An epic day of video gaming and uprising: asses.masses invites you to play out the heroic journey of a herd of donkeys trying to get their jobs back.
The unemployed donkeys have one demand: the humans must surrender their machines and give all donkeys their jobs back. But revolution is never easy! asses.masses is a custom video game designed to be played collectively from beginning to end by a live audience. It’s a 7.5 hour epic story of a herd of unemployed donkeys trying to get their jobs back, all while navigating the perils of a post-Industrial society in which they’ve been made redundant.
Cheeky, political, and best described as Animal Farm meets Pokémon meets Final Fantasy, asses.masses puts the control(ler) in its audience’s hands and asks them to discover the space between the work that defines us and the play that frees us.
No previous gaming (or donkey) experience required. Approx. run time 7.5 hours. Tickets include meals, snacks, and soft drinks during intermissions.
Intermissions take place every two episodes, approximately every 1.5 hours.
Performance Information
September 7 at 2pm
Pricing
$60 Standard
$15 Students , Industry & 25-and-Unders
$2 FringeACCESS
FringeArts Member discounts & benefits available
Your ticket includes meals, snacks, and soft drinks during intermissions. Additional drinks will be available for purchase from Fringe Bar.
Venue
FringeArts
140 N Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia PA 19106
About the Artists
Patrick Blenkarn & Milton Lim
Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim are conceptual artists exploring urgent questions around the social value of art, digital labour, and the political potential of games. Mixing their backgrounds in performance, philosophy, psychology, and digital media, their collaborations have manifested in video games, participatory installations, digital archives, and card games.
In addition to their asses.masses, Patrick and Milton are also the co-founders of the Canadian national video archive of performance (videocan) and the co-creators behind a performing arts economy trading card game (culturecapital), a role playing game about cultural design (FARCE), and an escape room intervention in a German museum (FUNFUG FORUM). Their projects have been presented across Canada, as well as in Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Italy, the United Kingdom and the USA, in English, French, Italian, Catalan, German, and Spanish.
Their next project, dam.nation, follows the true story of twenty Canadian beavers acquired by the Argentinian government in 1946.
Creative Team
Stéphane Noël International Distribution
Patrick Blenkarn, Milton Lim, Laurel Green, David Mesiha, Stéphane Noël Tour Operators
Supporters
Created with support from Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, The Theatre Centre, VIVO Media Arts, Embassy of Canada to Argentina and Paraguay.
Developed with the funding support from Creative BC, the British Columbia Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts.
Produced in association with the National Arts Centre of Canada’s National Creation Fund.
Executive Producers
Chris Deephouse and Donna Hunt
Co-producers
Shelley Green and Michael Golden
Accessibility
Wheelchair/Limited Mobility Seating and Sensory Kits Available. Venue social narrative is available online. Check PhillyFringe.org for additional services for specific shows.
Content Considerations
asses.masses includes flashing lights, audience participation, violence, crude language, nudity, simulated donkey sex, simulated human sex, and references to drug use, suicide, and police brutality. We recommend it for audience members ages 14 and up. This is not a performance that is suitable for young audiences.
Participation and active spectatorship is a central part of asses.masses. We invite you to be part of our Herd in any way you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
how does it work?
A game controller sits at the front of the stage. Brave spectators take turns each night stepping forward from the herd to seize the means of production (the controller) and become the player. There are no instructions. It is up to the audience and their self-elected leaders to make decisions and play out their version of the game.
what does it feel like?
You can expect the show to feel like a blend of super awesome game night at your friend’s house (with a hundred friends) and unforgettable movie marathon—expect a healthy dose of political uprising, delicious food served at intermissions, and lots of donkeys. Ask anyone who has experienced the show and they’ll tell you, it does not feel like 7 hours.
I’m not very good with video games. Can I still come?
Yes! Those who don’t wish to use the controller often play the most important role—backseat driving!
Health & Safety
Masks are optional, vaccines are not required. More information about FringeArts COVID policies can be found here.
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