#17 Mimes, Accidental Immersion, and the Power of Story

- Billy Angel of Story Works -

- Billy Angel of Story Works -

 
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“It is through stories that we connect in our humanity…  …In play, a story comes alive.”

–Billy Angel

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- Immersion Nation Podcast Episode 17 -

Immersion Nation Podcast Episode 17

Stories are trust. They create understanding and shared meaning. Stories are the fabric of culture so it is befitting that Billy Angel has carved his path through the world with his stories.  From the Netherlands, to the UK, to the co-founding of Story Works in the United States. 

In this conversation Billy tells the stories of… 

  • How he came to create an immersive tour across 60 schools by necessity and accident. 
  • How teaching mime opened the door for an exploration of the intersection of sound and movement. 
  • The circumstances of producing an all ages television series, jacob’s ladder

The thread of self expression and the drive to enable the expression of others’ stories has given him a depth of multifaceted, and multicultural perspective. Before the modern era of immersive theater this perspective guided Billy and others on the same path to sew the seeds of the immersive revolution. 

Selected Links:

Show Notes:

  • Favorite fictional world [2:35]
  • Lewis, Tolkien, Pixar, and growing up [5:00]
  • All ages storytelling [8:30]
  • Immersive theater on accident [11:22]
  • Kids and immersive theatre [13:43]
  • What is playback improv? [15:13]
  • Problematic preconceptions [16:18]
  • Subconscious and starting simple [17:23]
  • Playback upside down [22:07]
  • Historical immersion and common stories [22:57]
  • Teaching mimes and the value of play [31:45]
  • The separation of sound and movement [34:35]
  • Defining play [37:44]
  • Find a place to tell your story [41:20]
  • The watchtower perspective and language dubs [46:06]
  • Story Works & the story trio [51:42]

 

Partner Episode

Billy Angel’s Co-Creator, co-founder, and wife, Marcia Angel is unequivocally a grand master of immersive theater. For a window inside the mind of a master social engineer, check out Immersion Nation Podcast Episode 3: Surplus reality, cultural communication, and the ancient roots of immersion

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