is another world possible?
about the booster protocol
something is happening to people. large pockets of society are refusing to participate in a broken system.
the booster protocol is an immersive, participatory performance that invites audiences to take to the streets and “time travel” across key social and ecological movements.
set in a not-too-distant future, audiences are recruited by the booster protocol, a speculative program charged with the task of transforming despair into hope.
once recruited, audiences choose their own “time travel assignments,” missions from across the past and future, which have crash-landed in the present day and appear in real-world locations in the city.
the booster protocol is a moving, sensitive exploration of collective actions which have led to seismic shifts in the social fabric.
pvi collective has been working in direct collaboration with representatives from the movements featured.
collaborators have advised closely on content, historical accuracy, and have shaped the audience participation aspect of the work.
we acknowledge that grassroots uprisings throughout history have been initiated by First Nations, marginalised and disenfranchised people across the world and have often resulted in increased violence and oppression.
the booster protocol holds space for these complexities, grounded in cross-cultural collaboration and guided by principles of self- determination.
testimonials
quick note to let you know we listened to the journey and destination audios
- WOW! still trying to catch my breath. they are awesome and I would not change a thing. listening to them took me right back into the momentand hearing michael winter brought me to tears! I love it and would not change a thing.
jennifer keelan chaffinsThe production makes clever use of alternate spaces, reframing familiar corners of Perth as sites of resistance, memory and potential.
Even small recurring hand gestures, used as signals between locations, become subtle reminders that action need not be grand to be meaningful, especially in the context of hope.Definitely one for audiences who enjoy theatre that is active, immersive and genuinely participatory; it is a thoughtful and invigorating addition to the festival program.
Kate O'Sullivanwe can find optimism in the mere fact that artists like PVI are fighting the good fight here in Perth, and that itself is reason to look hopefully to the future.
The Booster Protocol is a great example of Perth Festival’s push to take more adventurous programming into unusual places outside traditional venues. Rarely has it been done with more focused and comprehensive application of technical expertise, artistic care and consultative rigour.
Stephen Bevisco-commissioned by perth festival and the substation.
- creative team
- kelli mccluskey
- chief executive artist
- steve bull
- chief executive artist
- rachel arianne ogle (from april 2025)
- company artist
- ainslie allan (until jan 2025)
- company artist
- fred leone
- lead artist, narrator, first nations engagement
- fayen d'evie and jon thjia
- access infusion
- chris mccormick
- programmer
- shang lun lee
- game design consultant
- jason sweeney
- sound designer
- story collaborators
- dr helen pankhurst
- suffragettes
- jennifer keelan chaffins
- adapt
- sethembile msezane
- rhodes must fall
- lani rotzler-purewa
- te urawera
- guy ritani
- te urawera
- claudia coca
- el colectivo sociedad civil
- dr gary foley
- tent embassy
- fred leone
- tent embassy
- claire g coleman
- 2099 auntie b
- nigel wilkes
- boorloo 2026
- ian ‘moopa’ wilkes
- boorloo 2026
jennifer keelan chaffins and pvi collective would like to dedicate the adapt assignment to judy heumann.
show info
performance history
2026 – perth festival.
links
PVI’s timely morale booster, Stephen Bevis, seesaw magazine, feb 2026.
The Booster Protocol, Kimberley Shaw, the stage whispers, feb 2026.