Valley of Shadow

Valley of Shadow is a Czech experimental larp, combining scenes where players ‘larp as usual’ with ones where they communicate using only dance – specifically blues dancing.

Summary

Valley of Shadow is set in a noir-style prison. It explores topics such as hopelessness, the cycle of violence, powerlessness – but also love, forgiveness and mercy. All the characters are members of a mobster “family” who got into a hopeless situation – partly through a fault of their own; partly because of an outside influence. At night, the prison falls silent and the characters return to their cells; to dream of a better life, in which they avoided their greatest mistake and did not choose hatred. The dream scenes will use blues dancing as a platform of communication, and they will tell a much lighter story of the golden youth of the jazz era and their one true love.

Statistics

The game is for 36 players in one run and it takes cca 3 hours. Before the game, there are two days of workshops of Blues dancing and creation of characters and their stories. Participation fee is 110 - 140 EUR per run, food and hostel style accomodation included. The game has minimalistic and symbolic scenography.

Techniques

• Pre-larp Workshop
• Played through dance

Articles

In Knutepunkt book 2019.

Authors

• Iva Vávrová
• Kateřina Morgain Holendová
• Jakub Míšek
• Anna Vrtálková

External Links

• http://valley.tempusludi.cz/en/
• Facebook Page