Philadelphia-based and worker-owned Obvious Agency premieres its newest production, Space Opera, a “playable theater” and sci-fi/fantasy game for building empowered community. The groundbreaking interactive theatrical experience blending immersive role-playing, live performance, and collaborative storytelling debuts to audiences and participants Saturday, June 14 and continues on Saturday, June 21 and Saturday, June 28 at Arch Street Meeting House (320 Arch St, Philadelphia).
Space Opera is not just a show—it’s a living, evolving universe where participants play an active role in shaping the story and collaborate with game masters and performer/facilitators in a unique combination of gameplay and theatricality. Participants develop relationships with fellow players and performers as they join forces to determine the fate of the universe, which carries over into each weekend of play.
Drawing from traditions of both tabletop role-playing games and theater, Space Opera participants will craft the story of fictional societies attempting to survive an oncoming cataclysm over multiple days.
The result is a dynamic, ever-evolving narrative that changes with every performance, reflecting the unique imprint of each player group. The story is non-linear, meaning no two performances are the same. Decisions made in one session will ripple through the following weekends, creating an interconnected narrative across multiple performances. Players are encouraged to attend for all three weekends to see how their choices have shaped the world—or take on a new role entirely.
The Space Opera world premiere in June follows a series of playtests conducted over the last two years. Unlike a piece of theater that might undergo workshops or previews, Space Opera is an interactive game that requires frequent playtesting. The feedback from play testers help create a better, more accessible game.
Space Opera has openings for a total of 40 players and 100 observers for each session, which begin at noon and end at 7 p.m. and includes a catered meal.
Obvious Agency’s interactive live performances blur the lines between audience and performer, theater and game. The cooperative partners with cultural institutions and universities to attract new audiences and create unique ways for their existing audience to engage more deeply in the work that they are already doing, and shares their wisdom on democratic practice across the arts ecosystem.
If You Go
Tickets to participate in all three weeks of the Three Episode Saga of Space Opera are $360 with a minimum of $90, all on a sliding scale. It includes three full-day sessions of Space Opera gameplay and three catered meals.
One Episode Experience tickets for a session are a minimum of $50 based on a sliding scale and includes one full-day session of Space Opera gameplay and a catered meal.
Galactic Witness or Slot-based Observer tickets are a minimum of $15 based on a sliding scale. It includes entrance to Space Opera as an observer for two-hour sessions. All participants must be masked. Covid tests are provided.
Information and tickets are available online.