World Factory, Young Vic ★★★★★

Culture Whisper says ★★★★★
Below is our preview, which gives background information about World Factory.



Interactive theatre with a difference
Amongst the starry line-up of the Young Vic’s newly announced season, World Factory stands out as a bold and intriguing prospect. Created by Zoe Svendsen and Simon Daw of METIS Theatre company, this ‘provocative game’ will make the audience the stars of the show. But if the thought of interactive theatre makes you shudder, fear not; actual performance will definitely be left to the professionals.
Real life research 
The production tackles the thorny subject of the global textile industry, focusing particularly on the relationship between the UK and China. World Factory began life when director- designer duo Svendsen and Daw collaborated with Zhao Chuan, a Chinese theatre director and realised a shared interest in the historical roots and modern incarnation of the fabric trade. Over the last two years the project has been on a winding journey, through rigorous research, voyages across the globe and public discussion events, taking in countless perspectives, from those of consumers to the factory workers themselves.
Contemporary issues on stage: theatre to make you think 
This final incarnation at the Young Vic will go beyond our everyday view of the clothes we wear, revealing our relationship to a complex supply chain with murky consequences for the environment and human rights worldwide. But it doesn’t aim to preach, instead harnessing the power of theatre to place us imaginatively in the shoes of others, to provoke us into exploring these issues for ourselves. And there is a whole host of ways to do this, including a website showcasing the project’s hoard of research material and a resource pack for schools. 
Multi-sensory experience
Svendsen and Daw’s last collaboration was Third Ring Out, an interactive piece about climate change, set in a shipping container. And METIS are renowned not only for tackling complex real-life subject matter, but also blending design, lighting, video and sound into transformative immersive experiences. We expect something totally stunning, thoughtful and fun in equal measure. World Factory is for everybody who has ever wondered how their clothes are made and where they come from.