fungiplays

Fungiplays is a label used for performances and installations whose central subject is fungi or fungal ecology. The term covers a range of media, including live theatre, immersive installations, digital experiences, and educational projects that foreground mushrooms, molds, and mycelial networks. Fungiplays typically blend storytelling with scientific imagery, sensory design, and opportunities for audience interaction with fungal-inspired environments or substrates such as grown mushrooms or mycelial sculptures.

Origin and usage: The concept has emerged in the 2010s and 2020s within art and science communication circles, as interest in mycology and bio art expanded. Collaborations between theatre makers, scientists, designers, and educators produced works that weave ecological ideas with performance, visualization, and hands-on cultivation. The term is used variably in different contexts, sometimes emphasizing artistic interpretation and other times focusing on education and citizen science.

Formats and examples: Fungiplays take many forms, including stage plays, site-specific performances, immersive theatre, and projection-based installations. Some works incorporate live growing substrates, projections of fungal networks, or AR/VR elements to represent mycelial connectivity. Educational programs often accompany performances, guiding audiences through fungal biology, fermentation, and ecological relationships.

Reception and status: Fungiplays remain a niche across theatre, art, and science communities and do not have a single governing framework. Supporters highlight their potential to communicate complex ecological topics through experiential media, while critics note variable production values and accessibility. The term tends to be applied descriptively, with definitions shaped by specific projects.