The sights, sounds and smells of a post-apocalyptic city in ruins are yours to explore, as your tour guides B次元官网网址� a group of clowns B次元官网网址� take you on a storied ride through the city.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a movie, itB次元官网网址檚 a live performance and it makes for a B次元官网网址渨eird, touching and beautifulB次元官网网址� theatre experience.

B次元官网网址淚t crosses the line between being a film experience and being a live experience,B次元官网网址� Janet Munsil says of Il Pixel RossoB次元官网网址檚 And the Birds Fell From the Sky. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very immersive experience because your vision is taken away and replaced with a video. And thereB次元官网网址檚 audio. And then thereB次元官网网址檚 a live performance going on around you. B次元官网网址� You canB次元官网网址檛 see the performance, but you can feel the performance. Things are being put in your hand, and you can smell the performance in places.B次元官网网址�

This B次元官网网址渟ensory experienceB次元官网网址� is one of four international shows coming to Victoria as part of Intrepid TheatreB次元官网网址檚 new festival, Winterlab.

Munsil, IntrepidB次元官网网址檚 artistic director, says the new, small festival will expose theatregoers to some of the B次元官网网址渕ost exciting independent theatre-work out there in the world.B次元官网网址�

While she points to And the BirdsB次元官网网址� unique form of storytelling as innovative (B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not audience participation B次元官网网址� only two people are in the audience B次元官网网址� but youB次元官网网址檙e both completely immersed in the experience.B次元官网网址�), she says all the shows have qualities that make them special, and a treat to have in Victoria.

Also showing at the festival is Vanessa Van DurmeB次元官网网址檚 Look Mummy, IB次元官网网址檓 Dancing, WonderheadsB次元官网网址� Grim & Fischer, and two visual performance pieces using overhead projector animation from Daniel Barrow.

Winterlab will also feature a workshop from Il Pixel Rosso on combining technology with live performance, and a PlaywrightB次元官网网址檚 Cabaret, readings of new works by local playwrights.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the most cold and boring time of the year. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good time to shake yourself awake with some really extraordinary theatre experiences B次元官网网址� stuff like youB次元官网网址檝e never seen before,B次元官网网址� Munsil says.

Winterlab runs Jan. 23 to Feb. 3, with shows running at Intrepid Theatre Club (#2-1609 Blanshard St.) and Metro Studio (1411 Quadra St.).

Tickets, from $18 to a $69 festival pass, can be purchased online at ticketrocket.org or by calling 250-590-6291.

For more information on Winterlab, visit intrepidtheatre.com.