Stunning, exciting, interactive, fascinating, frightening, mind-bending, joyful... just do it!
Presented by Electric Dreams
Reviewed 19 February 2022
The power and realisation of virtual reality continues to evolve. This award-winning production sets a new bar yet again. It took out the Grand Jury Prize for Best VR Immersive Work at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, which should come as no surprise to anyone who experiences Goliath: Playing with Reality during its short run.
Narrated by actor Tilda Swinton, players enter the world and mind of “Goliath” as he lets us in on his true-story of living with schizophrenia, being institutionalised for long periods, and finally making connections with an online gaming community where looks and disability don’t matter.
It’s an immersive work that’s highly interactive. In the gaming space, pictured above, with plenty of room to move, players turn, point, press buttons, play games and wonder at the sheer magnitude of the visuals that move and surround them. It can be a frightening realm at times, with the floor dropping away to represent Goliath’s shrinking world, and a joyful one as connections are made and games are played.
Dark or light though, Goliath: Playing with Reality is a wonderous adventure that is visually exciting while offering a rare glimpse into the one of the most misunderstood mental health issues.
Most suitable for adults, Goliath: Playing with Reality comes with a PG rating, which could easily stand for Pretty Good!
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Venue: South Australian Museum, North Tce, Adelaide
Season: Until 23 February, various times
Duration: 40 minutes
Tickets: $10-$15
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/electric-dreams-goliath-playing-with-reality-af2022
Rating out of 5: 5
#Adelaide # ADLfringe @SAMuseum
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