The promise of “non-threatening” audience participation probably sounds like a self-contradictory turn of phrase to a lot of people, especially if a “theatrical experience” is shrouded in an air of mystery to begin with.

But if you come in with curiosity, prepared to hand over a little trust, you could find yourself strangely uplifted by Sincere Apologies – a work from acclaimed theatre collective Alternative Facts, which describes itself as “part theatrical ritual, part social experiment”. 

No actors, no director, no clear boundary between the stage and the seating – just a dark room covered in a wash of pink light, a circle of chairs, a box of numbered envelopes, a few microphone stands, and a pair of tech crew members diligently executing a series of time-sensitive sound and lighting effects from their desk in the corner. The audience becomes the performance (but importantly, there is a choice to opt out of speaking). 

Sincere Apologies. Photo © Lucy Parakhina

The envelopes are shared around the circle with the help of a little team work, and one by one, we...