One Bottle Later | The Good Room
The Good Room have produced an exciting and intimate night between strangers called ‘ One Bottle Later’. It was a sold out season at the Brisbane Festival. The Good Room consists of Daniel Evans, Amy Ingram, Kierran Swann and Lauren Clelland, all working together to produce ‘anonymous experiences of ordinary people to create extra ordinary theatre works’. This delicious evening did not disappoint.
Upon request, we arrived early in the foyer, where people were awkwardly milling around. After filling out a questionnaire we were each given an envelope and directed into different groups. Following Covid-safe distancing and hand-held signs directing us not to speak, we entered into a magical space. The room was beautifully lit by Jason Glenwright with waiters dancing around and making sure everyone was looked after. I felt like I was transported in time to a 1920’s nightclub. The attention to detail was delightful. The sultry voice over of Amy Ingram instructed us to open our envelopes which revealed instructions and a token.
The token gave us the clue for our table where we would meet the person we would spend the next forty minutes with. The whole room was filled with strangers sitting across from strangers, creating an instantly electric atmosphere. We were instructed to stare into the other persons eyes. Suddenly a nightclub number played and a set of legs emerged from the box centre stage. Leah Shelton emerged dressed to the nines as a 1920’s diva. The high-camp interlude was perfectly timed to alleviate the rawness of being so vulnerable with a complete stranger.
We were offered a choice of drinks; my companion and I chose a delicious red. We then had a wonderful game of finding ten envelopes which were hidden under the table tablecloth and chairs. We got to choose five and discard five. Some of the titles we retained included Sentimental, Naughty Time, Funny, and Morbid. Then we took turns reading out quotes and answering the many questions. Sharing stories gave e all the feels and I was surprised how comfortable I felt revealing intimate memories. It was also so lovely to hear my new friend’s secrets, and I loved having such a deep and meaningful conversation with a person I’d just met. At the end of this experience we were instructed to write a note to our new friend which would be opened only after leaving. And I have carried that note with me since…and my token!
Image: FenLan Photography
It was a night of good wine, searching intelligent questions and Shelton wowing us with her wild and sultry characters. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to my companion’s stories and sharing my own. The waiters were ever present and artistically interwoven into the scenario. The whole experienced demonstrated a remarkable attention to detail. As a participant I felt safe and cared for, as well as excited to be taken on such a wonderful journey. I will not tell you what happened at the end because maybe one day you’ll get to experience it too and I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, no spoilers here!
I have always been interested in immersive theatre, it’s such a wonderful way of connecting people. I commend The Good Room at how well this production was delivered. There was a buzz in the air after the show and I had a few laughs and chats in the carpark. Thank you to The Good Room team for creating magic in a time where social connection is so important.
