Somnai: An Immersive Dreamscape by dotdotdot
Somnai is the debut production from dotdotdot, a new London-based entertainment company blending live performance with multi-sensory elements and immersive technologies. Spread across a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Clerkenwell, Somnai is an interactive journey through the stages of dreaming, conceptualised by a team of experts in set design, digital technology, and creative direction led by Connie Harrison. This production invites participants to experience a curated journey that comes as close as possible to literally living out their dreams.
The Experience
The Somnai experience is a rabbit hole of fantastical environments and immersive scenarios, combining physical sets, virtual reality, and sensory elements:
- Immersive Set Design: From midnight-blue velvet rooms with life-sized teddy bears to ethereal, mist-filled spaces with hanging chairs, the physical environment was meticulously crafted to reflect different aspects of dreaming.
- Virtual Reality Highlights: A key element of the production involved participants donning VR goggles to explore surreal scenarios, including post-apocalyptic landscapes and underwater worlds. The physical sets complemented the VR, with textured surfaces allowing guests to feel what they could see virtually.
- Multi-Sensory Experience: The production also incorporated smell into the dreamscape, working with a perfumery to recreate relevant scents that enhanced the immersive storytelling.
Our Contribution
We were thrilled to collaborate with dotdotdot to help bring Somnai to life, providing our expertise in technical direction and immersive system design:
- Technical Direction Through Concept and Design: We worked closely with the creative team throughout the concept and detailed design phases, providing technical direction to ensure the vision for the project was achievable and impactful.
- Mockups and Scenic Integration: Our team helped to mock up physical elements of the experience well before installation, allowing the design team to refine elements to ensure seamless integration with the technology and guest journey.
- Technology and Show Control: We developed the technology and show control systems, including the initial audio visual and lighting systems that would bring the dreamlike world of Somnai to life.
- Guest Flow and Automation: We collaborated with dotdotdot to manage THRC (Total Hourly Ride Capacity) and develop floorplans and guest flow to allow the experience to be as fully automated as possible, ensuring efficient guest movement and maximising immersion.
Making Dreams a Reality
Somnai represents a bold fusion of immersive theatre, virtual reality, and sensory experiences to create an unforgettable dreamscape for audiences. By combining creative design with advanced technology integration and automation, Somnai offered participants the chance to literally journey through their dreams.
We are proud to have contributed to the success of this groundbreaking production, working with dotdotdot to bring their vision to life and redefine the possibilities of immersive entertainment.