The Smoke 2021
Although we aren’t yet able to be sure about the 2021 run of The Smoke, we’re planning on the basis that it will happen as normal, on the weekend of 8–10 January.
The window for submitting larps to The Smoke 2021 has now closed – but we’re leaving the form open, so you can still submit your idea, and we will consider it if we need to make a late replacement or similar. Here’s the form: https://forms.gle/62Ffcmnn4EAQvSmEA
Note that you don’t have to have designed the larp yourself (although if not, then you must have the designer’s permission) — but you do have to intend to be present if possible. (Of course, we understand that none of us can be certain about that yet.)
There’s a full description on that link of the types of larps that we’re looking for, and also details of what we can offer to you.
The 2020 programme
Here’s the details of what was in the programme at The Smoke 2020! You can click on the name of each larp or workshop to go to a page of details about it.
Slot 1 – Saturday morning |
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| Burning Orchid (18+, R) | Designed by: Ben Allen, Nickey Barnard, Martin Jones, Heidi Kaye, and Alison Rider Hill Presented by: Martin Jones |
Hollywood, romance, angst |
| PAWS ON PERCEPTION (P, N) | Lloyd Smith | Objects, relations, empathy |
| Perfection (18+) | Designed by: Jason Morningstar Presented by: Steve Ellis |
Cults, conflict, craziness |
| Wedding Bells (P) | Mia Kyhn | Friendships, tensions, disruption |
| Remember that time… (P, N) | Martine Svanevik | Friendship, memories, death |
| Rum, Sodomy and the Noose (18+, P) | Laurie Innes | Lust, companionship, betrayal |
| Ex Tempore (18+, P, N) | Debbie Starbuck and Woody Bevan | Horror, escape, silence |
| Here Comes a Candle (R 18+) | Designed by: Laura Wood Presented by: Jeff Mann |
Resistance, dystopia, friendship |
| The Borden Legacy (18+) | Designed by: Nickey Barnard, Phil Dall, David Dorward, and Clare Gardner Presented by: Nickey Barnard |
Mystery, mythos, family |
| The RSC (P, N) | Ylva Otting | Dystopian, relationships, conflict |
Slot 2 – Saturday afternoon |
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| Creating New Worlds (P) | Usva Seregina | Art, materiality, connection |
| The Inside (18+, P) | Lee Foxworthy | Institutionalization, humanity, tragedy |
| The Frontline (18+, N) | Kevin Blank | Death, war, responsibility |
| Follow My Lead (18+, P, N) | Susanne | Fun, (con)sensual, non-verbal |
| Grandma’s Resting Place | Designed by: Quinn D, Kathleen De Smet, Katie Giacomini, Eva Schiffer, and Gaylord Tang Presented by: Sue Lee |
Family, viewpoint, memories |
| Black Legacy (18+, N) | Alex Helm | Secrets, heresy, power |
| Everything You Ever Wanted (18+, P, N) | Hazel Dixon and Jos Porath | Growth, reflection, eerie |
| Dangerous Liaisons (18+, P, N) | Muriel Algayres | Seduction, powerplay, downfall |
| Welcome to the End of Your Life (N) | Tony Porteous and Sofia Romualdo | High-stakes, alliance, judgement |
| Musical Creatures (18+, N) | Nina Runa Essendrop and Jonathan Goldsmith | Musicality, immersion, non- verbal |
| Musical Creatures Café (18+, N) | Nina Runa Essendrop and Jonathan Goldsmith | Musicality, interactive experience |
Slot 3 – Sunday morning |
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| Who do you think you are? (18+, N) | Kat Jones | Fame, identity, Spice Girls |
| Lost and Found: Belongings That Belong (P, N) | Alex Brown | Community, absurdist, agency |
| We Almost Were Heroes (N) | Designed by: Jasmin Lade Presented by: Tlanti |
Superheroes, support, community |
| Ex Nihilo (N) | Designed by: Theo Clarke, Steve Hatherley, Tony Mitton, Tym Norris, Mike Snowden, and Karolina Soltys Presented by: Mike Snowden |
Identity, trust, growth |
| Bleak Midwinter (P) | Will Osmond | Fertility, genderqueer, existential |
| Hohmann Contract (P, N) | Jim Thompson | Negotiation, future-shock |
| Of Your Own Free Will (P) | Designed by: Steve Deutsch Presented by: Laura Wood |
Dark, surreal, mysterious |
| Unexpected Guests (18+, P) | Noga Flaishon | Exorcism, family, doubt |
| A Cosmic Class Reunion (N) | Diana Ostrat | Hope, change, unity |
| Sacrament (18+, N) | Designed by: Kol Ford Presented by: Prudence Greenwood and Rebecca Rehbinder |
Sin, redemption, blasphemy |
Slot 4 – Sunday afternoon |
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| Katalin (N) | Áron Birtalan | Listening, archives, engagement |
| Masquerade (18+, P) | Sarah Clelland and Chris Hartford | Dancing, masks, transformation |
| The Best Smoke Submission (P) | Karolina Soltys | Larp, meta, Smoke |
| Cracks (P, N) | Rhei | Loss, hope/despair, solidarity |
| Eye in the Sky (18+, P) | Malcolm Campbell | Morality, drones, conflict |
| Mutiny on the Asp (P, N) | Joanna Piancastelli | Piracy, betrayal, performance |
| The Dreamers (P) | Laura Wood | Dreams, death, life |
| Feria, a Cult (N) | Marcel Oerlemans | Togetherness, meditation, endings |
| What Stays Behind (N) | Yanina Zaichanka and Yuliya Safronava | Nostalgia, moving on, community |
| Roxanne (N) | Nicolai Strøm Steffensen and Rasmus Teilmann | Love, lust, dance |
18+ = this larp is only suitable for participants aged 18+. All the others are suitable for age 16+.
R = revisit – this larp has been a favourite at The Smoke in a previous year, so it’s been brought back to give new people a chance to play it.
P = premier – this larp has not run at a festival before! (But, like all of them, it has been playtested.)
N = The designer has indicated this larp is particularly suitable for new larpers. (If you’re new to larping that doesn’t mean you need to choose those larps – it’s just for your information.)
- (click on it to make it bigger)
And here are the programmes from the 2019, 2018, and 2017 festivals – so you can see the items that we have hosted before.
