Pop Up Playground – This is a Door

Posted by Taryn Hunter

When was the last time you played freely, without limits, like a carefree youngster? For me it had been years, so the chance to tap into that inner child for a couple of hours was too good to refuse.

My physical therapy could be found within the doors of St Kilda’s Theatre Works playhouse, guided by the skilled hands of the team from Pop Up Playground.

Pop Up Playground was formed to explore the potential of using games as a form of performance and cultural engagement; to make the art of performance an inclusive, social and story-making experience.

As a game-player, you enter the space, decorated like a big-top, and are immediately ushered into games of your youth- be transported back to that school-yard with games like Red Rover or while making aliens out of pipe-cleaners and glitter.

I definitely walked into the room with trepidation, but any worries I had were soon soothed by host Ben McKenzie and his team of Pop Up Playtesters. You can get as involved as you like- there’s even a timeout couch for the tired- as you try to save London from burning down, rearrange the seating at a wedding or out-ninja your opposition.

Be prepared to let go of your inhibitions and giggle like a school girl (or boy). And who knows, you may even join a cult while you’re there…

When: Finishes Sunday 29 July
Where: Theatre Works, 14 Acland street St Kilda
WEB: theatreworks.org.au/whatson/event

Review link: http://www.milkbarmag.com/2012/07/29/pop-up-playground-%E2%80%93-this-is-a-door/