Binaural Dinner Date [Live Performance]

This is a full-length video, recorded and edited by videographer Nacho Durán, using footage from performances in Theatre Royal Stratford East's cafe 'Gerry's'. This video was recorded with the consent of all participants. Binaural Dinner Date (BDD) is the result of research carried out by Jorge Lopes Ramos and Persis Jadé Maravala into the applications of binaural audio and game-design for interactive performance. More specifically Lopes Ramos and Maravala worked with technologist Ross Flight to explore the potential of binaural sound (live and pre-recorded) and instruction-based interactions between audience members in order to recreate the experience of a 'first date'. Binaural Dinner Date became a complex structured using Ableton Live to map over 40 audio channels across 9 couples in a public restaurant. This performance was the outcome of research into strategies to encourage intimacy between strangers in public spaces. BDD is an interactive audio-led experience matching two strangers, inviting them to have a date together within a restaurant setting. Audiences can attend in a couple, or come alone to be matched with a stranger at arrival. Using binaural technology, careful instructions and live performance, participants undertake tasks and are asked increasingly probing questions, pushing social expectations about ‘acceptable’ dinner conversation at a first date. Ultimately, the experience tone ranges from the intimate to the epic, with nuanced modes of participation facilitated live by the Waiter, the Matchmaker and the Chef (the voice in your ear). The dramaturgical development of Binaural Dinner Date’s interactive script and audio mapping was developed through controlled testing sessions with guest audiences over a period of 3 years. BINAURAL DINNER DATE (BDD) was performed for 4 weeks at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2017, and 4 weeks at RichMix Arts Centre in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, the production toured extensively in the UK as well as in Colombia and Macao. BDD received 4 starts in the following publications: TimeOut, The Londonist. BINAURAL DINNER DATE (BDD) is the latest touring production from award-winning and internationally acclaimed ZU-UK, by Jorge Lopes Ramos and Persis Jadé Maravala. Lopes Ramos and Maravala's work has won numerous awards and nominations in the fields of immersive theatre, hybrid art, interactive technology and socially engaged art. Amongst their most acclaimed projects is Hotel Medea (2006-2012) - the standout hit of Edinburgh Fringe 2011, and considered by press and academics a pioneer in the field of Immersive Theatre. Their work has also been presented by Hayward Gallery Southbank Centre, Summerhall, FACT Liverpool, LIFT Festival, A.N.D. Festival, Latitude and TEMPO Festival (Rio de Janeiro) amongst others