A Democracy of Performance Remainings is an immersive audio-visual installation and a public performance that delves into the potential fate of live theater as a disappearing art form through an engaging museum tour experience. Set in a not-too-distant future when live theater has ceased to exist, this performance immerses us in an intriguing encounter with the imaginative archaeological remnants of various theater buildings. These remnants vividly depict the lives and stories that once unfolded within the theaters’ hallowed spaces during their heyday.

The installation serves as a speculative exploration, centering around the absence of live performers and the presence of once-prominent scenographic elements such as sets, costumes and props that have outlived their theatrical purpose and remain as poignant reminders of the theaters’ closure.

The visitor is warmly welcomed into a captivating realm of memory, fiction, and introspection. Within this space, spectators are immersed in a diverse range of performance forms, including a self-guided tour, live performance, and an enthralling auction. The audience encounters a collection of both authentic and imaginative stories, encouraging them to reflect on their past theater-going experiences. As a unique opportunity, the auction grants attendees the chance to acquire original scenographic artifacts from the first quarter of the 21st century, adding an extra layer of intrigue and engagement to the overall experience.

Given the confusion and uncertainty that currently surrounds the fate of live performance, A Democracy of Performance Remainings invites us to position ourselves in the near future and speculate on the afterlife of theatres. Moreover, it encourages us to envision an alternative future of live performance together.

The performance extends beyond the attending audience, by inviting wider communities to deposit their cherished memories of live performance and scenographic objects to an online Museum of Performance Remainings Stuff. This inclusive endeavor aims to create a digital collective repository that celebrates and preserves the rich heritage of live performance.

A Democracy of Performance Remainings is currently being developed by Visual Echo. If you are interested in participating, please contact me for more information.