YUM! is an innovative participatory XR (Extended Reality) music theater that immerses audiences in a satirical dining experience where grotesque beauty, dark humor, and tech-driven narratives intertwine. Created by Studio M.A.R.S., this production transports viewers to a parallel universe—vividly absurd and hauntingly familiar—where a sheen of opulence conceals a world plagued by climate catastrophe, food shortages, and societal decay.

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Through exaggerated storytelling, YUM! delves into themes of class, identity, and self-obsession. XR technology serves as both a dramaturgical and metaphorical tool, revealing how digital media distorts perception and blurs the line between the authentic and the artificial.

In YUM!, digital illusion collides with physical reality as an XR app transforms revolting jelly dishes into sumptuous virtual feasts, symbolizing our daily interactions with digital devices. Here, technology questions its role in a dystopian society—do screens distort reality, or do they simply mirror our artificial lives?

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At the core of YUM! is its pioneering use of AR and VR, seamlessly blending mixed reality with live performance to draw audiences into an uncanny, digital-woven experience. Over sixty surreal minutes, audiences are immersed in a distorted high-society world of grotesque, fake luxuries as the planet teeters on collapse. Dining with self-obsessed characters, they are pulled further into this fabricated reality with satirical ‘Advertisements,’ revealing how digital opulence masks environmental devastation, food shortages, and societal emptiness. In YUM!, devices aren’t just tools; they’re façades masking decay.

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Yum! seeks to redefine opera and music theater production by leaning towards performance art. This innovative approach aims to create a more immersive experience, allowing the audience to actively engage with the performance. This includes breaking the traditional "fourth wall" barrier between performers and spectators, enabling the audience to become storytellers within the narrative.

 

We amplify the story through Extended Reality, transporting the audience fully into this new world. Our interdisciplinary, multi-sensory approach engages and challenges all the senses—from taste and smell to touch and sight—taking both the cast and the audience on an exploration of what may lie ahead.

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Blurred Reality: 

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The integration of XR technology with traditional opera presents both a formidable challenge and a new avenue for innovation within the performing arts. Yum! exemplifies this fusion by leveraging XR to expand the boundaries of audience engagement and sensory immersion.

At the heart of  Yum! is the commitment to multi-sensory experiences, transcending traditional performance observation to craft narratives that blur the lines between reality and imaginative constructs.

 

Yum! utilizes the XR app to create a striking dissonance between the characters' perception and the intricately designed fabricated reality perceived by the audience. This contrast explores the nuances of perception, illustrating how our senses can be both manipulated and challenged.

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The XR is a critical dramaturgical tool used to probe the influence of technology on human society and its effects on interpersonal relationships. Audiences move through various worlds, alternating between XR perspectives and immersive live dining experiences. This experimental approach mixes private and shared experiences, enriching the palette of human interaction and portraying the social and technological aspects of an artificial, systematized world. The Tablet/Cellphone also assumes a metaphorical role, symbolizing our routine engagement with digital devices to consume information, thus altering our perception of the world. As the boundary between ourselves and the external world increasingly resembles a digital screen, we are confronted with fabricated information and manipulated images daily, leading us to contemplate the ultimate consequences of this digital lifestyle. Through this contrast, we challenge audience members to reconsider their understanding of reality and the constructed illusions that shape our lives.

 

Using food as a metaphor for the artificiality of the characters' existence, the overarching theme of synthetic living is continued. In reality, the audience experiences bland and unappealing food, reminiscent of ‘Soylent Green,’ mirroring the emptiness of the characters' synthetic lives. Within our AR app, however, these same dishes are transformed into extravagant, sumptuous plates, highlighting the dissonance between perceived and actual realities.

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The Story:

 

In this 60-minute immersive performance, the audience becomes part of a surreal, climate-ravaged world. Set in the luxurious dining room of Madame Gigi, where the elite indulge in fabricated fine dining, guests escape societal hardships alongside three self-absorbed performers: Emmy, Alexander, and Madame Gigi herself.

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As the evening unfolds, surreal “Advertisements” and XR visuals twist the atmosphere, blurring the line between privilege and illusion. Each bizarre, jelly-based course entices and unnerves, as the high-class facade cracks to reveal the unsettling consequences of their self-obsession. What begins as a decadent escape spirals into a sharp exploration of values, pushing each guest to confront their role in a world on the edge.​

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Visionary Approach to Music Composition:

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The music of Yum! explores dystopian themes with bold strokes of dark humor, blending historical and futuristic sounds into a distinctive fusion. Rooted in post-humanist philosophy, the composition challenges conventional authenticity by presenting each element as a deliberate artifice. Central to this approach is Sprechgesang—a blend of spoken word with singing—performed by three singers to disrupt traditional operatic norms. This unapologetically direct style ensures narrative clarity without subtitles, creating a one-of-a-kind auditory experience that defies expectations.

 

Absurdism permeates the music, transforming operatic singing into a powerful force that amplifies Yum!’s surreal, "Authentically Artificial" aesthetic. Through a layered use of extended vocal techniques, Sprechgesang, dialogue, and exaggerated acting, the performance crafts a retro-futuristic soundscape that interweaves operatic style with 80s and 90s nostalgia.

 

Set within an upscale dining environment, the presence of a live string quartet acts as a metaphor, evoking the historic link between classical music and privilege. The interplay between the string quartet and electronic elements intensifies this theme, contrasting the elegance of classical sophistication with the grotesque, artificial world on stage. This vibrant, interactive composition blurs the line between reality and illusion, offering an immersive, evolving journey into Yum!’s surreal narrative landscape.

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Impact and Achievements of Yum!:

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The Yum! Project embodies a commitment to inclusion and diversity, led by Studio M.A.R.S., a female-led multicultural collective. This leadership sets a strong precedent for diverse representation within the arts. The artistic direction of the project is spearheaded by LGBTQIA+, highlighting underrepresented voices and providing a prominent platform.

 

Yum! engages with pressing societal issues such as climate change, class, identity, and self-obsession through its innovative participatory XR music theater format. This approach dissolves the traditional boundaries between performers and the audience, creating a more inclusive space where diverse perspectives are valued and integral to the narrative. By weaving together satire, dark humor, and social commentary, the project facilitates a rich dialogue on complex themes, enhancing community understanding and interaction. The spirit of innovation is a cornerstone of Yum!, influencing every aspect from thematic exploration to audience engagement and the strategic use of technology, positioning the project as a leader in modern artistic ventures.

 

Central to Yum!'s narrative is an exploration of the environmental impacts of climate change, emphasizing the urgency of collective action and environmental stewardship. It highlights the consequences of unsustainable food production practices and the looming risks of food scarcity, encouraging audiences to reflect critically on these issues. The use of  XR technology intensifies this engagement by juxtaposing actual and fabricated realities, challenging the audience's perceptions and urging them to question the constructed illusions that influence their understanding of the world.

 

Furthermore, Yum! delves into themes of synthetic living and the artificial nature of contemporary food consumption, advocating for sustainable practices to combat climate change. This exploration is not only a call to action but also a prompt for audiences to reassess their environmental impact and the choices they make daily.

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