London born Grime artist Skepta is a part of the largest network of compelling British artists in music today. He is a Mercury Prize Winner and noted BRIT nominee, and now, in this new performance of DYSTOPIA987, we are going to see a completely different side to his artistic flare, as he steps outside of his usual gig set-up to reimagine the future.
In collaboration with Dawn King (writer), Creative Studio TEM (a design studio) and Matthew Dunster (performance director), Skepta is going to bring an immersive, multi sensory rave to Manchester.
7:45pm: Your journey to Dystopia987 begins with getting rid of your phone. That’s right. Before even entering the secret venue, you are given a phone wallet with a magnetic lock which can only be unlocked in the designated ‘Phone Zone’. This is a massive relief for me. I’m an advocate of No Phones at live events. You had your bag checked and were led up a metal staircase to be ‘initiated’.
7:55pm: After being let in, you were led to a very dark space, then shouted at to stand next to a metal fence in a line and have our “photo” taken for Dambryn (sp). I was surprised the building didn’t smell like damp. Then you were escorted to another space where you were given different coloured tokens. This rigid space had a typical rave vibe. Low LED lighting, fragmented colours, bass. After looking around and seeing signs saying “Free Your Ego” “Free Spirit” “Free H2O”. I wasn’t told what the tokens were for, I was hoping they were for the bar, alas I asked and I could spend them like a normal consumer on the several free stalls set up in the space. You could get your hair done (I opted for a half head plait, why not, it is summer after all), I had a thermal photo taken, you could get some airbrush make-up and have a personalised experience. The personalised experience: this was a defining moment of intimate theatrical performance. For a purple token I was offered a two part deal. A handshake, a high five or a hug AND then a back massage. I went straight in with a high-five and a back massage. The performer seems truly immersed in the back rub.
8:10pm: One performer shoved a set of headphones into my hand. The sentiment here, perhaps, for a younger audience, was about living in the moment and enjoying the company you’re in, reconnecting in a genuine way, and experiencing something new with someone new. I did feel lighter there were no selfies or Instagramming. People seemed calmer, and not many people seemed to be on drugs either. Which probably reduced my anxiety of elbows to face. People looked happier, yet more vulnerable.
Moving into the large space. This was a narrow rectangular space. The DJ booth was centered in the middle. Techno, Psychedelic Trance and House music were played by two guest DJs: KESH and Sita Abellan - both incredibly successful female DJs of their time. Dressed in Cyberdog-esque couture costumes with feline, feminine structured pieces. They played music which combined the flavours of classic Techno, bouncy and eccentric tracks with more darker, earthy, murky beats of the underground of Paris and nonchalant attitude.
Above, for the length of the room, to my amazement, was a long lighting rig track with a moving multi-functional technical mastermind machine. Moving up and down the space it encompassed a projector showing: images of shapes, flashing sentences: free your mind, you are beautiful, crumbled text. There were also two very loud speakers emphasising the music and an extremely bright LED strobe light which flashed all the colours. Once the machine rolled towards you you could enjoy a small hedonistic moment before it rolled back to the other end of the room.
8:45pm: Brought a Red Stripe. Visited the smoking area (main street) and tried the portaloos.
9:10pm: Sat down. Checked my FitBit for steps. 19,000 steps.
9:25pm: Swapped a green token for a battery powered changing LED face light.
9:40pm: Encouraged to go back into the space and wait for further instructions.
9:45pm: With a capacity of 1000, we all crammed into the space waiting for Skepta to show up in the DJ booth, then behind me doors opened to another dark blue secret space where a large tower was built. The structure had 2 levels and Skepta, accompanied with his DJ were hidden within the structure. This fortress, where Skepta would be performing his music, was made to have audience all the way around it. There was a screen fixed in the middle of it where the visuals could only really be seen from the back of the room. Skepta was concealed in a black cloak had an incredibly powerful energy and showed a genuine care for his audience. He asked: “is everyone safe?” “Does everyone feel safe?” in between songs. I, on the outskirts of a mosh pit, felt safe.
Slithering out of the back of the audience I watched some of the visuals encapsulated in the tower. Thermal faces from the camera taken earlier that day were used. Colours and shapes emerged and satisfying visuals immersed me deeper into another physical experience.
This R&D exploring mixed realities in live performance was a success, there were moments throughout the whole three hour experience which combined mixed, augmented and virtual realities. Although not everyone gets to experience each of those it was clear what was trying to be achieved
I left, after meeting Marina Abramović who was in the VIP area, with a vision of a future that isn’t necessarily dystopian, but positive and instructional, and could be very fun. Bring on more realities.
Reviewer - Susanna Amato
on - 18/7/19
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