Space for when we are still, we can feel the world turn – an Eco-Performance

Designed by Andrea Carr, UK designer for When the World Turns.

Part of the project for, ‘Space for when we are still, we can feel the world turn – an Eco-Performance” is an immersive sensory film that celebrates the scenography of light, sound, and ecological design in performance. It reveals the biophilic environment, sensory interactions, and flexible touring architecture at the heart of the work, exploring themes of care, reciprocity, and interconnected ecosystems.

The project begins with a question: Who controls space, and for whom is it offered? How do spaces confine or liberate, obstruct or enable? What kinds of spaces do humans—and the more‑than‑human world—need in order to breathe, gather, and grow?

Responding to PQ’s themes of ‘a room of one’s own’, space, and performance, the work proposes a room defined not by walls but by attention: a place to be, to breathe, and to feel the world turning. Within an eco‑scenography of more than 200 living plants, the senses lead the way. Biophilic design and accessibility shape a touring environment that expands or contracts to meet each venue and community. The design supports connection—with each other, with the environment, and with the subtle movements of a world in motion.

A temporary room emerges: a clearing, an enclave, a living garden‑space for young people, carers, babies, parents, and audiences. In contexts where such spaces are often absent—especially within formal care settings—the work insists that everyone deserves to be met by nature, to rest, to play, and to be fully themselves.

In the film, we move through ecosystems, travelling between macro and micro worlds. The centipede appears as an emblem of micro‑habitats, undergrowth perspectives, and the creature‑centred worlds beneath our feet—a small, tactile performed object that invites audiences to sense the world at ground level.

This film was created especially for the Prague Quadrennial submission. The version shared here has been prepared for submission. A version including voiceover for accessibility will be available shortly.

When the World Turns is an international collaboration between Oily Cart (UK) and Polyglot Theatre (AUS). Acknowledgements go to Dr Tanja Beer (AUS) for original design concept, and introducing biophilic design patterns to the performance design.