About the performance

MICroscope is a new kind of live experience. It is interactive and immersive, a bold hybrid of music performance and theatre. It is both a cutting edge experience and completely unpretentious and massively enjoyable night out. Riz performs his debut album surrounding all four sides of a standing audience, using video design, costume, illusions, dance, theatre and multiple performers.

Key Personnel

Riz Ahmed - Composer & Writer and Lead Role
Prasanna Puwanarajah - Director
Farrah Drabu- DNR Films - Visual Director
Caroline Reason - Executive Producer

Production Information

Running time at full length: 70 mins

Suitable for age 16+

Light use of text

Use of recorded and live music

Does not require a clear understanding of English or another language

Touring Information

Scale: from 150 - 500 ideally

Non seated space required

Number of people on tour: 13 (approx)

Number of performers on stage: 1 lead, 3 on and off, 4 plants in audience.

Avalable to tour from November 2011 onwards

Suitable for rural touring

Outreach and Educational Work

There is no educational benefits within the actual performance but it is a show that is innovative and pushes boundaries. It is however easy to in corporate a master class from Riz Ahmed into the morning of the performance or visual /sound/film/live camera work classes/demonstrations from the crew in the afternoon of the shows. As a multi talented and award winning actor Riz's masterclasses can involve acting and music.

Company History

The show was first seen at Lillian Bayliss Theatre - Sadlers Wells in November 2009 which was part of the Svepganta Festival. Off the back of this Caroline Reason and Riz Ahmed started Confirm/Ignore with some private investment from people who had seen the template of the show. Riz then adapted the show which was then premiered at Fabric in June 2010 and then headlined the Film and Music Tent at Latitude Festival in July 2010 and did 3 performance at Glastonbury Festival. We then self released the album in Jan 2011 to crictical acclaim. Riz Ahmed writes, composes and takes the lead role in the production.

Reviews

Maverick Riz MC's 360 degree interactive show..incoporates promenade theatre, multimedia and incisive electro - rap, he has created something unique..the music is great…. THE INDEPENDENT.. June 2010.

Like Nothing else that is around right now…EVENING STANDARD - June 2010

The performance fuses live music, theatre, live and pre recorded visual, magic and audience interaction to create something unlike any gig you've been to before..its not really theatre, its not really a gig, its something else entirely. Its an incredibly ambitious show of a type often talked about but rarely attempted and Riz pulls it off incredibly well..a message to all touring musicians - must try harder. ANDY MALT - CMU DAILY - June 2010

Riz's innovative offering is signalig potential for a new hybrid of theatre,cinema and concert experience...ahead of the game.... RWD MAGAZINE - July 2010
Riz MC's live show is a theatrical spectacular packing equal portions of razor sharp wit - rough electro beats and incisive satirical rhymes...when Riz's sci fi stream of conciousness its impossible not to be get swept along with his wild imagination. PAUL CLARKE - DJ MAG