Airline staff and actors star in ‘Ahead of Time’ an immersive theatre production in the skies on a flight from London to New York.
REYKJAVIK – Icelandair has pioneered a new form of in-flight entertainment; an immersive theatre production entitled 'Ahead of Time'. The show starred talented Icelandair staff as well as trained actors, who engaged with the audience from arrival at Heathrow to touchdown in JFK. This one of a kind event took place over 11 hours and across three countries, using the transatlantic journey as a unique stage for a passport to performance.
To help realise this impressive production, the airline partnered with immersive theatre experts Gideon Reeling. In celebration of Icelandair's 80th anniversary the plot line champions the airline's history as pioneers of modern day travel and drew inspiration from their rich history. Lead character Edda took the audience on an inspiring and entertaining journey through time, mirroring the airline's progressive and forward-thinking philosophy with themes of female empowerment and equality.
- 1915, Iceland gave women the right to vote, becoming one of the first countries to do so
- 1937, Icelandair traces its roots back to this year when fledgling airline, Flugfelag Akureyrar, was founded at Akureyri on the north coast of Iceland
- In 1985, Icelandair hired the first female pilot, Sigriour Einarsdottir
- In 1989, Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the world's first democratically elected female president and named Icelandair's first Boeing 737-400
- Women's rights day 1999 – An all-female crew flew one of Icelandair's aircraft for the first time
Travelling through time guests were immersed into different eras across 80 years and beyond. Passengers experienced life before the internet, providing an understanding of flight bookings prior to the digital age – they were written on cards and stored in a shoebox! Audience members were also treated to a menu inspired from the 1950's, a safety demonstration given by an air hostess from the swinging sixties, a modern ballet performance at the boarding gate and even serenaded by a farmer from 1937 singing an Icelandic folk song. A pilot announcement left them musing the possibilities of future air travel, with moon landings on the horizon. Guests were also given a personal message of empowerment to take away.
Kolbrun Aalbjorg Hjartardottir, playing Edda, comments, "Preparing for this performance has been educating, fun and quite a journey. I am proud to be able to be showcase my country's history and be part of something truly inspirational to others."
In an innovative approach to customer service, Icelandair ran Stage School training, directed by Gideon Reeling, to add immersive theatre skills to their staff's repertoire. The theatre experts also led the creative direction and production of the performance including rehearsals, audio experience, menu development and sourcing or re-creation of archive props and period costumes.
Kate Hargreaves, Founder of Gideon Reeling, comments, "The magnitude of the challenge to create this performance made the project very exciting. We've made theatre in unusual places but never made a show that started in one country, bounced to another and ended up in a third on the same day. The Icelandair staff have been incredible to work with and their attitude and energy and willingness to trust in our work have helped to make it a great success."
Icelandair's history demonstrates their commitment to passengers and shows how they've continued to fly in the face of adversity. This is exemplified by them continuing to fly whilst other airlines stayed grounded following the impact of the volcanic ash cloud thrown up from Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010.
'Ahead of Time' is the first in the Stopover Pass series of free performances for Icelandair passengers, being staged in celebration of their 80th year. This was announced following research which revealed passengers are now demanding better customer service and more unique entertainment with a human touch; Icelandair has set about serving both in style.
Birkir Holm Guonason, CEO at Icelandair, comments, "Throughout our 80 years, we've always put customer service at our heart and we're pleased to pioneer a new form of entertainment and value-added service for passengers. We responded to the research findings with the launch or Stopover Pass which aims to transform wasted time whilst travelling into time well-travelled."
- Icelandair deliver a show stopping performance that puts staff at the heart of unique in-flight entertainment and proves that the journey is as important as the destination
- Three-act immersive performance, 'Ahead of Time' was directed by Gideon Reeling and took place on an 11-hour flight from Heathrow to JFK via Iceland
- The plot takes inspiration from the airline's progressive philosophy across their 80-year history, championing female empowerment and achievement
- The 'Opening Flight' marks the start of Stopover Pass, a free performances series for passengers starring Icelandair staff alongside Icelandic talent
- Launched in response to a greater demand from consumers for both better customer service and more original in-flight entertainment with a human touch
- Passengers can transform their boarding pass into a Stopover Pass for free: icelandair.us/stopover-pass
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
