Hey, it’s Anne here from Blast Theory.

Blast Theory is an artists’ group based in Brighton. We use interactive media to create groundbreaking new forms of performance and interactive art that mixes audiences across the internet, live performance and digital broadcasting. We’re 4-times BAFTA-nominated and have shown work everywhere from the Sundance Film Festival to the Venice Biennale.

We are now developing our most adventurous piece of work yet, in partnership with National Theatre Wales – and you!

Let me introduce you to Karen.

Karen is an artistic app mixing games, storytelling and psychological profiling in a way that has never been done before.

When you launch the app, you meet Karen, who is a life coach. You interact with her via touch and text. As she gets to know you, she gets more and more friendly, maybe too friendly. How does she know so much about you?

In fact, the app is using psychological profiling techniques in the background. Like Facebook, the app also monitors your every move, harvesting data such as your messages and your location to personalise your experience. Karen explores how governments and companies are gathering our personal data without our consent. 

The experience will culminate in a special live event, delivered jointly by National Theatre Wales and Blast Theory. The event will take place at a secret location in the UK that may very well be Wales...

We’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the £15,000 we need to develop Karen. We got off to a great start and we have already raised two thirds of our total - but we still need help to make this innovative new project a reality. There are just two weeks left to reach our goal. Kickstarter is all or nothing: if we don’t reach our goal, we won’t get any of the money pledged - and we won’t be able to create this exciting experience.

Please check out our Kickstarter page to find out more about the project and add your pledge. Or help us by sharing a link to the project with your networks on Twitter or Facebook.

We have a range of great rewards to offer, including an early invitation to download the app, an exclusive data report and fun, handy items such as Karen badges and sticky tape.

One exclusive reward is a VIP invitation to the live event, where you can meet Karen and have the opportunity to chat to the Blast Theory artists afterwards. 

National Theatre Wales and Blast Theory are really excited about this project. We hope you will join us in bringing Karen to life! 

Thank you so much,

Anne Rupert

Blast Theory