Stepping Into the Story: Experiencing 'Uncanny Alley: A New Day'
'Uncanny Alley: A New Day' a cyberpunk VR theater experience that puts audiences inside the story through live performance and interactive virtual worlds.
“Uncanny Alley: A New Day,” and Emmy nominated immersive live virtual reality theater production created by Rick Treweek of Virtual Worlds Company and Ferryman Collective. The cyberpunk story follows a group of escaped detainees racing to freedom before Adaptive Learning Industries can erase their memories through experimental Radio Frequency technology. The corporation controls the city and is preparing to launch its New Day update through legislation that has received little public support.
Ferryman Collective’s founder, Stephen ButchkoI was able to was able to guide me through a virtual experience of the production, which allowed me to step directly inside its digital world rather than simply watching the performance from the outside. The experience combines VR, live acting and audience interaction, making participants part of the story. Two actors portray 15 different characters and respond to the audience in real time, allowing decisions and interactions to influence how the experience unfolds.
The virtual world takes audiences through locations including underground tunnels, hackerspaces, nightclubs and the ALI government penthouse. These environments create a strong sense of movement and urgency while making the audience feel like they are actually inside the narrative.
The production grew out of Treweek’s original “Uncanny Alley: A New Day,” universe in VRChat, a collection of immersive worlds featuring his original environments and avatars. After years of development, the virtual world was transformed into live theater through a collaboration between Virtual Worlds Company and Ferryman Collective.
“Uncanny Alley: A New Day,” premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it received the Fanheart3 XR Experience Award. It later appeared at festivals including the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, Tempo Dokumentärfestival, SXSW, Raindance Immersive and FIVARS. It was also nominated for an Auggie Award for Best Art or Film and received XR Must 2024 recognition for Best Interactivity and Performance as well as second place for Best Sound Design.
The production has also been presented in creative formats outside traditional VR theater. At SXSW, audience members experienced the production through VR headsets while international performers appeared remotely on a large screen. At NoHo Cinefest, the virtual performance was projected for theater audiences while a limited number of participants experienced the production live in the lobby.
What makes “Uncanny Alley: A New Day,” stand out is its ability to turn virtual reality into a theatrical stage. My virtual experience demonstrated how the production removes the traditional separation between audience and performer. Instead of simply watching a story, participants enter the world, interact with characters and experience the narrative from within.
“Uncanny Alley: A New Day,” shows how virtual reality can expand live theater by combining storytelling, technology, performance and audience participation into one immersive experience.
For more information about Ferryman Collective and their work visit: https://www.ferrymancollective.com/.
For more information about Virtual Worlds Company and their work visit: https://www.virtualworldscompany.com/.