TABULA RASA
Theatre — Ritual — Communion

An installation by Alexandra Wolkowicz & Jon Barraclough for the Unity Theatre, Liverpool to mark its 30th year. Historically, theatres were places to come together, to share an experience, a place of telling stories, learning, ritual and emotional cleansing. This was, and still is, an essentially communal activity. ‘Tabula Rasa’ aims to reflect the experience of theatre and to explore its continuous relevance in the digital age. The Unity Theatre is housed in a former synagogue: this piece looks at the parallels between theatre, religious ritual, performance and communion.

As artists, we felt our place was not to try and answer this question but to engage our audience in the issues raised. Theatre is live, truly three dimensional, tactile, immediate, experiential, social, unique and unrepeatable. A visit to the theatre culminates in seeing the performance.
From booking a ticket to hearing the post performance views of others on leaving, we are interested in the whole theatre experience. By creating an installation that is intended for the box office/reception space it’s possible to reach all aspects of the theatre experience – including the passer-by.

That many have stood in this space in the guise of differing characters and attitudes leaves an imprint on the theatre and the building. During this 30th year anniversary the history of the building, including its former uses and ghosts, can be recollected and represented. We are not so sure about the ability of virtual or digital experiences to generate histories or ghosts in this way.