INTERACTIVE theatre is something that is perhaps an alien concept to audiences in Salisbury – but that will all change when a Playhouse-commissioned show comes to the Salberg next week.

Mountaineering is an interactive production that gives people a chance to immerse themselves in the action and influence the direction of the evening.

Using multi-channel headphones the audience or “participants”, as co-creator Sarah Butcher describes them, will make a number of choices allowing them to hear the play from multiple angles.

The show combines video projections, sound installations and audience involvement so that the play changes with each production.

“It is so that people can choose their own pathway,” Sarah said. “It is an individual experience, coming out of the show and hearing what others have to say about what they have seen.”

The show was commissioned jointly between the Roundhouse in London and the Playhouse. The group behind the project, non zero one, are attempting to bring more immersive theatre to the regions.

The collective of five, who met at Royal Holloway, ask the audience difficult questions about themselves but Sarah described it as a “gentle” introduction.

“Some of our shows in the past have been criticised for not having a structure so this one has a defined beginning, middle and end.

“It will be largest audience that we will have performed to as before it was to 24 people on the roof of the National Theatre.”

Sarah will be coming back to Salisbury having had a long connection with The Playhouse, having taught the youth thearte and doing a placement with the theatre.

She said: “Our work in the past has been called ‘London-centric’ but I think it is a show that will appeal to anyone from 16 to 80 because the topic is about choice and decisions that everybody will have made in their lives.

“I really hope that we can get some of the regulars to come as it is a show anyone who has lived can enjoy.”

All audience members will receive headphones, a notebook and a torch upon entry to the Salberg and because audience members are also invited on stage it means the actors have to improvise.

“We have parts of the script that are left completely blank and depending on what the audience say we have to jump to different parts.

“It makes it something that you experience together as a group and the next day it could be completely different.”

Performances of Mountaineering take place from Thursday, March 5 to Saturday, March 7 at 7.45pm in the Salberg.

Tickets are available from the Salisbury Playhouse ticket office on 01722 320333 or salisburyplay house.com.