Zuppa: HereNowThis

This October, the streets, buildings, nooks and crannies of Morecambe are the stage for an undercover scavenger hunt.

A phone app gives you clues, guiding you through the town in search of performances and installations hidden amidst everyday life. In the process, you’ll have surprising encounters, hear unique perspectives and see Morecambe in new ways.

HereNowThis celebrates Morecambe as we know it now, while asking you to imagine what it might become. HereNowThis only happens once: you get your mission at The Launch on 24 October, The Hunt takes place on 25 October, after which everyone comes together for The Gathering – the festive conclusion involving music, refreshments and reflection.

Zuppa is an award-winning theatre company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada). The company’s work has been seen at major venues and festivals across Canada, the US and the UK.

“They’re a rare beast – a contemporary theatre company that makes progressive, intelligent work that manages to also be challenging without being alienating, funny without being silly, innovative without being gimmicky”
Matthew Austin, Mayfest (Bristol, U.K.)

The Launch: Friday 24 October, 6.30pm
The Hunt: Saturday 25 October, 2-5pm
The Gathering: Saturday 25 October, 7.30pm
Where: Secret locations in Morecambe revealed on the app
Age: 15+

Zuppa: HereNowThis | Lancaster Arts

HereNowThis embraces the seriousness of a game. It takes the form of a treasure hunt, encouraging close observation of your surroundings by giving you clues to find things that happening in secret sites in Morecambe. This secrecy is integral to the whole thing – not for its own sake, but as a playful way of engaging with Morecambe, its history and possible futures. 

HereNowThis will take place over two days from the evening of Friday 24 October to Saturday 25 October.

Access
You can walk as much or little as you like. The Hunt is 3 hours in total but do it at your own pace. Some choose to find as many of the secret sites as possible, whereas others take breaks between sites. It is totally up to you. The app will give you options to take breaks.

If you have mobility restrictions, you can identify that when you download the app, and it will try to send you to sites in an order that minimizes distances. The app can provide transcripts of scenes you encounter for D/deaf participants.

If you have specific access requirements or you would like more detailed information about the sites please email herenowthis@lancasterarts.org. There is more information about access below.

There will be a 2 hour break between The Hunt and The Gathering to give participants the chance for a bite to eat between events.

What is access like at the locations?
The secret locations at The Launch and The Gathering are both wheelchair accessible. The majority of the locations during The Hunt are also accessible. The app will give you the option of letting us know if you have access requirements and will not guide you to locations that are not accessible.

The nature of The Hunt means you will need to make your own way around Morecambe, guided by the app, so please be aware of this. Everyone will take different routes so it is not possible for us to provide detailed access information about the routes.

What if I can’t make the Launch?
You can still come to the Hunt! Just be in the West End of Morecambe (e.g Devonshire Road, LA3 1QT) with the app on your phone by 2pm on Saturday 25 October.

What do I need to bring with me?
Clothing for all weathers! HereNowThis will be going ahead, rain or shine. Morecambe prom can be windy.Most of the secret sites are indoors, so you can dry off and warm up in between journeys.

You will need a smartphone and will have to download our app, available soon (stay tuned for details). Some parts of the journey will involve audio in the app, so bring headphones/earbuds if you have them. Make sure your phone’s operating system has the most recent update.

HereNowThis should work on phones 10 years old or less. If you are concerned about the age or capabilities of your phone, it may be possible to arrange a test ahead of time. Please contact us.

Will the app use loads of my mobile data?
The app uses very minimal data, around 300KB. If you are connected to WiFi when you first download the app, you will likely use less that 20KB.

What if I have an old phone?
HereNowThis should work on phones 10 years old or less. If you are concerned about the age or capabilities of your phone, it may be possible to arrange a test ahead of time. Please contact us at herenowthis@lancastearts.org.

What if I am not tech savvy?
During the Hunt, we will have a technical assistant on hand at More Music (13-17 Devonshire Rd, West End, Morecambe LA3 1QT) who can talk you through the use of the app. The Launch serves as a practice journey as well, to help you get the hang of it. People will also be on hand at the Launch to help guide you with the app.