How to Stage a High-Octane Theatre Adaptation of a Video Game Franchise: Lessons from 'Heredis: Echoes of the Past'
Introduction
Imagine a theatre where the stage becomes a medieval rooftop, then a Renaissance canal, then a futuristic skyline, all within two hours. That's exactly what Ubisoft and a former Cirque du Soleil and Olympics ceremony director have cooked up with Heredis: Echoes of the Past, a stage production inspired by the world of Assassin's Creed. This guide breaks down the key steps to creating your own immersive, parkour-filled theatre adaptation of a video game franchise—minus the need for a hidden blade.
What You Need
- Video Game IP Rights: Secure the license from the game's publisher (e.g., Ubisoft).
- Visionary Director: Someone with a background in acrobatics, large-scale events, and choreography (think circus, Olympics ceremonies).
- Acrobatic Cast: Performers skilled in parkour, combat choreography, and stage combat.
- Immersive Set Designers: Experts in building large-scale, transformable environments that evoke multiple historical eras.
- Cross-Industry Collaborators: Consider bringing in game developers from other genres (e.g., Behaviour Interactive) to add unexpected expertise.
- Budget for 2-Hour Run Time: Plan for a tightly paced show with no intermission to maintain momentum.
- Non-Canon Creative Freedom: Permission to adapt the game's world and themes without being tied to existing storylines.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Secure a Visionary Director with Circus & Event Background
Your show’s success hinges on the creative lead. For Heredis, Ubisoft partnered with a former Cirque du Soleil and Olympics ceremony director. This type of director brings expertise in acrobatics, parkour, and large-scale immersive environments. Reach out to individuals who have directed high‑altitude performances or stadium‑sized spectacles. They know how to fuse narrative with physical feats without losing the audience's attention.
Step 2: Define the Production as “Inspired By,” Not a Direct Adaptation
To avoid creative constraints, position your show as “inspired by the world and themes” of the game franchise, not as canonical lore. Heredis: Echoes of the Past takes elements from Assassin’s Creed’s core identity—historical settings, clandestine conflict, parkour—but does not retell any specific game story. This freedom lets you mix eras, invent characters, and focus on spectacle. Clearly communicate this to fans to set expectations.
Step 3: Design Parkour & Acrobatic Choreography Across Multiple Eras
The heart of the production is urban parkour and choreographed combat. Work with movement coaches to create sequences that translate video game “free running” into live, gravity‑defying performances. Plan for two hours of continuous action, shifting between time periods: leap from a Renaissance balustrade to a Victorian lamppost to a futuristic scaffold. Each era requires distinct moves and props. Train your cast in parkour basics, but also in theatrical combat styles that match the chosen historical backdrops.
Step 4: Build Large‑Scale Immersive Visual Environments
Use projection mapping, moving set pieces, and dynamic lighting to create “immersive visual environments” that change in seconds. For Heredis, the stage transforms between centuries without blackouts—think rotating platforms, scrims, and aerial wire systems. Collaborate with set designers from theme parks or immersive theater companies. Prioritize verticality: towers, ledges, and hanging structures allow parkour to flow upward as well as across.
Step 5: Integrate Unexpected Cross‑Industry Expertise
Why did Ubisoft involve Behaviour Interactive (developers of Dead by Daylight)? They bring experience in adapting different licenses into a shared universe, plus expertise in tension‑filled gameplay. For your adaptation, consider partnerships beyond traditional theatre: video game AI engineers could help with real‑time soundscapes, or stunt coordinators from action films can tighten fight sequences. These collaborations inject fresh ideas and broaden your audience.
Step 6: Pace the Performance in a Tight Two‑Hour Window
Heredis: Echoes of the Past runs two hours with no intermission. This keeps adrenaline high and prevents the immersive illusion from breaking. Map out a rhythm: alternating high‑intensity chase scenes with quieter, exposition‑laden moments still driven by physicality. Test run the full show multiple times to ensure the cast can sustain energy and the set changes happen seamlessly within seconds.
Tips for Success
- Embrace the “Danger” Factor: Live parkour is inherently risky. Invest in safety nets, crash mats, and medical personnel. But don’t dim the performance—audiences crave authenticity.
- Market to Both Gamers and Theatergoers: Use keywords like “live parkour,” “immersive,” and “acrobatic combat.” Emphasize the involvement of Cirque alumni to attract non‑gaming audiences.
- Test Audience Reactions Early: Invite focus groups of fans and theater critics to previews. Adjust pacing and spectacle based on feedback.
- Keep One Foot in Canon for Atmosphere: Even if the story is non‑canon, include Easter eggs—iconic weapons, color palettes, sound motifs—to reward longtime fans.
- Prepare for International Tours: Design modular sets that can pack into shipping containers. The universal appeal of parkour and historical settings makes this show ripe for global travel.
- Balance Spectacle with Emotional Stakes: Without a strong narrative hook, the acrobatics become mere stunts. Weave in a simple tale of conflict, loss, or discovery to give the leaps and fights meaning.