For one of its latest projects, the Torpedo Factory draws inspiration from the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe for an interactive theatrical performance that takes over all three floors of the art center. The brainchild of Through the 4th Wall Productions, Dream Within a Dream: Madness follows the iconic poet and author’s descent into madness after the death of his wife, Virginia.
Jennifer Schwed and Doug Bradshaw launched Through the 4th Wall in 2014 with the mission to create interactive media. When the Torpedo Factory commissioned the creative team for a performance, Poe immediately came to mind. “We felt that Poe was a very recognizable author that represented the style we were going for,” Schwed says.
Visitors follow a grief-stricken and deranged Poe as he mourns the death of his wife and recites passages from his poems The Raven and the titular Dream Within a Dream and his short story Eleanora. Clocks, mirrors and artwork by Torpedo Factory artists Guy Jones, Greenway and Niki Pickett set the moody, roaming stage for the performance.
While the Torpedo Factory has hosted dance performances in the past, Dream Within a Dream is uncharted territory for the art gallery. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the performance, following Poe along his journey and interacting with the actors. The level of involvement is entirely up to each guest‘s discretion, but the more observers participate, the more they become a vital part of the story. “Audience members can choose to either be the star or the villain of the scene,” Schwed says.
And the cast, which comprises actors with extensive backgrounds in improv, is prepared for whatever engaged spectators might throw at them.
Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes, as the 90-minute performance makes use of all three levels of the art gallery, even the staircase. Grab tickets on the Torpedo Factory website before Dream Within a Dream concludes its run on Oct. 31.
