The Other Way Works
The Other Way Works is a Birmingham (UK) based theatre company formed in 2001.
Currently run by Artistic Director Katie Day, the company CREATES interactive performance experiences, frequently for an audience of one at a time. Individuals are given the opportunity to enter and explore immersive environments, which sometimes have more in common with the practice of installation art rather conventional theatre productions. As a result, the content of each project is often derived from the place in which it is being developed and performed, making the work site-specific.
Each project produced by The Other Way Works is created collaboratively by a team of directors, writers, scenographers, musicians, lighting designers, film makers, performers and dramaturgs.
The company's name derives from their approach to creating work. Artistic Director Katie Day has stated "If there’s a difficult way, we’ll take it, and make it work. Not just for the sake of it, but because breaking new ground is what excites us."1
Work to date includes:
'Homing Instinct’ - an interactive walk-through experience, incorporating live performance, multimedia and object based installation, providing an individual experience for each audience member. West Midlands Gallery Tour: mac, Birmingham; Light House, Wolverhampton; Rugby Art Gallery and Museum; CAW Gallery, Leamington Spa (Autumn 2005)
'Treasured' - a concept that integrates jewellery and performance. Treasured was an intimate experience that transformed a white walled gallery space into a haven of antiques and a sensory dream world. Commissioned by The Midlands Arts Centre as part of their Encounters Season, October 2006.
'I am waiting for the opportunity to save someone's life' - this project brought together ten diverse artists, to create a site-specific performance and installation in an empty shop at The Mailbox Shopping Centre in Birmingham. The performance was a durational experience incorporating eight unique waiting experiences and combining five different art forms. The performance was free to the public and located in the heart of the city. The Mailbox, Birmingham (March 2006)
'Mayfly’ - A bite-sized, night time performance for outdoor music and arts festivals, integrating a commissioned electro-acoustic soundscape by Nuri Fontanals Simmons with live visuals using lights and shadows inside a two person dome tent. The Big Chill, Herefordshire; Bestival, Isle of Wight (2005) Greenbelt Arts Festival, Cheltenham (2006) The Green Man Festival, Wales; Upstaging Nature Exhibition, London (2007)