Day Of The Figurines at Royal Festival Hall

Presented by Hide & Seek Festival and Meltdown

Blast Theory presents Day Of The Figurines, a mass participation artwork using mobile phones that is part board game and part secret society. Set in a fictional English town that is littered, dark and underpinned with steady decay, the game unfolds over 24 days, each day representing an hour in the life of the town. Up to 1000 players place their plastic figurines onto the board. They are moved by hand in a meticulous performance throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Players sign up at Royal Festival Hall and then participate by sending text messages. They must help other players as they receive updates from the town, missions and dilemmas. They can also chat to players who are near them in the town using text messages as events unfold in the town: a gig by Scandinavian death metallists, an invasion by an Arabic army, a summer fete.

MELTDOWN is Southbank Centre’s largest contemporary music festival. Running from 16 – 22 June, in 2008 it is curated by Massive Attack.

HIDE & SEEK FESTIVAL runs from 27 – 29 June 2008 at the Southbank Centre + various venues across London. A worldwide photographic treasure hunt, a night-time chase across London and unique flashmob dance – the new cultural phenomenon of social games has arrived this summer with the

Hide & Seek Festival, a 3 day extravaganza of free games and play. Five Best Alternative Summer Events, The Guardian

Day Of The Figurines Opening times 12 June – 5 July, 12 noon– 8pm (some late finishes at 10pm during Meltdown and Hide & Seek) Venue: Level 1 Foyer Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, London

For more details www.southbankcentre.co.uk www.hideandseekfest.co.uk www.blasttheory.co.uk www.mrl.nott.ac.uk www.pervasive-gaming.org