Tag Archives: immersive theatre

Punchdrunk, The Drowned Man, Paddington

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Punchdrunk is causing quite a stir. The latest production from this sensational immersive theatre company is called The Drowned Man and is taking place in a disused Paddington warehouse.

Don’t wear your work suit to this performance, you will feel truly out of place amongst the drama hungry punters and will be horrendously hot and uncomfortable after three hours of roaming around. Conveniently for commuters, this show is literally seconds away from Paddington tube station. Ticketholders are instructed to arrive at a certain timeslot – and ticket prices depend on this factor.

I won’t give too much away… the story unfolds in a random fashion, through bursts of activity that you will witness at different times in different places. A large cast of characters interact with the transformed building, and move fluidly over the floors… intrigued audience members rush closely behind, desperate to grasp a clue to piece together the story. You are given a short synopsis of characters at the start but this gives little insight.

Dressed in identical masks the audience are, as a unit, separated from the Punchdrunk actors. There may be some audience participation but on the whole the visitors are left to their own devices to make their own decisions and own discoveries. It is scary, and amazingly detailed, you really are entering another world, a world where a cabaret show, sandy landscape, filmset and woody forest all exist under one roof.

Performances are booking until 30 December. Start times are Tuesday-Thursday 10pm, Friday/Saturday 8pm and 12 midnight, Sunday 8pm with six arrival times for each performance in 10 minute intervals. Show lasts up to three hours. Tickets: from £47.50 / £19.50. For more information and to book see the National Theatre website.

Bianco, Roundhouse

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I would recommend not taking a bag to the Roundhouse when you go to see Bianco. The NoFit State immersive promenade circus show requires just as much energy and alertness from the audience as from the performers. Guests are required to be very mobile, moving around the circular venue after each act… a unique concept but one that was rather frustrating with a heavy handbag and coat.

Internationally renowned for its dramatic live contemporary circus performance, blending jaw-dropping skills with untamed elegance and subversive edge, NoFit State returns to the stage with Bianco. There is little narrative, or at least no story that I could grasp. Instead the show is a series of visual vignettes displaying artistic and acrobatic finesse… the only theme? The colour white. With a constantly evolving tale set to a pounding soundtrack performed by a live band, this is an all consuming theatrical experience. Under the direction of Firenza Guidi the talented cast present a vividly imaginative performance.

Though I felt this show lacked wow factor Bianco does offer fantasy and awe, and there are a few moments of magic. The Cirque du Soleil life-defying risks are instead replaced with visually breathtaking acts exhibiting immense physical strength and incredible flexibility. For me it was the band that made the whole night worth the hassle… the gut-wrenchingly passionate musicians provided a mesmerising soundtrack for the evening.

NoFit State continues to reinvent circus with this stunning performance. After London the show will tour Brighton, Cardiff, Bristol, Narberth, Bangor and Edinburgh.

In London until 27 April, more information and book here.

Faulty Towers Dining Experience, Charing Cross Hotel

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The main difference between Fawlty Towers the TV series and Faulty Towers the dining experience, is the faulty ‘u’ that replaces the famous ‘w’ in the tv name, every other detail is almost identical in this marvellous spoof performance.

The Fawlty Towers series has a worldwide reputation, and soon I expect so will Faulty Towers the dining experience. The three cast members have already travelled over the globe presenting their rendition of the classic Fawlty Towers mealtime moments. In London the magic takes place at The Charing Cross Hotel in a cleverly dressed and disguised room with the traditional music to accompany. The room is smart but dated and suits the theme of the evening precisely.

After buying a rather nice glass of white wine from the bar, we gathered among a crowd of fifty guests, all excitedly anticipating the night ahead. There was enough time to recount and refresh our brains with the most memorable Fawlty Towers moments before the three actors came to revive the jokes in the flesh. Basil, Sybil and Manuel are played by Jack Baldwin, Suzanna Hughes and Terence Frisch.

Peanuts are thrown (at us), false teeth found in the soup, a fire extinguisher employed, even Manuel’s pet rat makes an appearance. Every favourite line manages to sneak its way in, amazing considering only a third of the production is scripted, the rest is just genius improvisation. The mannerisms, voices and characteristics are captured perfectly by the three talented impersonators. The show is fully immersive, the actors work hard to include all the guests, making us giggle but never humiliating anyone. Visitors can choose to be as involved as they desire, the birthday boy on the next door table was mocked merrily and received an embarrassing rendition of ‘happy birthday,’ others stole extra bread rolls and paid the consequences, having their bottoms smacked.

The food was rather bland and disappointing: Leek and potato soup was under-seasoned and too thin, chicken with potato was lukewarm and unexciting and the cheesecake was certainly not freshly made. Of it all the bread rolls with butter were the most palatable. However you don’t visit this show expecting haute cuisine, in fact just like every other detail of the night, the food was just as it would have been in the tv programme.

It was, without doubt the best worst meal I’ve ever had. An experience I will never forget and a must for Fawlty fans!

More information here.