Why. Exploring if physical questionnaire machines can be used to gather feedback from children after a theatre performance – with minimal adult mediation.
What. SmallTalk is a set of five colourful question boxes with different buttons, dials and rollers that children use to answer a series of questions. Questions cover demographics, previous theatre experience, what children enjoyed and remembered most about the performance, and how it made them feel. All text is accompanied by audio, so children who can’t yet read can still provide feedback. One box includes short video clips of the main character from the performance asking questions directly to the children. They can speak their answers back to him by talking into a large fluffy microphone.
How. Physical prototyping, digital fabrication, electronics, full stack dev, interaction design, observations, video capture, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, in-the-wild study.
Who. In collaboration with Dr Connie Golsteijn, Sophie Eustace, Professor Yvonne Rogers, and Professor Licia Capra. Thanks to the Young Vic Theatre.
Sarah Gallacher 