H.P. Lovecraft: The Outsider at Immersive Arts Center

“Unhappy is he to whom the memories of childhood bring only fear and sadness…”

You’re alone, surrounded by death and darkness. You can’t remember how long you’ve been here. You can’t remember who you are. Guided by distant voices, you escape this morbid underworld. You seek answers. Human contact. Light.

This is where the real nightmare begins.

"H.P. Lovecraft: The Outsider" is a one-man show that puts the audience inside the mind of one of America’s most infamous horror authors. With intimate staging, candlelight, enveloping sound design, and a powerful performance by actor and playwright Mitchell Pratt, the life and fiction of H.P. Lovecraft merges into a live experience of existential horror.

The Outsider by H.P. Lovecraft is one of the greatest short horror stories ever written. A classic work of gothic literature, Lovecraft’s tale of isolation and self-reflection has been a favorite among horror fans for decades. Now, the Immersive Art Collective in collaboration with Electric Blanket Productions present a live show inspired by the beloved tale, depicting the haunting tale like never before.

Pratt has taken the short story and unearthed the complicated human being behind the prose. Integrating letters and poems written by Lovecraft himself, as well as passages from the memoir of Lovecraft’s wife, Sonia H. Davis, Pratt explores the trauma and heartache of Lovecraft’s story and attempts to argue with the fears and anxieties present in The Outsider. The story is 100 years old, and yet its horrors persist. The questions posed by The Outsider remain vital in the 21st century. What separates us from other people? Is it something we choose, or something we’re born with? What is our dark side? What do we do when we confront our demons?
 

Show Details

• Running Time: Approx. 35 mins (no intermission)
• This show is for attendees 21 and older.
• CONTENT ADVISORY: Themes of fascism, racism, antisemitism, misogyny, suicide, and child abuse.
• H.P. Lovecraft: The Outsider is produced by Electric Blanket and presented by Immersive Art Collective.

Show Credits

• Directed by Ian Heath & Mitchell Pratt
• Performed by Mitchell Pratt
• Produced by Rachel Adams