In a deep, dark forest

Last year I had the privilege of being 'games mentor' in the development of this immersive children's theatre project. Probably my favourite small freelance ever. I'm thinking of getting business cards made up. In a Deep, Dark Forest was inspired by the German board game Waldschattenspiel, which I played with co-creators Roslyn Oades and Simon Bedford in a kitchenette at the Abbotsford Convent one spring afternoon. We had to wait for a slightly ruffled writer to finish making his tea so we could turn off the lights and lock the door. It was nice and dark in there. In Waldschattenspiel, a tea light is moved around a miniature forest, to try to find the hiding children. It's a simple but exquisitely moody little game. Roslyn and Simon have made it life-size and added a stronger narrative and more interesting challenges. In a Deep, Dark Forest incorporates a gently green fairy tale (if they do their job well, the children get to save the trees and animals), lots of scary dark, and a cool sequence of games and puzzles. These are a few of my favourite things. And I can safely say, having participated in a trial run, that it's as much fearful fun for adults as it is for kids. Coming to a woods near you...