The old idea of breaking down the so-called “fourth wall” is taken to its extreme in New Venture Theatre’s Intimate Encounters.

Here is a piece where no one is allowed to be a spectator, but becomes a participant in a personally tailored, unique “art treatment”.

Premiered at the 2008 Brighton Fringe, the piece involves a lone individual entering a room to be led through a series of mysterious “interactive experiences” with five performers.

Director and performer Ulrike Schilling, who created the piece as part of her MA at the University of Brighton, is coy as to what the 45-minute session involves, but promises: “It will be rewarding. If someone is able to give over their trust to whatever happens, they will have their own individual journey – and it’s mainly an internal journey, unique every time and drawing on the person’s interaction, experiences and memories.”

Ulrike is interested in exploring the shifting of theatre’s function in an age where we are used to sitting back and being entertained. The work also examines the concept of intimacy. Involving “gentle” physical contact with performers and moments of extreme darkness, participants are asked to “redefine their personal meaning of intimacy”. It all sounds a little ominous, but Ulrike insists that on the whole, people enjoy the experience.

“We’ve had a few very strong reactions too,” she adds. “People start hitting their own boundaries. Some people burst into tears out of relief.”

“I really enjoyed it but found it difficult as it reminded me of how little intimacy I have in my life,” one participant told the company afterwards.

The show continues the NVT’s new and more experimental direction, after the dance and drama fusing Mademoiselle Y in June. “We are called the New Venture Theatre and that’s what I want us to be about – new ventures,” Ulrike says.

* Staggered entrance times from 7pm. Tickets £8 Booking essential on 01273 746118