Theatre review: Dragon Quest, Angus
Designed as a family experience, Dragon Quest takes place at dusk and after dark, as the audience is escorted in small groups to the edge of the forest near the lake, and given the low-down by a member of the Dragon Protection League. The wood is full of kindly dragons, apparently, who are being persected by trolls, hobgoblins and poachers; so off we go, through a world of singing flowers and muttering, glowing bivouac tents, with installations featuring the caravan-cum-research-station of missing dragon scientists Dan and Petra, a poachers’ hut, and a memorable pile of steaming dragon poo.
The main interest, though, lies in the strange symbols pinned to trees along the way; for if you point your smartphone at them, a creature appears on your screen between you and the tree – a troll, hobgoblin or fairy that you can photograph and collect, to win a Dragon Quest badge. The result is an event slightly divided between the real setting where it takes place, and the on-screen monsters which - as ever – command more immediate attention; but one day, I suspect Vision Mechanics will make a show using this same virtual technology, in a way that enhances the real experience even more, and competes with it a little less.
Monikie Country Park, Angus, until 1 November.