Carnival of Futures

Arts House S2 18 Carnival of Futures - photo by Julian RickertJourney through the crystal ball and a chance to reflect, act and dream forward as, one step at a time like this presents the world premiere of Carnival of Futures at Arts House for a limited season from 8 August 2018.

Created by Melbourne-based artist collective, one step at a time like this, in collaboration with futurists Bridgette Engeler and Jose Ramos, Carnival of Futures invites audiences to ponder the future through a series of one-on-one performances. Participants will initially gather in the Carnival of Futures waiting room before experiencing a series of appointments about the future – anything from kneeling before an oracle, sharing breakfast with a mutant futurist to simply have a good old lie down.

Using the myriad of spaces throughout the North Melbourne Town Hall, participants will be invited to explore, question and predict what’s to come for themselves and mankind – one close encounter at a time. Carnival of Futures’ collaborating futurists Jose Ramos and Bridgette Engeler both work with a range of organisations and institutions to model future scenarios and provide strategic foresight around critical issues.

Ramos explains that the great systems of tomorrow are often found through small experiments: “People have the power to imagine and create the future through policies, businesses, social innovations and designs, which can lead to qualitative breakthroughs that may present new pathways, perspectives and approaches.”

one step at a time like this have a reputation for playfully exploring juxtaposition – between performer and audience, the classical and the contemporary, the present and the future, theatre and reality. Their previous work en route was described by RealTime as “completely tear[ing] through the bubble of reserve in which we spend most of our lives,” and the Chicago Theater Beat called their former work Since I Suppose “a masterpiece of experiential storytelling.”

Bridgette Engeler is a design and foresight educator; and Ph.D. candidate at Swinburne specializing in prospective thinking & strategy, experiential futures, and critical design. She is Principal at Incognito Sum and Course Director of Master of Design at Swinburne University of Technology.

Dr Jose Ramos is director of Action Foresight – a Melbourne based business that focuses on bridging transformational futures with present-day action. He has taught foresight, public policy and social innovation at a number of universities, including at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Swinburne University of Technology, and the University of Sunshine Coast.

Creators: Suzanne Kersten, Clair Korobacz and Julian Rickert (one step at a time like this) Collaborating Futurists: Bridgette Engeler and Jose Ramos Associate Creative: Sharon Thompson Lighting Designer: John Ford Associate Artist: Katerina Kokkinos-Kennedy Producer: Erin Milne (Bureau of Works) UK Producer: Richard Jordan Productions

Carnival of Futures
Arts House – North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Season: 8 – 19 August 2018
Information and Bookings: www.artshouse.com.au

Image: photo by Julian Rickert