The People Vs Democracy is billed as a “live action game about power and politics in the UK”. Taking place in the free-thinking surrounds of the Free Word Centre, it claims to reveal the truths to players about the difficult compromises that often need to be made in our political system.

A great deal of planning and care has clearly gone into conceiving, as well as setting up and visualising, The People Vs Democracy. At the start of the game, you are given a card with your name, occupation – for example, I am a miner – and your position on an issue – I am in favour of fracking. A very brief explanation of the game’s rules takes place before we are thrown into the game environment.

Three chalked-up tables are laid out and ready – one a mining pit, where us miners are encouraged to create playdough balls of fuel; one a farming table, where farmers are positioned and can sell food to other players; and one where housing can be bought and sold. We each receive a ‘scorecard’ too, starting off with a certain amount of wealth and health.

There are four rounds, and at the end of each two journalists go head-to-head with three headlines they compile, based on what has happened. The rest of us vote on the stories for the headlines that we most want to hear; then, based on these stories, there is a debate about the issues it has raised. Finally a vote is held, and the majority vote directly determines what shape the game will take in the next round.

The only problem is, it is initially quite difficult to grasp exactly what us players need to do. I speak to a few people who don’t really understand the logistics or aim of the game. Although it is made clearer as the game progresses, The People Vs Democracy comes across as a slightly confused mixture of ideas, not necessarily fully realised. It feels like there is too much going on at once.

Does The People Vs Democracy prove effective in its stated aim of highlighting the stark realities of political negotiations? The answer would have to be: not quite. It is a very interesting concept, but the execution needs to be further honed. There are some great and fascinating ideas at the core of it, but it is slightly lacking in focus and the parts need to be better integrated into a whole. Yet, with some rethinking and reworking, The People Vs Democracy has great potential to become a more fully immersive experience.

The People vs Democracy plays at the Free Word Centre next on 21 and 22 May. For more information and tickets, see the Free Word Centre website.