Bring The Come Bargain Trilogy To Life In 2025

The cold has set in, and the Uncanny Things approach ever-nearer.

It is slightly bizarre to think that, in five months, we’ll be darned close to opening (all going to plan). I’ve seen some wonderful spaces, and (fingers crossed) will be able to shout loud and clear about exactly where and when this show will be running (but pencil in next March).

So here is a segue into what’s been happening behind-the-scenes.

1. We have a plan

There is a lot that goes into making a show like this. But there is now a centralised plan of tasks which will (hopefully) quietly spread out into being other people’s problems as we grow the team.

There’s doing final tweaks on the shows themselves, which then unlocks ‘send materials to designer’. There’s aforementioned venue-booking, which then unlocks ‘casting’, ‘recruit stage manager’, and so on. There’s also (for myself) clearing the decks of any other tasks, from various writing commissions to job applications - anything that can be done before next year needs to be done now.

Hence the plan. The Uncanny Things trilogy is, effectively, becoming a part-time job from now on (one of the practical things that your contributions allows).

2. We have a new name

Did you notice? Based on overwhelming consensus from our supporters, we are now preparing the Uncanny Things Trilogy!

It’s a lovely name, which really centres the Thing that makes us stand out. You’re not coming to bargain at a greengrocer’s, you’re coming to interact with Uncanny Things. 

So congratulations (especially to Tim M., who I think was the first person to use the new name). You are all people of excellent taste.

3. We have made philosophical advances

At least, for the shows. The hardest show of the trilogy, by far, is Come Murder An Uncanny Thing. The title is right, as is the idea that after bargaining as equals, and worshipping as inferiors, we want to let the audience have dominance and power.

However, most people consider murder taboo [citation needed]. Nor is this a show about “is force ever justified?”. What we’re interested in thematically is “how should we relate to the world and other people if we have power over it?”, and experientially, “how do we make that exploration rich, enjoyable, and filled with danger?”.

I’m pretty happy with how we’ve brought out those questions within the narrative of the show. I suspect that, from the moment people walk through the door, they’re going to start feeling the temptations and hazards of power. Especial thanks to an anonymous crowdfunder backer who helped me by haggling over “how much [awfulness] would you accept to achieve [increasingly selfish goals]?”. Turns out that even the most altruistic people do have a price at which they’d accept [awfulness]; you just have to push hard enough. And then invite people to wonder about it.

You have all paid a price for loveliness, however, and you shall have that too. I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

For now, have a good November.

Leo

P.S. CN Lester, one of the longest-standing members of the Uncanny Things team, and myself, a person, are putting on a show this month. It’s an interactive salon/recital centred around CN’s work on the queer renaissance, especially their dead friend Barbara Strozzi. If you’d like to join us for an evening of music, play, and community, come and step into our salon on the 14th.

P.P.S. If you haven’t yet replied to emails about fulfilling your rewards, especially if you’re having personalised rewards like survival kits and histories, please do check your inbox and drop me a line.

As ever, those of you at Celebrant tier and above will be getting an email shortly with details for the hangout and TTRPG session. Looking forward to seeing some of you soon.