About the show

Invisible Space is an immersive headphone theatre experience using silent disco technology, adapted from the classic Chinese mythological tale The Legend of the White Snake. This timeless story follows Bai Suzhen, a snake spirit who reincarnates across lifetimes in search of her lost love, Xu Xian.

Blending ancient mythology with innovative theatrical forms, Awful Shoes Collective creates an audience-engaging performance where spectators are not just passive viewers but active participants in the unfolding experience. Seated in a yin-yang-inspired circular formation around the performer, they wear wireless headphones that immerse them in a rich soundscape of voices, music, and movement. This setup fosters a deep sense of connection, as spectators become part of the theatrical ritual, influencing its rhythm and atmosphere through their presence and reactions.

It’s an unprecedented space in which you will be connected with people you know or might meet for the first time. In this intimate and interactive environment, relationships are redefined, and mythology is brought to life through collective experience.

Show Date: 2,3,8,9 August 2025 at 11:40

Venue: Just the Tonic at the Caves

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/invisible-space

About the Company

Awful Shoes Collective is an independent experimental theatre company founded in 2024, based in both London and China. Created by Asian artists from diverse backgrounds—including theatre, fine art, design, and scenography—we celebrate diversity and are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of storytelling beyond text. Our work explores sensory, physical, and immersive experiences, inviting audiences to become active participants in the creative process.

Our headphone theatre performance Invisible Space premiered as a work-in-progress at Theatre Deli’s Shift+Space, a unique program where artists present their work, integrate audience feedback within 24 hours, and perform an evolved version the following evening. Later, the piece was showcased at The 2nd Shanghai International Urban Xinzhuang Fringeville, where it was honoured with the Best Experimental Theatre Award.

Through our work, we continue to experiment with innovative ways of engaging audiences, blurring the lines between performer and spectator, and creating theatre that is dynamic, interactive, and ever-evolving.