In the shadows, behind the tents, a fortune telling machine beckons. “Cross my palm with silver” reads a cracked and painted banner. But these things are never straightforward. Will it simply tell your future? Or will there be some kind of trouble? There’s always a price – and the clowns are watching from the shadows…

The Curse is a new pervasive game of deduction and subterfuge by Pop Up Playground for up to 18 players.

It only costs a single token to play…but will there be a more terrible cost?

Come tempt your fate…

The Curse was first played in the shadows and alleys of The Village Festival, Melbourne, in 2012. It returned for one night only at Luna Park on Halloween (31 October) 2013.

Trailer:

The Curse, filmed by Lawrence Leung:

Read our writer-in-residence, Emilie Collyer’s response to the game here.

The Curse
Devised by Ben McKenzie, Sayraphim Lothian and Robert Reid

Written and designed by Ben McKenzie

Performed at The Village by Jack Beeby, Kate Brennan, Kaitlyn Clare, Jess Kilby, Ben McKenzie, James O’Donoghue, James Tresise and Kevin Turner

Playtested by Madeline Anderson, Jack Beeby, Kate Brennan, Kaitlyn Clare, Sam Dowdeswell, Jess Kilby, Dave Lamb, Harry Lee, Sayraphim Lothian, Ben McKenzie, Sam Streeter, Chad Toprak, Aydin Toprak, James Tresise, Kevin Turner, Sean Vivian and Phoebe Waltham

The Curse photo by Sayraphim Lothian

Play photos by Sarah Walker

Many thanks to Harley City in Brunswick for all the cardboard