fieldnotes company - The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room is a physical theater piece that weaves together gestural expression and text inspired by procedural language and American Gen Z brain rot, to unveil a world of commands, bureaucratic rituals, and suspended time. Three participants are called into a room to wait. Led by an unseen figure of authority speaking through an intercom, they undergo a strict series of instructions hoping to proceed to a promising third space. The triangular architecture between performers allows for a rich exploration of comparison, competition, and luck. The structure of the performance is set, but the piece blends choreography and prompt based improvisation, resulting in a different experience every night. We explore how people coming from completely different cultures find commonality in the endeavor to assert their presence. At the heart of the piece is the question: How much are we willing to sacrifice for the supposed promise of belonging? What are we left with after surrendering to submission?