Toronto Fringe presents Next Stage Theatre Festival's 'The Complex'

(Photo courtesy of Next Stage’s website)

I’ve heard a lot about the Toronto Fringe Next Stage Theatre Festival but never had an opportunity to see productions during this festival.

Next Stage runs January 19 - 30, 2022 all online.

I received a press release today.

It’s Not a Pivot Productions and creators Chantal Forde, Jessie Fraser, and Mandy Roveda explore ‘The Complex’, a unique, immersive online theatre experience where no two shows are the same. Taking place in the digital world of a Gather.town environment, participants must work together to select one of the Prospects to be society's future leader. This audience-led event is a fun and exciting new way to experience theatre and allows participants to interact as much or as little as they want.

Participants can choose to be part of "the Community" (interaction with actors and other participants), or "the Chamber" (a live-edited viewing stream with chat and polls).

Set in an undefined dystopian future, ‘The Complex’ is an immersive, digital show offering two levels of interaction.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT
Using the platform Gather, “The Community” will be immersed into the complex itself, interacting with actors and searching for hidden intel. Patrons who are comfortable maneuvering in a virtual landscape and becoming part of the story themselves will love this option.

“The Chamber” will be live-streamed and, with the guidance of The Keeper, will be given exclusive information and the ability to help determine who will be eliminated. This is the option for the patron who is more comfortable participating in a slightly removed way using the platform Zoom.

Gather - The Community Experience:
Patrons will be sent a unique Gather link in an email 24 hours before the performance start time, and again 1 hour before the performance starts. Use the link to enter the Gather map up to 15 minutes before the performance start time. It is not necessary to have a Gather account, nor to download anything prior to the performance. Gather will automatically open in a new tab on your browser.

Zoom Webinar - The Chamber Experience:
Patrons will be sent a unique Zoom Webinar link in an email 24 hours before the performance start time, and again 1 hour before the performance starts. Use the link to launch the Zoom webinar up to 15 minutes before the performance start time. For an optimal experience it is recommended download or update to the latest version of Zoom beforehand on your desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet device to watch the show. It is not necessary to have a Zoom user account already. The Zoom app will automatically launch. Patrons will not be able to turn on their camera or microphones.

Running time online is 75 minutes.

Performance dates online:

January 19, 2022, at 7:30 pm

January 21, 2022, at 9:00 pm

January 22, 2022, at 2:30 pm

January 23, 2022, at 7:30 pm

January 27, 2022, at 7:30 pm

January 28, 2022, at 7:00 pm

January 29, 2022, at 7:30 pm

January 30, 2022, at 2:30 pm

For further information about ‘The Complex’ and how to purchase tickets, please visit https://fringetoronto.com/next-stage/show/complex