The City and the City

From China Miéville’s award-winning novel comes this unique theatre experience from Upintheair Theatre and The Only Animal. The play itself is a tale of two cities, with a twist: the cities are in the same place. UI Qoma and Besźel are “split” cities, where residents with distinct cultures occupy overlapping geographical spaces and are forbidden from seeing each other, with penalties enforced by a cadre of invisible agents known as Breach. Our protagonist is a detective working a murder case. As in many of the best detective stories, his investigation spills out into wider territory, exposing cracks in the established order.

The performance has several players… but those are just the professionals. Audience members are “cast” upon arrival at the venue, equipped with ear buds and a transmitter, and given audio cues throughout the play. Whether asked to act as part of a group, or given a speaking part, the point is to empower the spectator—to draw them into the realm of creation. In this intriguing new play of mysteries within mysteries, it will take a team of many to crack the case.

If shows in town were even half as entertaining as the ones that Upintheair Theatre put on, we would have no problem replenishing season subscriber lists…

—The Boards

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