Exploring the human desire for connection and belonging, Stampin’ in the Graveyard is an immersive headphone theatre experience set in a post-apocalyptic world. Running at Summerhall Arts (Red Lecture Theatre) from 31 July to 25 August (not 11 & 18), this 60-minute show invites audiences to interact with AI chatbot Rose as she pieces together the remnants of a vanished civilisation.
Created by Elisabeth Gunawan and Matej Matejka, the show blends poetry, soundscapes, live music, and movement within a set built from recycled electronics. Audience members wear silent disco headphones and shape the narrative in real time, choosing paths that lead to multiple endings. Rooted in the creators’ lived experiences of migration and exile, the piece explores themes of loss, ecological grief, and inherited trauma, ultimately seeking joy amidst the ruins.
Gunawan, an award-winning writer and performer, developed the show during the pandemic while grappling with questions of home and identity. The production builds on earlier iterations at Bloomsbury Festival and VOILA! Festival, and follows her acclaimed solo show Unforgettable Girl.
Movement direction is by Matej Matejka, a renowned theatre practitioner and founder of Studio Matejka at the Grotowski Institute. The creative team includes sound designer Orest Sharak, composer Jack Parris, and scenographer Mona Camille.
