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Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » Old News & Rumors

New ARG seemingly launched by UKs National Theatre!

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negativeview
Decorated

Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 211
Location: Huntsville, AL USA

Hehe, the rabbit seems to have gotten annoyed/surprised with me, digging around so much. I found like five different addresses for him. But they seem to be all useless, except the ones that everyone knows.

Quote:

I think we spoke down 84227 already. But you seem to
have dug furiously and uncovered rabbitholes whose
tunnels have since caved in.

I'm bowing out, as the rabbit pretty much admits that most of this game would be much better played if there weren't an ocean between me and the theatre. Have fun everyone!

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:15 pm

h0neym0nster
Boot

Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 14

I got the same reply after sending emails to multiple addresses of Rabbits'. I am a bit confused as to where the game is up to, are my discoveries new or, as it seems, are they old trails? Anyone able to point me in the right direction?

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:23 pm

negativeview
Decorated

Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 211
Location: Huntsville, AL USA

This game is indeed odd for unforums. You can find the rabbits blog of sorts where he's keeping track of discoveries, and it seems like there's a lot of people ahead of us. Usually I see all the news posted here, not on an in-game blog. I'm as confused as you.

I've even stumbled across much more than I've posted here. Mostly mentions of things that are in the Theatre itself, hence my bowing out. I'm still talking to the rabbit though. Even if you get out of the game, the Rabbit likes to talk. Funny, really.

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:45 pm

h0neym0nster
Boot

Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 14

I just love they way the replies are personal, not just autoreplies. How on earth does Rabbit keep tabs on all the communications? I really hope this leads somewhere exciting.

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:58 pm

mistertim
Greenhorn

Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 5
Location: London, UK

Hi all,

My first post on here, and my first proper attempt at ARG gaming - Just thought I'd share a bit of what I've found so far.

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

The images of signs in the flickr set linked to from the irabbit.org/ntt page have captions - the sign with the six pointed star arrangement underneath is captioned 'here is the place (entrance)', the sign with the four vertical lines below it has 'here is the place (path)', and finally, the symbol with the circle below it has 'here is the place (danger)'.

I went along to the national theatre after work, but couldn't see any of these signs around the area shown on the map, or any other obvious clues, for that matter. I took a load of photos though, and will put them up on flickr later. I emailed rabbit on both the email addresses - here are the replies i recieved:

Rabbit wrote:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Hello Tim, this is Rabbit.

Well you've taken the first step - which is to get in
touch. How are you? Now I am burrowing through
concrete - cries havoc with the fur - and am currently
consumed with the adventure that is unfolding from
www.irabbit.org/ntt. Have a look there and if it
intrigues you then drop me a line down the 84227
rabbithole. But hurry don't be late before the gate
closes very soon - 2 September looms large.

Else talk to me more here - the more we talk the more
adventures may open up to you anon.

All the best wishes.

...and...

Rabbit wrote:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Ah hello again Tim, this is Rabbit.

I heard your first line drop and only then caught this
second. I like your eagerness. Now time hops on so
you will have to hurry before the first gate closes -
although should you miss it I can let you through
another way. So what to tell you first of this unfolding adventure�
the mysterious fragment clipped to the card at
www.irabbit.org/ntt is definitely something of the
National Theatre (but that damnable extra 'T' is at
the heart of the mystery� what does it stand for?).
My friend Jenny who works as an usher there at the NT
found it. But now she has seemingly vanished, and
stranger happenings are afoot.

I can tell you more � but one question for you first,
dear friend, before I point you towards the entrance
to the first adventure:

"all the world's a stage" � do you think so (and is
there a story why if I may be so bold)?

All the very best wishes.

ps
If you search for me in nationaltheatre.org.uk you may
find something of interest?

pps
remember remember 2 September � the NTT builds towards
that night - and you must pass through this gate in
the next three days to be certain of being there

I've also emailed Dr Misnuneris to volunteer to help with the mishap research - could it be significant that the LAP Institute appears to be a bit of a play on the word "Lapin" (French for Rabbit)? lots to think about....

I've replied to the Rabbit to ask about Dr Misnuneris, talk about "all the worlds a stage" and ask what happens on the 2nd....

cheers!

Tim

EDIT: added spoiler obfuscation

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:46 pm
Last edited by mistertim on Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:12 pm; edited 2 times in total

mistertim
Greenhorn

Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 5
Location: London, UK

Oops! forgot to say:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

it looks as if 'Mishap Phenomenology' is a made up discipline, it only produces one hits on google, from the NT's site:

Mishap Phenomenology: an Observers Guide, by Dr Neil Misnuneris: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=19972

EDIT: Pics of the National Theatre and surrounding area, roughly corresponding to the area on the map:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timcowlishaw/sets/72157594247671406/

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:56 pm

mistertim
Greenhorn

Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 5
Location: London, UK

sorry, here's some more interesting information:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

This isn't the first ARG-like event that iRabbit.org have organised: http://www.timeout.com/london/features/1682/3.html

Further to that, it seems that the 'self assembly' page posted earlier in the thread relates to an earlier game based at the Battersea Arts Centre, and perhaps should be discounted: http://www.bac.org.uk/listing_detail.php?id=2564

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:19 pm

negativeview
Decorated

Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 211
Location: Huntsville, AL USA

That fits.

Quote:

I do have a deep interest in
the theatre - but not just the one I am currently
burrowing beneath.

[/b]

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:23 pm

sexievodka
Boot

Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 65
Location: Falkirk,scotland

Ok am pretty lost already can someone just give me a round off everything so far. Embarassed

I cant make sence/order Shocked

of whats happened so far?!

Im in the UK if it helps.

Mistertim where did you find all this? And your in London so maybe you could get they tickets that where offered

Quote:

diehasselhoffdie! sent a short email to him to put feelers out, and he seems to be offering 8 pairs of free tickets to go and see shows next week, to 'observe for mishaps'.

and go see what is up with this...

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:26 pm

mistertim
Greenhorn

Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 5
Location: London, UK

sexievodka wrote:

Mistertim where did you find all this? And your in London so maybe you could get they tickets that where offered

Quote:

diehasselhoffdie! sent a short email to him to put feelers out, and he seems to be offering 8 pairs of free tickets to go and see shows next week, to 'observe for mishaps'.

and go see what is up with this...

I think I quoted most of my sources above.. the thing about the previous games and the other site comes from the 'Time Out' and 'Battersea Arts Centre' sites - links above.

Already been in touch with Dr Misnuneris about volunteering to help with his research, hopefully I'll get offered tickets on the back of this!

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 4:55 am

Renna
Decorated

Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Posts: 165

this is what i rec'd today

A marvellous answer, dear Karen. When to be the
observer, the supporter, the hero, the follower.
That's the nub of any adventure. Now if it is
possible for you to proceed physically through this
gate then I suggest you do. In which case, I attach a
sign for you. Follow how it leads. You must print it
out and take it with you � someone will ask you for it
as proof of adventure only then hand it over. This,
dear Karen, is to take you through the entrance of
this adventure (alone or with a friend if you fill
them in and ask them to mail me too later).

There is something you must send me afterwards � a
shadow... you will understand, but do take this quite
literally � when I receive that I can tell you more.

If you can only pass through the gate figuratively,
then tell me and I will imagine that you did. But
it's more adventurous if you can..

All the best wishes.

ps
The door is only open between 10 and 10 Monday to
Saturday. I fancy that morning late afternoon early
evening are good times (but this gate closes in 3
days)

pps
I have stumbled upon this number 02074523789 it looks
like an NT number but...?

ppps
remember remember the 2 September � NTT builds towards
that night

--- KAREN E MURRAY <karen_e_murray@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> All the world IS a stage. A stage with many
> trapdoors, curtains to hide behind, actors who play
> out parts they expect you to believe.
> The scenery of the world can either be very glum,
> or of the utmost perfection. It depends what play
> you are presenting.
> Sometimes you need to take a leading role, and at
> other times, a supporting one.
> I believe in leading roles, but know when to
> observe and be the supporter.
>
> I've seen a bit of Jenny's blog, and also a bit of
> what you have left at the national theatre. Very
> interesting...
>
> Must I pass through the gate figuratively, in
> order to proceed?
>
> Best wishes,

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:20 pm

Renna
Decorated

Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Posts: 165

attachment

attachment to the email

ShowLetter.htm
Description
Filesize	38.03KB
	177 Time(s)
Unfortunately, this file is no longer in our archives.

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:22 pm

mistertim
Greenhorn

Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 5
Location: London, UK

Some more I've found:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

The email address on the NT's 'Puzzled' page is different to that on the iRabbit.org site
The site map also has a section called 'umbrage' with a couple of interesting pages: a 404 page which has been altered to include the letters 'NTT' and a phone number which, when called, gives a strange recording which sounds like a warped automated menu system along with some piano music and odd noises. There is also a link to another site which produces a genuine 404 error. The link is to a page called 'Kingsway' on one of the NT's archive servers. Slightly confusingly, the link has "This site does not work" written underneath.
The second 'umbrage' page is far more interesting - it is the www.nationaltheatreertaeht.org.uk page, as mentioned before. it shows a black and white image of the NT's homepage with some stange text over the top. clicking the text alters the brightness of individual words, obscuring some and highlighting others. Other people have already posted about the text here, so i won't go over that again, but if you look closely at the background image, the NT logo in the top left actually reads "National Theatre Theatre" with the second 'theatre' printed backwards - as 'National Theatre Ertaeht'. In addition, there is a gif file linked to from the page's source that shows a portion of teh background image with handwritten text overlaid - reading "Rabbit, be by the pillar of my disappearance in concert pitch on friday at 10.30pm. Jx"
The final oddity on the NT site map is a page named 'Ralph's Box' - which contains only a password field. This wouldn't be so interesting if not for the fact that searches for 'umbrage' and 'rabbit' point to this page.

I've quizzed the rabbit about some of these things, here's my latest correspondence with him:

I wrote:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Hello Rabbit,

Great to hear from you... I went to the National Theatre earlier, but
couldn't find any clues as to your whereabouts.

Whether or not "all the world's a stage" is a good question... I
suppose in some respects this is true, people often 'play a part' in
everyday life, and in life, as in the theatre, appearances can be
deceptive. However, the World being a stage would imply a script or
other text of some sort, which in turn would imply an 'author' - a
subject which is still pretty hotly contested! Could it not also be
said that 'the stage is all a world'? As for a story, well, I'm sure
you know that this particular epithet is a quote from 'As You Like
It' and the complex deceptions carried out by the characters in the
play seem quite apt given the circumstances...

I was wondering whether you would be able to enlighten me as to what
will occur on the 2nd of September? It does sound important,
whatever it is. Also, I have written to Dr Neil Misnunenis regarding
his research into 'Mishap Phenomenology' at the NT. Tell me, do you
know much of the man or his work?

I look forward to hearing from you, Rabbit.

Tim

rabbit722248SPLATyahoo.co.uk wrote:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Hello again Tim, this is Rabbit.

Great to hear from you too... my apologies for not
reading this sooner before you'd ventured down to the
NT. There is a sign I attach that you need for that
journey - in exchange for your neatly reversed answer,
a stage is all a world indeed. So take this sign by
the hand and follow where it leads. You must print it
out and take it with you � someone will ask you for it
as proof of adventure only then hand it over. This,
dear Tim, is to take you through the entrance of this
adventure (alone or with a friend if you fill them in
and ask them to mail me too later).

There is something you must send me afterwards � a
shadow... you will understand, but do take this quite
literally � when I receive that I can tell you more -
about the 2 September not least.

All the best wishes.

ps
The door is only open between 10 and 10 Monday to
Saturday. I fancy that morning late afternoon early
evening are good times (but this gate closes in 3
days)

pps
I have stumbled upon this number 02074523789 it looks
like an NT number but...?

ppps
I was late today for an online audience with Dr M. It
seems as if he was forcibly vanished. His research
student Tom in any case appears to have been replying
to mails so any arrangement you make will still be
valid. I'll tell you more anon.

I also emailed Rabbit at the address given on the NT 'Puzzled' page

I wrote:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Hello Rabbit,

Gosh, you do have a lot of email addresses! you must either very popular, or very busy, or both. Did you get my last message, with my reply to your question? I hope so.

In the meantime, I had a few more things to ask you:

what do you know about 'umbrage'. does this word ring a bell?
and are you familiar with the LAP INstitute (un nom tr�s �trange!) or someone named Ralph?

best wishes,

Tim

rabbit84227SPLATyahoo.co.uk wrote:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Il me faut te repondre a plutard, cher Tim. Peut-tu y
aller?

pip pip

ps
only in French to be playful. the Live Artistic
Performance Institute is a reputable institution.
umbrage rings many bells
but it will not toll for you till you venture

...You'll notice that the phone number given in the first email is the same as the one found on the umbrage 404 page - still not sure what it is. That email also had this image attached:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

The phone number on the image contains recorded instructions for once you have located the symbol at the NTT and instructs you to bring a 50 pence piece and a copy of the image In addition, the 'e3649' i'm assuming refers to 'extension 3649' - the other phone number from the rabbit's email. He says 'it looks like an NT number' so i'm guessing it's an extension there.

I think the next step is to go down there - I'll try tomorrow and let you know how i get on!

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:53 am

Seretar
Greenhorn

Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Posts: 6

Following the Rabbit

I am posting this to try and get people up to speed with what is a WIERD and WONDERFUL and VERY DEEP ARG. Warning - this is loooong!:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

Adventurer,

Welcome to the eNTiTy. If you've just fallen down the rabbit-hole, allow me to fill you in on what you've missed - it's been a strange journey so far...

It all starts at http://www.irabbit.org/ntt/ - your personal invitation to contact Rabbit (rabbit84227SPLATyahoo.co.uk) and start unravelling the strange goings on at the National Theatre. Following Rabbit's hints lead all of us to the National Theatre itself, where a strange treasure hunt of symbols took us from the car-park, to the top floor and back down to the Bookshop.

What is all this about? It appears that a good friend of Rabbit's, an usher working at the NT by the name of Jenny Blenheim (http://www.myspace.com/jennyblenheim), has disappeared, and it was our job to find out what happened: a task that required us to look out for, and photograph or sketch, any shadows lurking in the theatre. During our search we uncovered many strange things dotted around the theatre, including a hidden book and a mutilated photograph of Ian McKellen with the word "Kingsway" scrawled above him. You can see what we uncovered on this interactive map: http://www.irabbit.org/ntt/mapp.

What we didn't find, in any corporeal sense at least, was poor Jenny! Jenny did, however, communicate through strange messages during the weekly 'Late Lounge', on the National Theatre's Wikipedia page: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3827/1680/1600/jennymessage.0.jpg and through a weird collage of lines from different plays found by searching through the NT's website: http://123.writeboard.com/c79217cd92d8ff9a7/login (password = umbrage). All this was pointing to a disturbing conclusion: that Jenny had vanished into a strange alternate world, filled with 'shades', called the National TheatreertaehT, or NTT (eNTiTy - see!), and ruled over by a shade known as 'Kingsway'.

While all this was going on (and you thought it couldn't get twistier, didn't you!), a certain Dr Misnuneris was investigating an increasing number of 'mishaps' (essentially, mistakes) during performances at the NT (http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=19972), and asked for people to assist with his research (email him on nmisnunerisSPLATnationaltheatre.org.uk). Contacting him resulted in free pairs of tickets being offered to those willing to document any mishaps during the NT's shows, and sending the recorded mishaps to the Dr improved his understanding of the strange events at the theatre.

Throughout, we have recorded the progress of our investigations in two blogs: http://nttmapp.blogspot.com/ and http://theatreertaeht.blogspot.com/ - check here first for any new information.

These events came together at 13:30 on the 23rd August, when Dr Misnuneris convened a conference in the Foyer of Mishaps in the online portal Habbo Hotel (www.habbo.com) to explain his theories about what was going on. Essentially, his belief was that the NTT is a space in which all possible National Theatres, as imagined by all those who wanted to start a National Theatre, and all possible National Theatre productions coexisted together in a great melange of shadow-play. And that, moreover, this 'theatre of theatres' was becoming 'full', and elements of it were spilling over into our world, causing the increased number of mishaps in NT performances! Disturbingly, towards the end of the conference, a strange individual called 'Exskia' started quoting The Tempest, and Dr Misnuneris vanished in clear distress! We haven't heard from or of him since, leaving his assistant Tom Bown (pronounced 'bone') running the show (Bown's research can be found at http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=20217 - the password is a rather brassy nickname some kids at school once gave him)...

Then, just yesterday, we were granted an Audience with the shady Kingsway himself! Adventurers gathered in large numbers to meet this enigmatic figure, who had 'possessed' a bust of Laurence Olivier (now dressed in coat, shirt and tie) and spoke to the gathered crowd. Moreover, we could speak back through a microphone, asking questions of the ghost. He revealed to us that the NTT was indeed splitting at the seams, and that an old tradition of the National Theatre, 'Ralph's Rocket' (named after the actor who initiated it, in which a firework was set off at the theatre before the opening night of each NT production), had previously maintained a fragile balance between the NTT and the NT, and would need to be reinstated. In addition, we are to find a book that has been stolen from Kingsway, probably by his 'uncle's brother' (his father?), and that is needed to defeat the five 'dissentients' who did not want the theatre to be built!

Whatever all this means, it all points towards some sort of event at the Theatre on September 2nd, where we hope much will be revealed.

So, what can you do to help us, adventurer, late to the party as you are?

There are a number of unsolved mysteries you could help us with:

1. Who is the man standing by the pillar in the picture in the 1976 section of the Stage By Stage exhibition? We still haven't worked this out!
2. Where is Kingsway's book?
3. Who are the five 'dissentients'? They are probably individuals who were antagonistic to the founding of a National Theatre at the start of its history.
4. What is the relevance of 'Hamlet' and 'The Tempest' to our adventure? They both crop up with creepy irregularity. And of course both are by Shakespeare...
5. What is the significance of the dates 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006? Does something happen every decade at the NT, perhaps in relation to the decades after its opening, and why did Kingsway refer to this?

If this hasn't overwhelmed you, then you have the skills we need to see through these shadows and dispel the umbrage together. Join us, on September 2nd, and help us shine light oN this darkesT of mysTeries...

Yours,

S.F.

ps Love must be free or else it alters away.

I hope that helps - 2nd September is when it's at, but what exact time hasn't bee revealed yet.

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:51 am

Sarahx
Kilroy

Joined: 26 Aug 2006
Posts: 1

Lost

Thanks Seretar for filling us in so far- I feel like I've been left behind a bit. I went round the NT (and loved it!) last week following signs, but I've only just got back from a week out of the country, so I missed the Habbo Hotel meeting and the meeting with Kingsway... and now I'm a bit lost! As I said I feel like I've been left behind and now it seems like it's all coming to an end on Saturday... I'll have to try and get into London to go and see what happens- exciting Very Happy

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 8:20 pm

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