With a good shot at throwing art out of the gallery and into a new space, the Rehearsal Room at Nottingham Arts Theatre held a host of innovative art works. Each one interactive, sensory and entertaining. 

With the current state of art in flux, pushing itself further away from traditional aesthetics, it is guided by its cousins; Philosophy, Science and Technology. Art has an added dimension whereby artists spend time playing with possibilities of thought and experience. Curator Emma Lewis' initial concept for the Play exhibition was: "To explore audience engagement, allowing a greater intervention in the artwork. To explore whether something being playful/fun is simply frivolous or have a greater meaning and to explore a new venue for art."

Guided up into the main room by sounds echoing of a fantastic social buzz, my senses take in the odd arrangement of a wrestling ring, scaffolding structure with a cabinet at head height secured to it, a metal puppet box, and the sounds of blokes ranting, official women announcing and a murmur of blips and wind.

It's opening night with music and performances. I'm drawn towards "Wrizlaring" chalk-scrawled on a giant black board leaning against the wall. This is a live art platform for Teabag (AKA Tina Carter, Daniel Frazer and Nadia Malik.) Using the central wrestling ring the opponents tackle each other to the ground. Upon the wrestlers forehead is a strip of material with a name written across it. They are playing a more serious game of guess the name written upon their heads. Each pinning down allows one question to the referee with a yes/no answer. Remember playing that as a kid in the back yard? Well, this one included lycra and tiger prints as the trio fought it out on both the opening and closing night. Whilst I was there, I saw a couple of non-artists fooling around playing the game too, Kylie Monogue and Bill Clinton written above their brows.

Uber-cool, an intriguing wardrobe, like something from Alice's adventures in Wonderland is set along the window filled wall of the main exhibition space. Guy Arzi, Israeli born artist renovated and redecorated the inside of the wardrobe purchased at the Cattle Market Auction Rooms. Like a fail-to-be-posh boudoir we are given swirly velvety wallpaper bodged with ripples, a picture rail with a picture crooked, ceiling light and glossed shelving. I am invited to sit upon the luxurious red cushion select and listen to a CD on the compact player and ponder through books, as I would at home. I can invite friends too as the drawers convert into seats with matching red cushions. Plus on the door hangs a classic bottle of red stolichina for those crisp moments needing shaking up with a 35ml dose. I caught up with Guy during the opening to find out more about this wonderland. He told me "I'm interested in mocking contemporary artists who create temporary dwellings through making a DIY portable living space, pulling apart a functional piece of furniture and converting it into another kind of function."

I asked who influences him: "Andrea Zittel, AVL and the Auction houses." Intrigued I asked if it truly was the fine Russian Vodka on the door. "Yes of course, I've had lots of people trying it!" Sat inside the wardrobe and Guy upon the friend's seat, I want to know if I can get myself one of his creations. "Of course! You can and even commission one to your specific tastes in design. I noted his email guyarzi@yahoo.co.uk for those of us fortunate enough to own a home and purchase a commissioned living space to entertain friends. This Guy is going up in the art scene; best grab him whilst you can!

On offer at the foot of the stairs to the Rehearsal Room are selections of aprons set up by artist Heather Burtt. Amongst the designed pinstriped, hessian and red P.V.C., I done the combat fabric apron edged with traditional lace. Carefully crafted they lead to question stereotypes and place the audience in the `play'. Julie Patel and Oliver Perry had set up a "watch me whilst I watch myself" monitored video surveillance piece on the landing. The closing night had a depiction of a real time screening as we each pass up or down the stairs along side a screening of balloons floating aimlessly down the stairs. Searching up and down the stairs the balloons are never really there. Are they?!

This is art. Asked to question "Why?" You may like art, loath it, not understand it or give a shit, admire it, feel it, laugh at it, or get annoyed at it. This is all fine. One thing about this creative exhibition is that it is sure to entertain and intrigue whether you are a show-off and participate in the fun and games or gaze and watch the play.

Improvised Music and Puppetry Workshops ran along side the exhibition spreading the play on art out to the Sunnycroft centre, Eastwood and Huntington School, St Anns. These were invaluable to the morals of the artists who wish to reach those not traditionally engaged with contemporary art. It became the children and young people who were offered the opportunity to be the artist. Fantastic sounds were created as the participants played with instruments in a variety of possible ways working collaboratively and as soloists. The recordings made by the children and young people could be listened to at the workshop listening post in the exhibition space.

Sound became vital to the sensual experience amongst the odds and ends arranged on a floor-boarded space. Overlooking a building site outside this was projected inside the space with a scaffolding structure supporting two fine sound works. Paul Stevens' found radio hangs dirtied from the scaffolding where a repetition of voices can be heard as the intensity increase and decreases with warnings and angst to "fucking take it all less serious!" So I do, coming across a fake hamster whizzing along the screens of three aligned monitors, rolling over occasionally and then finding its feet. Video by Lizzie Willsher. Comic genius.

Engaged? Joked? Interacted? Entertained? Immersed? Thoughtful? You bet cha! There is a need for play in each of us. Its great to see a diversity of approaches to art and all inclusive philosophy. Play does have a greater meaning as it encourages independent thought and development in life. It's not just kids stuff!

I look forward to the future possibilities coming out of the creative individuals in Nottingham who choose to collaborate together.

Play was at the Nottingham Arts Theatre from 18-21st January 2005.

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