Overview
Sore Throat is an interactive cabaret film. The work used pre-recorded cabaret performance material that the audience could interact with,
creating a reactive, non-linear experience. Studio Autonomic collaborated with Icky Arts in the creative direction of the project and
developed the technology which enabled the public display
and interaction with the work.
Themes
Sore Throat explores how sound overheard through walls has impacted queer people and queer spaces in
the Philippines, where the interpretation of sounds is informed by monstrous mythology and the
distortions of colonisation and gentrification.
Interaction
Produced by queer arts company Pollyanna, Sore Throat blends cabaret and moving image using a
newly developed interactive technology made with Studio Autonomic. As in live cabaret, audience
members make noises as guided by the on-screen performer for the film to proceed.
A sole performer, appearing as a young queer person and a figure reminiscent of both a cabaret
emcee and matador, emerges from the glowing midnight world of Sore Throat. Surrounding them is our
audience, who are conducted to make noises, breaking through the theatrical fourth wall.
Technology
The technology developed by Studio Autonomic to create this work involves a custom made "cueing" framework system
that allows Icky Arts to easily and dynamically changed parameters to suit the various gallery settings that the
installation will feature in. This software was developed using Max/Msp and javascript.