In the heart of Manhattan an intriguing new experience has emerged, rooted in sensory experiences, and designed for only two participants at a time. It's the kind of high-concept, experimental work that always raises our eyebrows here at NoPro.

As our interview with producer Soo Young Choi shows, there's a lot of thought that has gone into the design of remini,scent, where guests are bound together by a string and bidden to follow a "mysterious voice" as they explore the past via scent.

The show runs through March 8th, and after the interview that follows we're even more intrigued.

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NO PROSCENIUM: Tell us a little bit about your experience! What’s it about? What makes it immersive?

Soo Young Choi: remini,scent is an intimate, sensory driven immersive performance designed for only two participants at a time. Moving in silence, you will be blindfolded and guided by a mysterious entity who connects you to your companion by a single, literal thread. 

What makes it truly immersive is the physical and psychological tethering of the audience. A string is tied to each participant’s pinky finger, serving as the sole umbilical cord between them, the performer, and the environment. This thread is used for navigation—pulling to guide footsteps—and as a non-verbal language for answering deep inquiries. The immersion is further deepened through high-fidelity binaural audio transmitted via headsets, capturing the live sounds of the performer and the surrounding textures. Each space is distinctively scented, ensuring that the journey is felt through the skin and the breath rather than the eyes. By stripping away sight and speech, the performance forces a profound internal focus, making the participant’s own reflections the primary "set" of the show.

NP: What was the inspiration for your upcoming experience? 


SYC: A significant portion of the inspiration is drawn from sensory triggers, particularly the notion of involuntary recall. The design explores how specific stimuli—a texture, a scent, or a sound—can bypass the logical brain and unlock discarded moments. The various environments are inspired by the biological and psychological necessity of "shedding" parts of our history to create soil for new life, highlighting the duality of the past as both a building block and a potential burden. The experience seeks to personify these abstract concepts, turning life-altering decisions and opportunity costs into physical artifacts that can be touched, smelled, and exchanged between participants.

NP: What do you think fans of immersive will find most interesting about this latest experience? 


SYC: Fans of immersive theater will find the participatory communication system and the intimacy of the exchange most compelling. Unlike traditional immersive shows that rely on sight, this experience centers on a "pull and release" cue system that dictates movement and dialogue. The use of the pinky-tethered string as a "braille" for navigation creates a high-stakes vulnerability that is rarely felt in broader sandbox environments.

Perhaps the most interesting element is the collaborative reflection. Participants aren't just exploring their own minds; they are often asked to exchange physical artifacts and hold each other’s hands. The show also features sophisticated "synchronicity" beats where participants must guess what their companion’s choices and answers are. This creates a unique "meta-connection" where the audience must sense their partner’s emotional state through the thread.

NP: Once you started designing and testing what did you discover about this experience that was unexpected?


SYC: HOW FASCINATING HUMANS ARE! Testing this show was a huge eye-opener because we realized just how differently everyone reacts to their own senses. It was fascinating to see that a moment one person finds "relieving" might feel totally "distressing" to someone else. Audiences themselves are often amazed by how their body feels and reacts to this sensory experience. You all should come and find out how your body and brain reacts to this. 

NP: What can fans who are coming to this, or thinking about coming to this, do to get into the mood of the experience?


SYC: There is nothing you need to do. Once you arrive, we have prepared everything for audiences to get immersed into the environment. But to experience this fully, we ask audiences NOT TO WEAR PURFUMES, or strongly scented body products, WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES, and notify us of any ALLERGIES that they might have for specific aroma oils or scents ahead. 

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