At Candle and Bell, something we value is the pushing of boundaries. We ask ourselves, on a near-constant basis, how can we take what we already do and make it bigger, better, more ambitious? We are always looking for new challenges and with that, we are so excited to be branching out into VR technology and storytelling. 

We’ve had the delight of collaborating with Harriet Ghost and Mickey McGregor of Blowing a Hooley Theatre. 

“From the very first discussion about the project, we’ve been so inspired and excited to work with Candle and Bell. Their new ideas and approaches to bringing theatre to audiences in a different way has been a joy to experience.” - Blowing a Hooley Theatre. 

At the core of this project is our collaboration with Mickey and Harriet, who, despite us only just having branched out into VR, trusted us implicitly in our experimentation to create something wonderful. There are many ways we could have filled their performances conventionally, but in experimenting and taking a risk, we have touched on a new way to experience story and theatre. While branching out, playing with form and trying something new, it is important to make mistakes and though it can leave you feeling exposed, it’s so important to use these opportunities to feel inspired and impassioned. Innovation and creativity exist on the edge of expertise. 

Our resident VR lover, Jack Davidson, has been working hard on the edit to bring to life a story you can physically step into and investigate. The traditional forms of storytelling have always been challenged. It’s strange to think that more than 150 years ago, we didn’t have narrative filmmaking. At Candle and Bell, we want to keep challenging forms and find new ways to communicate small pockets of culture and life and bring those experiences to you - or more aptly, bring you to them, so you can exist within a storyworld, not as a viewer, but as an omnipotent participant. 

Huge thank you to Blowing a Hooley Theatre as it was a complete joy to watch you perform your show. We can’t wait to share this project with the world.