SWIM brings an immersive audio-haptic experience to the PuSh Festival, January 30 to February 2

Production by Theatre Conspiracy and Pandemic Theatre sheds light on the treacherous journey faced by asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea

By emily lyth

SWIM. Photo by Allie Wood

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Touchstone Theatre, and The Cultch present Theatre Conspiracy and Pandemic Theatre’s SWIM at the Vancity Culture Lab from January 30 to February 2

THE ARABIAN LOVE story of Layla and Majnun has been recounted throughout much of human history, perhaps most notably by Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi in the 12th century.

As the tale goes, Qays and Layla have been in love since childhood—Qays so much so that he earns the nickname Majnun, meaning “crazy” or “possessed” in Arabic, from those around him. But when the two grow up, Layla’s father marries her off to another man, leaving Qays to lead a life of recluse in the desert writing poetry about what could have been. Tragically, in the end, both lovers die without actualizing the relationship they always dreamed of.

This story is part of the inspiration behind SWIM, an immersive audio-haptic experience by Theatre Conspiracy and Pandemic Theatre that will run at this year’s PuSh International Performing Arts Festival from January 30 to February 2. Co-presented with Touchstone Theatre and The Cultch at the latter company’s Vancity Culture Lab, SWIM simulates the immense physical, mental, and spiritual challenges that individuals must undergo while seeking asylum.

Between the coastal city of Güzelçamli, Turkey and the Greek island of Samos, there lies an eight-kilometre stretch of the Aegean Sea—a distance equivalent to 160 lengths of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Many refugees make the difficult decision to swim across those pitch-black waters, leaving behind their loves, lives, and homes in search of asylum in Europe. Much like Qays and Layla in the age-old story, they must reckon with the reality that starting over means facing loss, heartache, and displacement.

SWIM offers insights into the realities of migrant journeys with cutting-edge audio and tactile simulations developed by bHaptics Technology. David Mesiha, an associate artist of Pandemic Theatre, is behind the music, sound design, and haptics for the experience. For those unfamiliar with the term, haptic technology transmits physical sensations to the person interacting with it—an everyday example would be the vibration of a cell phone when it rings.

Mesiha is directing the show alongside Gavan Cheema (both are co-artistic directors of Theatre Conspiracy). The pair co-created SWIM with Pandemic Theatre’s co-founders Jivesh Parasram and Tom Arthur Davis.

Audience members can learn more about all the experiences and technology that went into the making of SWIM during a post-show talkback on January 31 at 5 pm.  

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