Immersive Audio Experience by Sound Designer Călin Țopa in the play Seven Minutes After Midnight (A Monster Calls)
Premiere on Saturday at Excelsior Theatre.
Călin Țopa, one of the most innovative artists in Romanian theater, alongside director Bobi Pricop and composer Eduard Gabia, brings a unique audio experience to the stage of Excelsior Theatre with the premiere of Seven Minutes After Midnight (A Monster Calls), scheduled for this Saturday, January 25, 2025.
This performance marks a significant step in integrating technology into Romanian theater, featuring an innovative audio installation designed to offer an immersive experience for 200 spectators. Binaural sound, which provides the audience with a 3D stereo sound sensation, as well as the sound objects used, are transformed into a complex acoustic universe specifically created for this production.
“I created everything from scratch, from sounds like dishwashing and rain, to the dramatic moments when the monster appears or the mother leaves. The Foley design, as we call it in the industry, was crafted to amplify emotions and immerse the audience in the story”, explains Călin Țopa.
Each spectator receives live sound delivered directly through wireless headphones, transforming the traditional perception of sound in theater into a personalized, captivating and unique experience. Through this method, Călin Țopa, along with Eduard Gabia, has succeeded in creating a sound universe where sound itself becomes one of the main characters in the story.
“One unique aspect of this play is that the actors wear microphones on stage and the entire sound, from lines to sound details, is transmitted live to the audience through the headphones. This technology not only enhances the audience’s experience, but also presents an interesting challenge for the actors, who must adapt to a new working method based on heightened acoustic intimacy and precise control of vocal and sound expression. Thus, the performance redefines the relationship between actors, sound, and audience, opening up new perspectives on how theater can be perceived and experienced”, continues Călin Țopa.
The performances for this weekend are sold out. For those who want to discover the sound universe created by Călin Țopa in Seven Minutes After Midnight (A Monster Calls), there will be additional performances on February 13, 14, and 15.
In recent years, Călin Țopa has redefined the role of sound in theater through performances such as Exil and Pădurea Spânzuraților, which became phenomena, as well as through projects in the film industry. Document56, the short film directed by Christopher Landry, for which he composed the music, will be presented in February at the Tokyo Short Film Festival, after winning the Best Foreign Film award at the Beverly Hills Film Festival last year.
2025 brings many important projects for Călin Țopa, including two premieres at the National Theater in Bucharest, where he is collaborating with Alexandra Badea and Cosmin Florea, and a new production at Teatrul Masca, directed by Bobi Pricop. The artist will also participate this year in World Stage Design in Sharjah, UAE, and will have exhibitions at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Romania. He will also work in Paris this year on a documentary that will later be presented as a video installation. This film explores the impact of industrialization on the human aspect of the city, offering fresh perspectives and deep reflections on urban transformations.
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