1000 Doors – Door Within A Door. Adelaide Fringe Festival 2021
Opening Friday 19th February 2021 at The Garden Of Unearthly Delights.
Tickets available at Fringetix.
Listen to podcast interview with co-creator, Christian Wagstaff at That Entertainment Podcast.
Calling through via Hotel reception, and the lengthy, somewhat passive aggressive IVR message (yes, IVR lady, I DID listen to the options!) I’m connected through to Christian Wagstaff, co-creator of the interactive installation 1000 Doors – Door WithinA Door featured at the Garden of Unearthly Delights.
Christian is on his day off today, and is about to enjoy a day in Hahndorf and surrounds, with plans to soak up the experience of Hans Heysen – The Cedars. Historic houses are clearly right up his alley as we explore the concept behind 1000 Doors.
Together with Keith Courtney, Christian also created House Of Mirrors, which toured the world and has since been acquired by MONA in Hobart, Tasmania. Where House Of Mirrors evoked a nostalgic connection to old world fun fair attractions, setting a challenge for participants to see how long it took them to make it to the exit, 1000 Doors is more of an immersive experience, inviting us to pause and take in the sights, sounds and smells of each space.
“Keith and I had something more to say,” Christian explains, “..we wanted to poke the dark side a bit more and look back into our own childhoods and bring in the visuals that we recalled as kids ourselves”
The installation has been safely stored in Adelaide for the last twelve months with the opportunity to tour dashed by ‘that pandemic’, which has also seen a change in the way patrons are ushered through the installation. Small groups of participant-bubbles (that’s a group of people known to and attending with each other) are admitted, leaving time for each group to immerse themselves in what each room hold. Maybe it’s a cracked window, or a ringing phone that will transport to you to another place. Is that the wallpaper Grandma had in her living room? That looks exactly like the carpet our neighbours two doors down had..!
Each of the doors and finishing materials within the installation were collected over time from salvage yards, and this, Christian tells me, is what brings that haunted feeling to people as they walk through. Those of us who feel a connection to the spiritual realm are likely to feel a sense of the energies left behind by the artefacts’ prior owners: wall paper, cornices and carpet all reclaimed for this haunting, immersive experience.
1000 Doors – Door Within A Door can be experienced from 19th February to 17th March at The Garden Of Unearthly Delights. Suitable for all ages with full accessibility.
For my full interview with Christian, listen in to our conversation at That Entertainment Podcast.
