Earths to Come is a virtual journey, guided by spatialized sound and immersive animation, into the profound depths of a love poem. Painterly, pencilled moving images, interweave with original vocal music conjuring a sense of intimate presence to find vastness and insularity in the simplicity of an 8-line poem by Emily Dickinson.
Earths to Come premiered at the 2024 Venice Biennale Cinema Immersive as a communal VR theatre installation. The piece is a collaboration between expanded cinema director, Rose Bond, Grammy winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, lauded composer inti figgis-vizueta, spatial sound designer Massimiliano 'Max' Borghesi, composite artist Zak Margolis, sound engineer Randall Squires and creative producer Melanie Coombs - each pushing at the edges of their prescribed mediums.
Director's Bio - Rose Bond
Rose Bond likes to break the frame. Illuminating urban spaces, her past large-scale projections portray stories often overlooked. Installation sites include Toronto, Utrecht, Zagreb, Exeter, New York City and Portland. With roots in independent film, Bond’s paint-on-film animations are held in the MoMA Film Collection and have been screened internationally. Her media projects have received support from the American Film Institute, The Princess Grace Foundation, The Venice Biennale College Cinema Immersive, the Oregon Community Foundation, the British Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Bloomberg LP, the Baryshnikov Arts Center and the National Endowment for the Arts. Canadian born, Bond lives and works in Portland Oregon.
Running time: 13 minutes
Age guidance: 10+
VR is not recommended for under 10s. Visit the Meta Quest safety information page for further information.
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
Opening times:
Sun - 11am – 4pm
Mon – Sat 11am – 6pm
Pay What You Can: £2, £8 or £10.
FAQs
What can I expect from the experience?
Earths to Come is an immersive multi-user VR theatre experience that seeks to heal the wounds of our post-pandemic hearts. The audience will be able to interact, be bathed in the same soundscape and share the experience.
How long does the experience last?
The duration of the experience from onboarding to offboarding is about 13 minutes.
What equipment is necessary to participate in the experience?
You will wear a VR headset for the experience - all provided.
In what language is the experience presented?
The experience is presented in English.
Is there staff on hand throughout?
Yes, our trained Bocs staff will be on hand throughout your entire experience.
Is it possible to wear glasses?
Yes, but it is favourable to wear contact lenses over glasses when using a virtual reality headset, when possible. The maximum size of glasses that can be worn with a virtual reality headset is 142mm in length and 50mm in height.
Is the experience accessible to those with reduced mobility?
Yes the experience is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Please contact us before purchasing your ticket(s) so that we can accommodate you.
Is the experience accessible to children?
The experience is reserved for an audience of 10 years of age and older.
What is a Virtual Reality experience?
Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated world. Guests wear a headset with integrated over the ear headphones.
Do I need to bring anything?
Spectacles may be worn under the VR headset however it may be more comfortable to wear contact lenses or go without your glasses for the experience.
What are the health and safety measures?
Most people do not experience any negative reactions to Virtual Reality. However, VR may be disorientating for individuals who are neurodiverse, have hearing or sight impairments, or experience vertigo, epilepsy, dizziness, seizures, motion sickness or fainting.
If you are pregnant or have a pacemaker, please consult with your GP before taking part.
Trained facilitators will be on hand to provide support and guidance throughout the experience should you require it.
We thoroughly clean and sanitise all equipment, including headsets and headphones, with hospital-grade antibacterial wipes before each use.
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. VR is not recommended for under 10s. Visit the Meta Quest safety information page for further information.
Babies in slings are not permitted inside the experience.
Any guests arriving for the experience who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to take part.
