the agreements
a Gamified Song Cycle for the 21st Century
The Agreements is a contemporary classical music project for a virtual performance space. At its centre is a song cycle being created in response to nine agreements crafted by Debbie Patterson, a Canadian theatre writer and leading disability activist, and Njo Kong Kie, an internationally acclaimed classical composer based in Toronto. Debbie, also the librettist for the project, lives with multiple sclerosis. These songs collectively act as her ideal pathway towards a more ethical future. Each song takes place in an interactive game environment. As someone embracing the disruptions of disability, Debbie writes: “We know something about what it is to be human that everybody else doesn’t know yet.”
Interactive Media Designer Rob Elsworthy will create the game platform for the Agreements. Sound wizard Debashis Sinha will consult on the sonic environment. Digital Producer Michelle McIver and Consultant Brian Baglow will help shape the gamification of the material. Ross Manson directs and dramaturges.
This is a project in development. There will be nine songs in the cycle, and nine levels or virtual spaces within the concert. Audience members will navigate their own path through the songs.
creative team
Volcano’s New Work Development Partner is:
