The Encounter

In a nutshell:
STORYTELLING THAT GETS UNDER YOUR SKIN •
AN INTREPID JOURNEY DOWN THE AMAZON •
HEAD-SPINNING 3D SOUND

DIRECTOR SIMON MCBURNEY
PERFORMER RICHARD KATZ
CO-DIRECTOR KIRSTY HOUSLEY
DESIGN MICHAEL LEVINE
SOUND GARETH FRY WITH PETE MALKIN
LIGHTING PAUL ANDERSON
PROJECTION WILL DUKE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR JEMIMA JAMES

Inspired by the book Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu, The Encounter tells the story of the American National Geographic photojournalist Loren McIntyre, who gets lost in the Amazon rainforest in 1971.  His initial intention - to take photographs that might witness the continued existence of a people that had been declared extinct - turns into a transformative journey of self-discovery due to a startling encounter that is to change his life.

Directed by Simon McBurney, this solo performance by Richard Katz uses binaural technology (3D audio) to build an intimate and shifting world of sound. As McIntyre’s mesmerising tale reaches its climax, this extraordinary performance asks some of the most urgent questions of today about how we live and what we believe to be true. 

With headphones worn by each individual audience member, The Encounter delivers a unique experience taking audiences somewhere they’ve never been – right into the heart of the Amazon. Called ‘a hi-tech trip’ by the Independent, the binaural technology transmits recorded sounds separately into each ear to bring a story thrillingly, and intimately alive.

The sound design, ingenious live effects and the actor’s lyrical story telling result in your own encounter of being present in one of the most fully immersive theatre pieces ever created.

Complicite began life as a collective and this spirit of collective enquiry, of collaborative curiosity, has driven the work throughout its history. The Company is famous for making its work through extensive periods of research and development which brings together performers, designers, writers, artists and specialists from diverse fields to create the works – a process now known simply as ‘devising’.

“The Encounter is a tour de force that shows contemporary theatre at its most immersive and thought provoking” – Financial Times

“One leaves the theatre awestruck, moved and humbled, not by the fabulous technical accomplishments of the work but, much more profoundly, by how McBurney and Complicite have used them to consume us within a story of an ancient people for whom the arrival of "modern" humanity spells destruction – Herald Scotland

Years 11-13
BOOK HERE
Due to limited capacity we are sorry but schools tickets are unable to be discounted for this show.

Extras for Teachers:
About the Book 
A guide for teachers
Complicite education resources 
The Making of The Encounter -You tube 
Pantograph Punch Review

Photograph: Tristram Kenton and Gianmarco Bresadola

POST SHOW TALK
Thursday 16 March

Follow The Encounter on

 

complicite.org

A Complicite co-production with Edinburgh International Festival, the Barbican, London, Onassis Cultural Centre – Athens, Schaubühne Berlin, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne and Warwick Arts Centre. Supported by Sennheiser and the Wellcome Trust.

WITH SUPPORT FROM 
PLATINUM PATRONS
ANDREW AND JENNY SMITH
PETER TATHAM AND ADRIAN BURR

Save

Save