rough notes so far
the experience starts when you first hear about it, only ends if and when you stop thinking and talking about it
advance
– what happens in advance of play, from the moment of first hearing
– anticipation and expectations are in play, and a decision of: is this for me?
– also the practicalities of what do I need to do to get ready and get there
arrival
– arriving at the playspace, a bit like being in the theatre bar
opening
– wherever this happens, it’s about opening up what the experience is going to be
– it might include a briefing, warm-up, even training or a tutorial
– it might include space and structures for the playing audience to speak, or other ways for them to contribute or co-set the direction of play
– it might include space and structures for the playing audience to reflect, or other ways for them to be primed for the experience
framing
– our play may be framed by a fiction, it begins whenever it does
– or the play is held by facillitation
– or there’s a magic circle that players choose together to step inside
playout
– the play experience can be singular, or could be plural: many smaller games and other pieces of play held by the frame and facilitation
– the advantage of the plural approach is that it’s easier to present simpler games which are more immediate to play and together make a more complex experience
– a singular piece of play, if it’s a complex system, will take longer to brief and train a playing audience
reflection
– reflection is how we make meaning
– it happens organically anyway, although never when we are in the flow of play
– space can be left for it to happen organically, especially in the aftermath of play
– but it can also be designed or facilitated, and integrated into the playout
aftermath
– when the playout is over
– we might need to hold space to debrief or decompress, depending on the intensity of the experience
– or let the audience back into a free space like the theatre bar to chat and froth between each other
– reflection might happen
– and maybe an insight – some specific reflection that resonates or is significant, and which might be a starting-point for change
– maybe we’ll make a resolution that we’ll act on later
tail
– what happens afterwards
– it’s possible that through serendipity or design, a playing audience is reminded of their playing experience, and something happens
– maybe they see someone they met, or pick up a programme, or re-visit a site
resolution -> change
– it may happen organically
– or can be facilitated and coached – there are many barriers to change
– but personal change can only happen with you, in the direction you want to take; perhaps something that was set in the opening