Third Call

What would it be like to explore the corridors of the theater alone and experience its architecture in time-lapse? The media artwork Third Call by the Karlsruhe artist collective VOLNA makes this possible, turning the architecture of the theater building into the setting of a unique video game. 

Third Call is a first-person video game based on the architectural plans of the Badisches Staatstheater. The core idea of the game is to create a piece of digital artwork that exists in a virtual space while also retaining a tangible, real-world presence. Thematically, the game is connected to an extensive modernization and renovation of the theater building that is currently underway. The game captures the fusion of old and new theater buildings, creating interactive portals for players to move through a constantly reconfigured theater space. By exploring the theater’s architecture in time-lapse, players experience the theater's dynamism and transformation. 

Players are tasked with navigating their way through the labyrinth of theater complexes within a time limit indicated by three bell chimes and finding their randomly assigned seat in the virtual auditorium, thus embarking on a time-travel journey through different eras of the theater’s architecture. The game's dramaturgy is designed so that the theater’s space is not merely a traditional stage, opting instead to cast each viewer as an active participant—or even protagonist—at the center of action in the theaters of both today and the future.

Third Call impresses with a post-realistic aesthetic that allows the existing architecture of the Badisches Staatstheater to be experienced with a renewed intensity. The detailed depiction of the current buildings is combined with an original vision of future public spaces. The game presents a futuristic vision of architectural development that surprises and fascinates while dissolving the boundaries between reality and digital fantasy. In this way, Third Call opens up an immersive, virtual world that is instantly accessible and where architectural forms are reimagined in a visionary way.

Third Call was developed using Unreal Engine and offers realistic special effects, as well as an original sound design. The game mechanics are designed to be simple and intuitive. With a maximum playing time of 8 minutes, players can start and continue the game from any point in the theater. This design enables seamless interaction for the audience before performances and ensures that each new player can easily get started. The game by VOLNA is one of the pilot projects of the newly created Digital Theater division, which, beginning in the 2024/2025 season, will serve as a center of support for the five existing divisions of the Badisches Staatstheater. With Third Call, the Staatstheater positions itself as a pioneer in creating hybrid digital theater experiences.

Concept and project: VOLNA
Music: Szdåt
Funded through the Media Art Project Grant Program by UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe
© VOLNA (2024)