How it works | The Broad Cloth

How does it work?

There are many islands off the British and Nordic coasts, and some are already set to host this experience. We will visit each island, and stay connected with each other online between visits.

At our first visit on an island, local community groups and participants will gather with us, mainly in person but also remotely. We will talk about the fictional island and her community, from the point of view of storytellers. We call this "out-of-character" or OOC.

During this gathering, we use a process that gives everyone the freedom to discuss, make, or do whatever interests them, for as long or as short a time as they please. Some people might craft a character for this fictional world. We will also connect this island with others who have hosted.

We continue to imagine and build online. Some may play a character they've created. (Characters can be created any time, not just at the gathering. Here is more information about characters.)

Our online chat begins to incorporate more performance of the characters. We call this "in-character" or IC. We do this on a digital platform called Discord which is text-based but can include voice chat.

Once the fictional side begins to be more developed, we play and watch our characters on video platforms like Zoom. There is a very simple, central story, but many strands of story can be woven by participants about any characters that have been created.

When we're ready, we have a second gathering in person, bringing to life the celebration which is part of the story.

At this in-person gathering we unfold the story together, by stepping into or speaking as the fictional characters more freely and fully than before. We’re still free to switch in and out of character and discuss events as they unfold.

In some places, this second gathering happens only once, and then we discuss it.

In other places, it might be repeated several times, affording us the opportunity to explore other actions, and other outcomes.