- The Most-Secluded Retreats You Can Book in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
- Ten of the Best Airbnb Stays You Can Book Around Australia
- Sixteen of the Best Private Accommodations You Can Book in Regional Victoria
- The Most Idyllic Island Accommodations You Can Book in Queensland
- Ten Next-Level Australian Stays with Outdoor Baths for the Ultimate Relax and Rewind Getaway
- Eight Unexpected Natural Wonders to Visit Around Victoria