It’s that time again! Larkin’ About will be taking over spaces inside and outside the Contact building as part of FutureEverything on Saturday May 19th, 3pm ’til late. The whole event is free and we would absolutely love you to join us.

The Spring Larkin’ About programme takes inspiration from FutureEverything 2012′s theme ‘FutureEverybody’. These games use the digital world as a springboard for exciting social interactions, utilising the unifying power of technology to engage audiences in mass player experiences and memorable team adventures. Drop in!

Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6JA Registration: 0161 274 0600 / www.contactmcr.com/larkinmcr

Mixtape
by Vee Uye @vee_uye
Ongoing (30 mins) / up to 3 players at a time. Indoor

A retro-audio treasure hunt with a soundtrack that takes you around the Contact building and into the puzzle of our hearts. Players navigate the space with analogue personal stereos and augment the narrative with their own memories.

Key>Board>Game
by Naomi Kashiwagi
Ongoing until 8.00pm (20 mins). Indoor

Ever felt like a game is getting out of CTRL? Want to ESC? DEL? BACKSPACE? Or just SHIFT? Key>Board>Game is a live social game using computer keyboard commands and shortcuts to communicate with others. A fun game for all – Apple and PC compatible.

Circle Rules Football
by Greg Manley, facilitated by Larkin’ About.
3.30pm (60 mins).Outdoor

An action packed new team sport that levels the playing field for long time athletes and newcomers alike. A genius mash-up of Football, Basketball and Volleyball played with one goal in the centre. Oh… and did we mention that it’s played with a giant Yoga ball?! http://www.circlerulesfederation.com

Over 18s only. Players will benefit from wearing comfortable clothes/shoes.

The Thing
a Werewolf variant, facilitated by Mark Kirschstein
4.30pm (60 mins, drop-in). Indoor

Watch out. The Thing, a parasitic life form, is lurking. The Thing assimilates organisms and in turn imitates them, and it’s up to you to to decide who is infected. A social game involving ruthless accusations and fraught defences in a quest for survival.

Remote Applause Game
by Sturgeon’s Law
5.30pm (30 mins). Indoor

We can navigate digital entities through virtual environments, but what if on the other side of the screen were a real person in another city? And what if you had no mouse, no right click, and only one tool with which to help her complete the tasks; your applause?

7:Candles
by Vee Uye
6.00pm (60 mins). Outdoor

Even the brightest of lights can be enhanced by the smallest of flames. Take a candle and find a phrase. Bring joy into forgotten space.
7:Candles is played in the streets surrounding Contact and across Twitter. A photo-based treasure hunt involving teamwork, candles and interpretative tasks.

Conquers
by Larkin’ About with Greg Foster & Chris Howker
7.00pm (45 mins). Indoor

You are part of an ambitious and determined group of territorial hunters. Conquer the territory of your opposition and mark it as your own. Be caught and you’ll be sent back to your base. Conquers is a team game involving dice rolling, mapping, stealth and live streaming.
Developed at Manchester GameJam with MadLab.

The Way of the Garden
by Trouser & Trumpet
8.00pm (90 mins) / for up to 24 players. Outdoor

[{One for the feet, under takers, lovers and Private investigators}]

A reputable and inconspicuous firm is looking to hire vigilant individuals to investigate, collect and observe. Through the use of technology and problem solving you will ensure the needs of our clients are met.

Over 18s only. The Way of the Garden is a chase game – players will benefit from wearing comfortable clothes/shoes.

Part of FutureEverything2012
www.futureeverything.org
 
Download the full programme here: larkinaboutprogramme_May19th
 
Join the Facebook Event here.
 

Larkin’ Agents took part in the inaugural Manchester GameJam at Madlab on the 21-22 April. It was an event for coders, gamers, writers and creatives from a range of disciplines to get together and make some games over 48 hours. We had a fantastic time and can’t wait for the next one.

Wednesday 28th March
7pm ’til late
Barcelona Bar, 6 Hilton Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester. M4 1NB
Free!

Larkin’ About are once again teaming up with the Manchester Werewolf Chapter to bring you another round of the social game with a decidedly lycanthropic theme. ARRrroooooo!!!

Werewolf is a simple game of strategy and deception, played by a large group of people. The game is all about making accusations, lying, bluffing, second-guessing, and social engineering.

Join us! It’s free and fun and you don’t have to have played before to enjoy it. You’ll love it.

Sign up and say hello on the Facebook page for this event.
For further information, email tricia@larkin-about.co.uk

 

A pervasive gaming event delivered by Larkin’ About & the Library Theatre Company on March 3rd 2012 in Manchester Town Hall.

All images by © Ian Taylor.

Here’s the full programme for our Manchester Histories Festival project. Come & play!

 
Gareth Cutter – one of the artists we’ve commissioned for Library Theatre / Larkin’ About’s Manchester Histories Festival project – is looking for actors to take part in his pervasive game Lions After Slumber. If you’re interested in getting involved, read on!
 

I’m looking for volunteer actors to participate in a theatrical pervasive game project for the Manchester History Festival in association with The Library Theatre and Larkin’ About on Saturday 3rd of March.

This is an exciting opportunity to associate your name with a large festival, put your skills to use in a unique outdoor setting and perform in front of a new audience of game players, keen on exploring the history of Manchester through play.

Who Am I Looking For?

I’m looking for the following performers who are comfortable working outside in an urban environment and with a small degree of improvisation. Previous experience in similar work is preferred but not essential.

4 x male actors (aged 20 – 50)
1 x female actor (aged 20 – 50)
All available on Saturday 3rd March between 10am – 4pm

What Will You Need To Do?

You will need to:

* Read and memorise a short brief on the character and a character’s script in advance
* Read and learn the rules of the game so you can help the players play it as easily as possible
* Be available to speak in person or over the phone about the role in advance of the game

Fees and Expenses

There will be a small budget to put towards travel and food expenses for the day, which will be paid at the conclusion of the game. Please let me know your requirements when applying.

Regrettably, there isn’t a budget to pay actors a dedicated fee at the moment.

How Do I Get Involved?

Please express your interest by emailing cutteruption(at)gmail.com (replace the at with an `@’), putting Manchester History Festival in the subject line and marking it for the attention of `Gareth Cutter’.

Do share any details that you think would make you particularly suited to the role e.g. previous experience, qualifications etc. and ask any questions you may have.

Participants will be notified and selected shortly after Friday 24th February.

Many Thanks,

Gareth
Cutteruption

Liz Postlethwaite discusses The History Game, a pervasive gaming project delivered by Library Theatre & Larkin’ About for the Manchester Histories Festival on 3rd March 2012.

Come and play!

Sat 3rd March, 11am – 4pm.
Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB
Free!

Do you fancy searching and collecting, sneaking and peeking, chasing and racing round one of Manchester’s most beautiful landmarks for one day only? Then join Larkin’ About for The History Game and find out more about Manchester spending a day playing indoor and outdoor games.

Join in with a diverse group of artists. Gareth Cutter explores the relationship between the working classes and figures of authority during the Industrial Revolution. The Victorian theme continues with Rebeka Haigh’s exotic bird hunt, before Peter Keeley hurls us to the centre of a criminal investigation at the turn of the century. We are then catapulted to Soviet-era 1956 where Oscar Mike brings us The Telephone Exchange, a team game of secret communication, bluffing and political loyalty. Bren O’Callaghan then allows us a peek into the hidden and unexpected stories of Manchester’s past.

Pervasive games fuse the spectacle of theatre with the thrill of playing games. They allow us to explore our surroundings in a new, fun and immediate way.
Come out and play!

This event is delivered by the Library Theatre Company and Larkin’ About.
 

www.manchesterhistoriesfestival.org.uk/whatson/larkinabout
 

Our Manchester Histories Festival project with Library Theatre is well underway. We received a large number of applications from artists, and found it very difficult to whittle them down to five. In the end we chose ideas with lots of potential to engage with local history in a fun and accessible way.

These ideas are currently being developed and tested ready for Saturday 3rd March where there will be an explosion of activity around Manchester Town Hall. Players will be searching and collecting, sneaking and peeking, chasing and racing round one of Manchester’s most beautiful landmarks for one day only.

This programme brings together a diverse group of local artists. Gareth Cutter is exploring the Peterloo Massacre through a chase game depicting the relationship between the cavalry and the protesters. The surreal is explored in Rebeka Haigh’s exotic bird hunt, whilst Bren O’Callaghan gives us a fascinating glance into the experience of Black Elk, a member of the Lakota Sioux Indian tribe who was left stranded in Salford in 1887. Peter Keeley hurls us to the centre of a petty crime at the turn of the century which must be paid for. We are then catapulted to more recent years in Oscar Mike’s team game of secret communication, bluffing and political loyalty.

Further down the line we’ll publish full programme details. In the meantime, if your interested in helping to playtest some of this work, head here.
 

 
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!
Weds 25th January. 7pm – Late.
Barcelona Bar, 6 Hilton Street, NQ M4 1NB.
Free.

Following the success of our Werewolf Event in November, Larkin’ About are again teaming up with Ian Forrester and the Manchester Werewolf Chapter to run Werewolf. We had a great time and hope even more people make it down. It’s a great way to connect, have fun,have a drink (if you’re so inclined) and to lie your head off.

Werewolf is a simple game of strategy and deception, played by a large group of people. The game is all about making accusations, lying, bluffing, second-guessing, and social engineering.

We had plenty of total beginners last time as well as grizzly old pros so feel free to join us whatever your level. All are welcome. Bareclona Bar is a fantastic venue and the manager bent over backwards to make us feel welcome.

Here’s a tip for new players, Ian Forrester is ALWAYS a werewolf…

Join the FB event page for this event.