Norah Lopez Holden stars in the world première digital production of Curse of the Crackles! an interactive audio adventure for children and families written by Bea Roberts, featuring innovative sound technology by Ben & Max Ringham.
Directed by Ed Stambollouian the production also stars Sam Swann and is available to watch from 13th March 2021.
Tickets are available via shoreditchtownhall.com
You’re starring in Curse of the Crackles! What can you tell us about it?
It’s a 3D sound play for kids. All about the quest to repair the sound universe that has gone awry because of the evil force that are ‘The Crackles’
Tell us more about the innovative three-dimensional sound technology used in this production?
It’s recorded on a microphone head (literally a huge weighty head where the ears are two microphones) that records not only the sound but where in the physical space that sound is coming from in a 360 degree radius. It’s so effective listening to it, and actually recording feels more like filming that usual microphone work- because we have to track the realistic journeys of the action rather than staying in one place.
As a performer how did you have to adapt to a production so heavily influenced by sound?
Mainly it’s just about adapting what you’re doing to get the sounds that are most realistic, so like me scratching my head playing a dog actually sounds less realistic than a piece of sandpaper scratching against the wall for example.
How did the creative team help you bring your character to life?
Honestly it was one of the most creative processes I’ve been a part of. Everyone was constantly pitching in with ideas to make it sound better or funnier. We had loads of workshop moments where we’d try different things in different ways and everyone got involved! To the extent that we had an actual silent disco to get the effect of a party crowd, where we all listened separately to great music turned the lights off and jumped around for ages. Of course, none of it was usable – but it was so much fun, and testament to how desperate we all are to get back on a dancefloor again!
It sounds like so much fun, what was the most fun part for you in making Curse of the Crackles?
There were loads of moments where it was ridiculously fun, like doing a gangster chase in a real car (parked in the carpark) jumping about all over the seats to name but one! But my favourite moment definitely has to be when I was randomly coming up with a melody for a theme tune as part of one of the scenes, and Ben Ringham, the musical genius that he is, decided it would be fun to fully produce it to be a massive club track. So, we spent the whole last day putting spice girl-esque harmonies on top of it and an elaborate pirate rap! I kept thinking: “I’m really living my teenage popstar dream here”
What would you say to any parents thinking of signing their kids up to watch Curse of the Crackles?
I’d definitely say do it. And also listen to it yourselves! It is a really fun activity to all do together, also I listened to it as a group of 4 adults and we all shut our eyes for all of it and had a blast! At a time where we’re sensorially lacking, having spent so much of the past year in the same four walls or doing the same radius of the same parks, I think engaging imaginatively with your creativity is key. And this play couldn’t be more jam packed with different wild and wacky audio universes to explore!
