Darkroom, a show for one person in complete darkness : A climate wake-up call.
Edinburgh Fringe 5 star reviews
“I predict this is one of the most sophisticated events I will participate in at Edinburgh Fringe this year and also, the most profound.” Kate Gaul Theatretravels.org
“The most impactful audio performance I attended, Klanghaus Darkroom, made little use of technology at all. Instead, I sat in total darkness as live instruments crashed, wailed, and vibrated around me, adding a layer of physicality and human warmth that pre-recorded audio lacks.” Katrina Lat No Proscenium
EdFringe Artwork: Paul Flack
An important and arresting sound and senses show to connect us with the climate crisis.
“Virtual reality for the ears” COP26 audience member, Nov 2021
“Thank you for taking me from my head into my body” COP26 Delegate, Nov 2021
Darkroom at COP26 Glasgow 2021: artwork Paul Flack
” Like I’d been given a shot to wake up my senses” audience member Darkroom: Listen In, Dec 2020
Creators of Darkroom?
Darkroom is a live performance from critically acclaimed KlangHaus Collective, who have performed multiple times at Edinburgh’s Summerhall and London’s Southbank Centre. A multi-artform performance, blending art, music and theatre.
‘One show that truly delivers the shock of the new, the most innovative presentation of live music I’ve ever seen – a total game-changer’. Alex Needham, The Guardian
What is Darkroom?
Darkroom is a solo audience performance show that is presented in complete darkness with a duration of approximately 10 minutes with an additional 5 minutes debrief with the artists.
It is a sound and senses installation that uses a range of speakers, sound sources and sensory equipment positioned around a room.
The soundtrack is curated from a wide range of musical genres, sound effects and natural sounds ranging from intense sea to contemporary choral music and from footsteps to rock guitar, spatialised live in real time.
” We go to the darkness to see” Robert Macfarlane
The impact of the show:
Visual sensory deprivation allows deeper connection to the sound, a fast track to the nervous system, allowing a personal, deeply felt interior journey.
What the press say;
Darkroom at Edinburgh Fringe 2023 garnered 4 & 5 star reviews.
EVERYTHING THEATRE 5 stars
Read Everything Theatre review here.
“highly personal, innovative and experimental, capturing the spirit of the fringe festival entirely.” The Guardian ****
The presentation of the show Darkroom within the COP26 context, using the soundtrack, the pitch dark and solitude, facilitated deep personal and emotional reflection, potentially enabling attitudinal shifts in relation to the climate crisis.
Working with The Barn, Scotland, being part of their highly respected ‘Becoming Earthly’ Residency in 2020, KlangHaus developed the questions stimulating current research.
Darkroom was performed and deveoped with climate scientists at Tyndall Centre for Climate Research September 6th-10th 2021 at UEA.
One by one we sat with the scientists post-show and they talked about how they felt and what, if any, impact there was . There was a resounding, ‘This must go to COP26’, Darkroom was performed for COP26 in Glasgow Nov 2021. Realising these conversations were vital ‘the conversation/debrief’ has become part of a Darkroom show.
Comments from Tyndall Centre scientists…
‘Being alone in the dark invites you to imagine being alone with a complete climate breakdown – brings home the power of the natural world – the powerlessness of a single human being in the absence of society. Humans need society’ Catherine Rowett former Green MEP and Professor of Philosophy, School of Politics, UEA
‘I hoped I wouldn’t be led down a particular path and I wasn’t‘.
‘It’s not didactic. The sound induced a kind of ecstatic paroxysm. There may be eco-driven social collapse, but… we can live and love through it all, and create what we humans call ‘light’. See you at COP26’ Dr Rupert Read Associate Professor, School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies UEA.
If there is no glimmer of hope people won’t try. The debrief room is important, a collective way of learning’
The darkness helps you forget about yourself, takes you out of yourself.
Intense, profoundly emotional and affecting experience. It’s opening. It was refreshing, it wasn’t didactic. A context and opportunity to feel things. Professor Charlie Wilson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change in the Environmental Change Institute at the School of Geography and the Environment, Oriel College, Oxford.
Ideal Venue/Space
Gallery, empty shop, living room, free standing box in a foyer or next to the buffet table at COP26, a large shed, university basement.
Technical Requirements
An ideal room is minimum 5m x 10m, it could be carpeted, irregular wall shapes are good for sound reflection, but not entirely necessary. Two-door access is good for show flow an entrance and an exit. A one-way system is also a good Covid-safe back-up.
A meet and greet space minimum 2m x 4m next to the performance room.
Ability to black–out the room. We can bring black-out materials if UK based, but early discussions with your team re attaching black-out are helpful.
We will need access to a good electricity supply, plenty of 13-amp sockets. The show has moments of very loud noise and silence. The room doesn’t have to be soundproof, noise leakage can be a teaser to the audience something to invite you in.
The Team:
Jonathan Baker – Musician and sound designer – onsite live mixing of the sound piece.
Mark Howe – Musician and onsite host, meet and greet. Live guitar.
Karen Reilly – Musician, onsite safety inside the room and vocal appearance.
Sal Pittman – Artist and post-show host.
We can perform 2-3 shows an hour.
Darkroom shows for Tyndall and COP26 were developed at Made At The Red House hosted by WILDPLUM ARTS and developed during the residency BECOMING EARTHLY hosted by The Barn, Aberdeenshire.
Darkroom Tyndall Centre UEA – September 2021 kindly supported by Tyndall Centre for Climate Research
Darkroom COP26 was kindly supported by Norwich Arts Centre and donations by friends, colleagues and supporters, we extend our huge thanks.
Darkroom Edinburgh Fringe was supported by Help Musicians and Norwich Arts Centre.
Darkroom 