Operation Black Antler
Date uploaded: May 11, 2016
Blast Theory has announced that they will premiere Operation Black Antler, a collaboration with Hydrocracker, who make theatre in non-theatre spaces; at this year's Brighton Festival with Guest Director Laurie Anderson. It will feature as one of the festival's special Brighton Commissions to celebrate its 50th Birthday.
For 40 years British police officers have been undercover inside protest groups. Scandals such as Wikileaks, the Snowden affair and the revelations about the Special Demonstration Squad show that there are secret forces within the state that have little respect for the law.
Operation Black Antler is an immersive theatre piece that seeks to explore this moral corruption as well as the wider ethical questions of when surveillance is justified. The public are invited to assume the role of an undercover officer and given power and control. Viewers must make decisions about what is and what is not acceptable. And then reflect on the consequences of decisions.
This work has proved controversial with many people questioning the ethics of the approach. You can read blog posts by Matt from Blast Theory and Jem from Hydrocracker to explain more.
Dates: Sat 14 May, Tue 17 - Sat 21 May and Tue 24 - Sat 28 May
Location: Secret city centre locations revealed after booking
Price: £20
Book tickets for Operation Black Antler here.
