\u2018Alt-Escape\u2019 in Surrey with music, lasers by creative Montreal duo<\/p>\n
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, September 17, 2026<\/p>\n
Electronic music, lasers, sensors and immersive visuals combine for Alt-Escape, at Surrey Arts Centre on Saturday, Sept. 26.<\/p>\n
The multimedia show, which kicks off the 2026-27 Surrey Civic Theatres season, was created by Video Phase, a Montreal-based performance group.<\/p>\n
Julien-Robert and Julien Compagne transform a stage into an interactive work of art unlike a traditional concert or theatre performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a show audiences have never seen before, in the sense that it\u2019s a new way of creating and performing audiovisual music on stage,\u201d Julien-Robert explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a music show first,\u201d he adds, \u201cbut it\u2019s also a hybrid performance that brings together music, digital art, multimedia and interactive visuals. We designed our own instruments made of custom interfaces using electronics, sensors and lasers, and we use them to control an interactive visual system in real time that was built in a game engine. Basically, the stage itself becomes a multimedia instrument, so we perform with the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
See for yourself on videophase.net<\/a> and Youtube<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two performers begin in separate worlds and don\u2019t know the other exists. As the show progresses, they begin to communicate and interact until they eventually play together and merge into a single universe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took three years to develop and design the instruments, make sure they worked properly, create the content of the show and present an initial pre-premiere performance,\u201d Julien-Robert notes. \u201cA year later we staged the official premiere. Altogether, it took four years to create the show audiences see today.\u201d<\/p>\n Surrey school students will watch Alt-Escape Thursday, followed by a 7 p.m. public performance Saturday at the arts centre\u2019s 400-seat Main Stage. Tickets are sold on purchase.surrey.ca<\/a> or call 604-501-5580 ($55 adults, $45 kids). A 3 p.m. Saturday show time was scrubbed.<\/p>\n