‘A Tiny Light In The Fog – A Hidden Message On The Wind’ – The message on the front of the leaflet is as obscure as the play itself. Surrounded in secrecy and presented only with an ‘observation card’ for a ticket, and a Field Guide to aid understanding, the audience was sent into David Shearing and Company’s immersive, multimedia performance installation.

The purpose of the show is for the audience to appreciate and understand how the weather works to connect us together and ultimately shapes our lives. It uses a combination of set, lighting, sound, and audience belief to work, and providing the audience goes in with a clear head, you should prepare to be blown away – literally.

It’s fair to say that The Weather Machine is an experience and a half. The audience is actively part of the show and has to be willing to get involved. It’s essential that you go to this exhibition with an open mind and the willingness to be introduced to a new way of thinking. Shearing and Company certainly expects the audience to be well educated and use their imagination when entering the set. Those who are expecting a relaxing experience will not appreciate this, nor will anyone with a low level of maturity. If you’re not interested in learning or taking in culture, then don’t bother.

The show does have its confusing points. The purpose of some features and whether they are actually necessary to include is unclear. But the show is nevertheless thought provoking and makes you consider the world and everyday things we just take for granted in a new way. I wouldn’t say this show is for everyone, but if you do feel inspired to look at the weather for the incredible force of nature it is, while laying back in the grassy landscapes, imagining the world in whatever way you’re mind takes you, give it a go.

Emily Willson

Image: stage@leeds