NOTE: the Sep 14 and September 25 at 6:00pm and 6:40pm performances of this show have been canceled.

Is Trust given freely, or earned over time? Is Fairness judged on a geological timescale or in the span of a second? How much can you get in exchange that birthday present you got from your least favorite aunt?

Fair Trade is the first in a series of experiments from critically acclaimed Interactive Experience Makers Jessica Creane (Know Thyself, Chaos Theory, Schrödinger’s Cat) and Yannick Trapman-O’Brien (The Telelibrary, Undersigned), designed to invite participants to lean into these questions and discover what exactly we give and take when things change hands.

In this thought experiment turned philosophical swap-meet, you’ll bring 3 possible offerings to negotiate a trade with a stranger.

It may be a deeply personal exploration of how you do (or don’t) come to Trust the people you meet. It may be a perspective-smashing upheaval of how you decide the Value of things. It may short circuit your notions of how to find meaning and fulfillment. It may even be the Fairest trade you’ve ever made. It will definitely be a chance to discover your own definitions.

What might you bring — and what might you get in return?

Come find out.

All participants are asked to book no more than 1 ticket per showtime, as this experience is designed for two strangers.

You should set aside 70 minutes for this piece, but your time experience will vary based on participant input – a power which you will share with that other stranger.

For ages 18+

This show is presented as part of Cannonball Festival, Philly’s artist-centered performance hub, packing in 65+ full length shows and 300 performances in two nearby venues. Discover risk-taking theater, dance, circus, music, and comedy alongside a vibrant garden bar with a free nightly cabaret, pop-up events, workshops, artist talkbacks, and more. September 1–30 at the Maas Building (1320 N 5th St) and Icebox Project Space (1400 N American St). Learn more at cannonballfestival.org.

Content Considerations

This piece requires audience participation in an open, searching conversation. While explicit themes are not the direct subject of any portion of this experience, participants will have the ability to influence the topics we address. Like any conversation, you will be asked to share what you wish, withhold whatever you want, and communicate what you’re unwilling to discuss.

Health & Safety

Proof of vaccination is required to attend this event, and masks must be worn for the duration of the performance. Audience members will be asked to show proof of vaccination before entering the venue. Both digital and physical proof of vaccination are accepted. Please plan accordingly.

About the Artist

Jessica Creane is a game and immersive experience designer focused on personal and communal transformation through play. She is the founder of IKantKoan Play/s, Professor of Game Design at Drexel University and CUNY City Tech, a 2022 Arctic Circle Artist-in-Residence, a 2022 Buckminster Fuller Institute Design Science Fellow, an environmentally-focused game designer with The National Parks Service, and a founding member of The Rachael Carson Center Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators. Jessica recently gave a TEDx talk on embracing uncertainty through play and her work has been presented at The World Economic Forum, Fastaval, SXSW, ArsNova, Caveat NYC, HERE Arts, Tanween Creativity Festival, BostonFIG, The New York Times, and KQED San Fransisco. Her work ranges from single-player games to epic events. She often reads by candlelight. https://ikantkoan.com/

Yannick Trapman-O’Brien is a Performer, Theatermaker, and Creative Hand for Hire. His practice centers on exploring the exchanges and spaces we are willing to make with strangers, and seeking unorthodox applications for performance. People pay him to act, which he has done in Shakespeare, devised work, performance actions and immersive works, as well as amphitheaters, basements, historical mansions, forests, and one time on a bike. Past credits include The Walnut Street Theater, Theater Mitu, Witness Relocation, the Interactive Playlab, The American Czech Theater, New Light Theater, and performances at the Franklin Institute, Morris Jumel and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museums. He is an alumnus of NYU Abu Dhabi (Theater, BA) and an ongoing collaborator with Monument Lab, Guerilla Science, and Alterra Productions. He is also the creator of The Telelibrary, a critically acclaimed telephone performance for audiences of one. Occasionally, he sleeps. yannickto.com