Experiential Design for Pip's Island Production Creates Immersive Multi-Sensory Theatre

In the magic of the holiday season, families were able to step off the busy Manhattan street into the many worlds of Pip's Island at the Skylight Modern, 537 West 27th Street, New York City. The ground-breaking immersive play (for ages 4-10) combined sheer wonder and fun with exploration, empowerment, and learning. Over the course of the 60-minute show, the whole family journeys together, alongside the characters through 12 amazing and multi-sensorial environments. Children enjoyed hands-on activities and challenges while interacting with the Island's fantastical creatures. Pips Island, running since November, closed at this location, on January 8, with plans in place to reopen in NYC in 2017.

Duncan Northern, production supervisor of New York City-based Tinc Productions, stated, "This very large and ambitious project, I believe the only one of its kind in the country, was built through the collaboration of experienced and innovative production and design teams. Global Scenic Services (GSSI) was an integral part in building the framework of the entire 11,500-sq.-ft. island and many of the scenic elements."

Global Scenic Services, Inc., project manager Josh Scherr, explained, "Engineering and building three-dimensional scenery that was often tactile, and always safe for the audience to move around, was a creative challenge. There is an array of varied height walls, scenes of different environs, lights, sounds, fog, and bubble machines to create different experiences." The Island is entered when the young audience unlocks the mysterious tree portal to step onto the shores of the fantastic Pips Island."

"GSSI's challenge was to make not just flat scenery but a completely immersive tactile environment. The children interact with woven felt brambles, and climb over giant wood tree roots. Working with the vision of designer John Coyne, GSSI created an organic and dramatic context in which the Pips Island story takes place. We are proud that the end results look and feel right to our client -- and to the audience," stated Scherr.

The producers of the show Rami and Rania Ajami stated, "We were very happy to work with GSSI. They thought outside the box and worked with us creatively to come up with new and innovative sets."