COMA invites audiences
to take part in a mass experiment
and slip into a collective dream.

 
 
 
 
“How nice - to feel nothing, and still get full credit for being alive.”
— Kurt Vonnegut

Imagine the moment of waking up is actually the moment when your dream begins. In light of this new and strange reality, how can we save you from the unspeakable horrors which lurk in the dark recesses of your mind? The only cure we offer is a placebo and a promise. Please remember when you leave to take your body with you.

COMA premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 and in Canary Wharf, London. Over 30 minutes, the audience is invited to take part in a mass experiment, to lie down together and slip into a collective dream.

  • PERFORMERS: Simon Kane, Serena Bobowski, Noa Bodner, Christopher Brett Bailey

    PRODUCTION MANAGER: Rich Irvine

    LIGHTING CONSULTANT: Sarah Readman

    SET REALISATION: George Tomlinson

    SET BUILDERS: Callum Mercer, Thomas Shannon, Joe Iredale, Simon Bishop, Sam Thornber

    TECHNICIANS: Liam Rudd, Greg Jordon, Eren Celikdemir, Adam Wileman, Francis Botu, Cat Ryall

    'WHITE SERIES' PHOTOGRAPHY: Stephen Dobbie

    THANKS TO: Miila Dietz, Kathryn Bond, Taragh Bissett, Adela Donoval, Anna Edwards-McConway, Bryn Fitch, Manna Mostaghim, Helen Paszyn, Emily Walters, Aidan Yorath

  • COMA HAS VISITED:
    Adelaide, Canary Wharf, Kings Cross, Waterman’s Arts Centre & Summerhall at Edinburgh Fringe.

    PROGRAMME COMA:

    • UK & THE REST OF THE WORLD: To programme COMA for your venue or site, send a message to info@darkfield.org with details of location and dates.

    • AUSTRALIA: COMA tours Australia with our partners Realscape Productions. For tickets and dates please visit darkfield.com.au.

  • ★★★★★
    In Daily Australia
    ‘…not for the faint-hearted, Coma…creates intense feelings and is truly unnerving. It takes audiences on a disturbing journey into a world where nothing (and everything) is possible.’

    ★★★★★
    ScotsGay
    ’A finely crafted piece of immersive theatre…a thrilling, chilling and ultimately stunning experience...you don’t watch COMA, you experience it, the further your willing to let yourself go and embrace what’s happening around you, the more you will gain...’

    ★★★★
    The Scotsman
    ’Impressionistic, almost surreal’

    ★★★★
    Fest Mag
    ’An immersive experience that takes audiences to another realm’

    The Independent
    ‘If you’ve never experienced one of Darkfield’s shows, absolutely go: it is technically astonishing, completely uncanny, and deeply unnerving. You start to question your own senses. You may start to feel a rising panic. It’s not for faint-hearted.’

  • You can find access headlines below, but can find full details in the show access pack here.
    Please also refer to our general access information page here.

    • AGE RESTRICTIONS:
      14+

    • CONTENT WARNINGS:
      Coma, medical themes, death

    • WHEELCHAIR / POWERCHAIR ACCESS:
      There is one wheelchair/powerchair accessible space if the patron wishes to stay in their chair. We can accommodate and assist with transferring to a house seat or bunk bed if preferred.

    • REDUCED MOBILITY:
      Patrons with reduced mobility are welcome to contact us at access@darkfield.org to let us know how we can assist them.

    • TOUCH TOURS:
      Available on request; please email us at access@darkfield.org.

    • AUDIO DESCRIPTION:
      COMA takes place in complete darkness and is inherently audio descriptive.

    • HEARING IMPAIRMENTS: Unfortunately, as our work is audio based and in the dark, we are limited in our access provision for those with hearing impairments. This means we cannot provide BSL interpretation or captioning. Induction loops are currently unavailable, but we can adjust audio volume, or make the recordings mono for those with partial impairments.

    • LIGHT SENSITIVITY: There are no flashing lights in COMA. There is one instance of the lights turning on abruptly.