Manimals

“I swiped on them all to see who I could meet. A hundred Manimals in a tracking spreadsheet…”

Manimals slams live online theatre, gaming and performance art into a groundbreaking interactive one-woman show. Playfully coming to your living room, via Zoom, in February.

Critically acclaimed immersive game producer Michelle Hudson (Fire Hazard Games) embarks on her first solo performance piece in an exploration of dating, loneliness, and the struggle to connect in the digital age.

Michelle, a successful game designer, thinks she’s well on her way to winning the dating game when she starts going on dates with Manimals – men posing with exotic animals in their dating profiles. But when you try to win a partner at all costs, what do you lose?

A playfully filthy online show, inspired by real-world dates. Live, with audience interaction and gaming, performed over Zoom.

Michelle Hudson says “I was tired of online dating, which can be a soul-sucking, tragically comic thing. Then I got really interested in why certain men put animals on their profiles, what they were trying to say about themselves. So I invented some game rules for myself to try to make it more fun, and to start saying ‘yes’ more. This show is a creative response to that experience.”

Creative team

Lead Artist – Michelle Hudson
Director – Flo O’Mahony
Creative Technician – Chloe Mashiter
Game Dramaturg – Amy Strike
App developed by Stitch Media

Test audience feedback

“Wildly original, honest work with really exciting hands-on interactivity for the audience.”
“An incredible display of how the arts can harness technology.”
“Original, fresh and exciting.”

Show dates

Wednesday 10 February (Preview): 8pm SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 February: 8pm (Live Captioned Performance) SOLD OUT
Friday 12 February: 4pm
Friday 12 February: 8pm SOLD OUT
Sunday 14 February: 4pm

Ticket price

Pay what you feel – £8 / £10 / £15 / £20

Some important information 

Tech:

Manimals is designed as an experience for individuals, not groups of people, even if they share a household. Every audience member will need an email address, laptop AND mobile phone (two devices per person are needed to fully take part in the show), access to Zoom, and a good internet connection. Tablets will work in a pinch instead of a laptop, but some elements of the experience are lessened.

Security:

The email address of ticket holders will be shared with the theatre company so they can send some pre-show information you’ll need before signing in, including details for how to join the show online. This information will not be used for anything aside from sending this essential information and will be deleted after the performances. A short technical briefing session for audience members is held at the beginning of every show to make sure that everyone understands how to use the technology.

Access:

The live captioned performance is on Thursday 11 Feb, 8PM.

Warnings:

Sexually explicit content/nudity, strong language, use of balloons, audience interaction. Above 18s only.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the performance or how it will work, please get in touch – info@poplarunion.com.

Supported by Arts Council England, recipient of Greenwich Theatre’s Get Connected micro commission, commissioned by multi-award winning international touring company Zoo Co, and partnered with Emmy-award winning interactive media company Stitch Media.