The Encounter

In April of 2017, I experienced a one-man show at The Wallis in Beverly Hills that told a very simple story, but employed incredible audio technology to do so. Simon McBurney is the star and creator of this show which is called The Encounter.

McBurney, his company, Complicité and The Wallis are making it possible for you to experience this remarkable show at home. But you have to do it the same way we did in the theatre – you must wear headphones.

It is how McBurney and his sound designer Gareth Fry tell this story that requires the headphones. Trust me, you won’t understand why until you hear it for yourself.

What is the story? The less you know the better. Here is some elementary information that won’t get in the way of your experience.

The Encounter was inspired by the Petru Popescu novel Amazon Beaming. Set in 1969, the novel tells the story of Loren McIntrye, a photographer for National Geographic, who becomes lost in the Brazilian rainforest. He’s seeking to find the Mayoruna people.

Over the course of two hours, McBurney will play out a story that, though set over 40 years go, will seem quite timely today in the way it makes you look at your place in the world and the way you interact with others on the planet. This show excites, it challenges and the technology will blow you away.

Here’s the best part: from May 15th to May 22nd, you can watch The Encounter for free. But don’t forget your headphones. This show won’t work nearly as effectively if you just listen to it through speakers.

Photo from The Encounter by Stavros Petropoulos/Courtesy of The Wallis