Euphoria

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Gender – Performance – Joy
By: Josephine Baird, Sarah Lynne Bowman & Kaya Toft Thejls
Duration: 4 hours
Number of players: 8-20

Euphoria is a nightclub in a pocket reality, specially designed for gender exploration, expression, play, and performance. Players can choose to enact characters similar or different to themselves, characters who will be exploring different forms of gender expression in the temporary liminal space of Euphoria.

This larp encourages performances of various types for the enjoyment of the group. Players are not required to perform, but are encouraged to express themselves in ways that feels comfortable. Players will be invited to bring and share items of clothing for others to wear, and to don new raiments and makeup during their time at Euphoria. They are especially encouraged to adorn themselves with clothes and accessories they would not normally wear.

Players may take photos of themselves, record audio clips, or write short texts throughout the larp, which they may share with the group if desired. They may not record others without their permission. The larp will feature bright lights, loud music, and potentially unorthodox behavior.

Note: The designers have created this larp as part of a research project at Uppsala University on the use of role-playing for gender exploration and expression. Players will be invited to take part in a research study after the larp. Participation in the study is not required to play this larp.

Download Euphoria by Josephine Baird, Sarah Lynne Bowman & Kaya Toft Thejls

About the authors
Josephine Baird is a Lecturer at Uppsala University’s Department of Game Design and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Vienna. She is a game designer and game design consultant, as well as a writer and visual artist. Her work often relates the intersection between games, identity, gender, and sexualities. She is also an actor, public speaker, and co-host of the podcast It Is Complicated. More information can be found at josephinebaird.com.

Sarah Lynne Bowman, Ph.D. is a scholar, game designer, and event organizer. She is an Associate Professor for the Department of Game Design at Uppsala University Campus Gotland, and the Coordinator for Peace & Conflict Studies at Austin Community College. McFarland Press published her dissertation as The Functions of Role-playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems, and Explore Identity (2010). Bowman has edited for The Wyrd Con Companion Book (2012-2015), The International Journal of Role-playing (2016-), and Nordiclarp.org (2015-). She helped organize the Living Games Conference (2014, 2016, 2018) and Role-playing and Simulation in Education Conference (2016, 2018).