Storefront City London

23 Oct 2022

The Bunker Below

Credit: The Bunker Below

WHAT: The Bunker Below
WHEN: 22 – 30 October, 2022
WHERE: Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker (Kelvedon Hall Ln, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood CM13 0LA)
PRICE: £22.50 – £24.50

OUR RATING: Do It!

Built 125 feet underground, Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker in Brentwood serves as the terrifying location for the site-specific haunt attraction The Bunker Below. Built in the 1950s as a potential government headquarters in case of nuclear attack, this decommissioned bunker is now a tourist attraction and museum focusing on its Cold War history. And yet, there’s something sinister lurking in the depths of this bunker – and we here at Storefront City decided to descend into the abyss to see what was on offer. 

Credit: Storefront City

Starting the night off right, our WhatThreeWords – Scare.works.slice (how fitting!) – brought us to an eerie parking lot overseen by a few creepy statues. After a short walk through the woods, we came upon a large marquee protected by an armed man in camouflage, and it was here we learned the premise of the haunt and what we were here for – we were to be unknowing test subjects! The top secret military organisation we had walked into was conducting research into fear, only to discover an audio recording that drives its listeners mad and shows them their deepest and darkest fears, a recording known as The Signal. And thus, we as subjects were not only exposed to this Signal, but forced to undergo its terrible effects as we tried to navigate the treacherous depths of the organisation’s fortification – three floors and numerous tunnels of absolute terror. 

Credit: The Bunker Below

We were struck by how large the space was and how unsettling the nooks and crannies could be. These rooms are deceptive – is that a motionless mannequin or a monster waiting to drag us to our doom? The combination of walkthrough scares and specific scenes was impressive, as was the ability of the actors to shock us one moment (cue intense jumpscare running at our faces from before static performers) and make us laugh the next (circus games anyone?).

Credit: The Bunker Below

Some scenes did seem specific to the bunker itself, such as those highlighting the military credentials of the haunt in which we had to duck and cover, but overall scenes were picked from all genres – butchers, clowns, dolls – you name it, they have it, and you WILL be scared!

Perhaps most unsettling were the complete blackouts, which rendered forward movement almost impossible and made the threat of some ghoul popping out at you from beneath a trundle bed all the more likely. The layout of the bunker also becomes confusing, we think intentionally so, which means extra vigilance is necessary to plot your escape. 

Credit: The Bunker Below

Final Thoughts: The Bunker Below is a truly unique horror event, and we loved some of the more slow-burn elements throughout. Its well-timed scares, long moments of intense darkness and silence, and the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t aspects were welcome frights compared to the types you usually get at scare attractions. Granted, the experience only took about half an hour to get through and seemed to fizzle out at the end (also, we really could have done without the sermon against the use of social media), but a majority of the vignettes and highly themed rooms really hit home runs, and we will forever remember the crazed cafe, the terrifying tunnel, and the eerie labyrinths inside this horrifying bunker. We can’t wait to see what The Bunker Below has in store next year!

Posted in Do It!, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
21 Oct 2022

The Sickness

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

WHAT: The Sickness
WHEN: 22 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: London Bridge Experience (The Rennie Vaults, 2 – 4 Tooley St, London SE1 2SY)
PRICE: £26.95

OUR RATING: Do It!

It’s been some years since we’ve been to The London Bridge Experience and it appears that the space has undergone a complete and welcome transformation in the intervening years. At ground level, an extensive set of vaulted rooms comprise the Bermondsey Bierkeller, themed as a German-style drinking establishment, complete with long heavy-wood tables, party games, and surfeit flagons of ale.

Credit: Storefront City

The foyer for The Sickness is now a historical area with a set of pews. Once you’re ushered downward into the main event, the experience is a set of zones, based around the idea of Dr Natas’ psychiatric institution. Opened in 1939, this facility was said to conduct some fairly “experimental” treatments and it’s your task to escape both the dear doctor and the patients. Vignettes featured the doctor himself, a deranged surgeon (watch out for fluid spray!), the infamous Plague Doctor, and a rather naughty barmaid.

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

Then, it’s onto the Tombs proper for the true test of terror. While the upstairs part of the attraction are creepy theatrical experiences, the tombs are your classic haunt-style labyrinth. Winding passages and occasional blackouts make this chilling, and the actors are not afraid to get up close and personal with their prey. In fact, one of our editors was grabbed and forcefully pulled aside, so watch out!

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

In terms of storytelling, we felt that there was little connection between the overarching narrative and the terrors we encountered below. Yet, the brilliant, fun, and committed delivery by the actors meant we soon forgot this as we were dashing towards the exit. One fellow in front of us was so terrified as to collapse in a fit of nerves once he was safely back in the Bierkeller. And what better way to soothe your nerves than to have a drink at their new Monster Bar or have a go at one of the several games downstairs – we love us a bit of shuffleboard! 

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

Final Thoughts: We attended this event as part of the press launch and took the tour with a large group of young influencers – as such we unfortunately spent the tour with a majority of the group talking when the actors were trying to speak, and also waving their phones about and filming the entire time. But while this certainly impacted upon our experience, we did try to make the most of this great event, and the actors did a great job in trying to control and interact with the kind of group we were in. All in all, it’s a super fun venture beneath the streets of London, and is definitely one of the scariest the city has. It offers the perfect group night out, with a solid 30-40 minute haunt followed by drinks, food, and games in a cozy and energy packed venue. 

Posted in Do It!, Nightlife, Performing Arts, See It!, Tours and Museums and tagged , , , ,
18 Oct 2022

Fear at Avon Valley Scream Park

Credit: Avonvalley.co.uk

WHAT: Fear at Avon Valley Scream Park
WHEN: 14 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park (Pixash Ln, Bath Rd, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1TP)
PRICE: £35-150

OUR RATING: Do It!

We were beyond excited this year to try a renowned scare attraction we’ve never attended before – Fear at Avon Valley Scream Park, which won at the 2022 ScareCon for Best Scream Park UK. Consisting of 5 scare attractions, an extra exorcism experience, a huge entertainment stage, and various carnival rides and food stalls, Fear presents a well-branded and fun scare festival atmosphere, one we’re so happy to have experienced this year!

Credit: Storefront City

Fear started the event off amazingly, with a simply done but fun entrance into the park. We went into the gaping mouth of a deranged clown and were spat out of a tunnel and into the festival grounds. Fear is unique from other events we’ve attended as they have a handful of characters throughout the park, the ‘Terrifying Titans’: a group of horrible clowns and creatures whose faces are all over the park’s branding and who come to life in front of you. You notice the extreme care and thought that went into the creation of this park, and how brilliantly threaded together all the characters and stories are. Not to mention the grand and energy-packed fire shows happening every hour or so and the totally creepy stilted scarecrows eying up their next victim – what a thrill!

Besides the five haunts, we participated in a new experience this year, The Exorcism, a short theatrical production of a priest’s attempt at an exorcism. This kind of reminded us of Le Theatre Noir at ScreamFest, but it was far better executed. We’re not sure the extra fee and the long wait were worth it for the short performance, but there were some really creepy effects and a lot of effort put in from the cast, not to mention a nice change from your usual maze-like haunts. Speaking of which…

Credit: Avonvalley.co.uk

X4: A complex series of tunnels were discovered deep underground during routine excavation work at site Alpha-Vixen One. Hidden deep within these tunnels, the discovery of a lifetime was made, altering the course of humanity.

Combining clinical and mutational horror, X4 delivered an amazing experience that threw us into unknown territories. Starting in a very convincing lift, science has gone terribly awry, which is clear from the vacant, robotic expressions of the staff you first encounter. Slowly, dizzyingly, you are led to new levels of disorientation, including a total smoke white out, all the while terrified from every direction by ghouls of this unwelcome place. With high immersion levels, this maze is impressively and continually horrifying.

Credit: Avonvalley.co.uk

Vita Nova: Omega Industries has initiated its quality of life programme, Vita Nova, restoring order to the Republic of England. Society will be reformed, it will be born anew. All non-conformers will be detected, and they will be ameliorated.

Vita Nova was one of our favourite mazes of the night. The most terrifying part was that each person must go through the maze alone – something we didn’t expect when parks usually bundle people in groups of 7-10! We entered an intake room with another group of people, but then one of the creepy actors pointed at us one at a time to go through the doors, and everything became very real. The actors in this were superb, and the maze’s tactics to keep people separate were terrific. This had so many fun elements, from being locked in an enclosed space with no clear way out, crawling spaces and sliding, and genuinely frightening smiles from all the cast. A great maze!

Credit: Avonvalley.co.uk

The Core: After the fall of the UK government and years of national civil unrest, the New World Order has risen and the Republic of England stands victorious. But a rebel alliance has formed, hiding on the edge of society. But unbeknownst to them, a far greater danger lies beneath their feet. 

This was the most immersive maze we’ve ever been to. Upon entering the attraction we were instructed to don waders and put all our personal effects in a bag – ready to enter the sewers. Torch in hand, our group was submerged in a subterranean world quite literally underground, with water up to our knees and creatures behind every wall and vent. We didn’t find this maze too scary but some of our group-mates did – we were more in awe of the entire concept and just wanted to continue exploring despite the creatures lurking there!

Credit: Avonvalley.co.uk

House of Clowns: The circus has arrived, but murderous accusations have faced the troupe and the inhabitants will do whatever they can to get this house of clowns back on top. And they want you to be the star of the show. 

We do love a good clown scare, and House of Clowns does the trick. With a pulsating soundtrack, extremely enthusiastic scare actors, and a confusing series of chambers, you’re likely to lose yourself in the madness of the big top if you’re not careful – especially due to the dazzling use of unexpected strobes. Now, this being said, clown mazes are almost de rigueur in the world of scares, so we’ve seen many of these effects before, meaning our initial shock is somewhat lessened. Nevertheless, clowns are bloody terrifying, and these are no exception. 

Credit: Avonvalley.co.uk

Malefica: After being destroyed in a mysterious fire, a church is returned to its former glory. But something isn’t quite right; strange noises have been heard deep within the church, and volunteers claim to have seen something moving in the shadows. 

We had high expectations for this haunt, having won a ScareCon award in 2022 and been nominated for several others. Granted, we were at the back of a very large group so we missed a lot of the best features and scares of this maze, so for us this wasn’t very hair-raising. The sets were detailed and we loved some of the rooms, and the acting again here was high quality. But we can’t help comparing this one with the similarly themed maze at Dr Fright’s from a few years ago, which was second to none, so while this was an enjoyable maze, it wasn’t our favourite of the night. 

Final Thoughts: Fear at Avon Valley is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-executed, and downright scary experience that we loved. If you can, we’d highly suggest you purchase a Fast Track pass, as without this the wait times in line seemed to average 30-45 minutes (helpfully displayed on the main screen). Our only criticism would be to point out that the wait time for The Exorcism was quite long and risked eating into time spent in the mazes. With some of the most intense and creative scares available, if you’re into Halloween you need to get yourself over here right now!

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Nightlife, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
16 Oct 2022

Hallowscream – 2022

Credit: York Maze Hallowscream

WHAT: Hallowscream
WHEN: 13 October – 5 November, 2022
WHERE: York Maze (Elvington Ln, York, YO19 5LT)
PRICE: £26-45

OUR RATING: Do It!

Hallowscream at York Maze was our favourite scare attraction in 2019, so we decided it was time for a revisit three years later. The park boasts 5 main haunts under one huge marquee, so creates a lively indoor atmosphere, besides a new indoor stage, a merch stall, and carnival games – not to mention an entire separate outdoor area with carnival rides, food stalls and yet another stage!

One of the best parts of the experience for us back in 2019 was the entrance to the park – we remember being shepherded into a large marquee where a fantastical light-projected talking head told us the story of the park. After this haunted tale we were then birthed out of the tent and into the park itself, complete with a trail of lit pumpkins and skeletons at the entrance.

That, of course, was pre-COVID. This time, we oddly were just let through what effectively is also the exit to the park, so admittedly we were completely thrown off from the start of our journey. No talking head, no intro to the haunted park’s history. We thought we went through the wrong entrance!

But, in fact the park has changed up its offerings due to the changes brought about from the COVID years. Not to fret! They’ve added many food stalls and stages that weren’t there in 2019 – we just wish there was a bit more effort put into the entrance. Nonetheless, we entered the park and were soon greeted by the first stage show, with the devil himself as the emcee. We appreciated the homage to The Devil’s Carnival! On balance though, we preferred this stage rather than the outdoor one.

Credit: Storefront City Team

The park also presents plenty of fun opportunities for selfies, whether it’s with some skeleton pirates, the amazing roaming scare-actors (including the iconic creepy twins), as well as a new smoke-bubble blowing gigantic werewolf! 

But now to the haunts. While we don’t have picture-perfect memory, we do remember all these haunts from 2019. We don’t believe there’s been any big changes, so do check out our review from 2019 for newbie-reactions to these.

Credit: York Maze Hallowscream

2073: Society has broken down, and the streets are inhabited by zombie-like creatures, sick with radiation poisoning.

This was one of our favourite and most atmospheric mazes back in 2019, and although very similar in form, we did notice that the references to Trump had been removed. It was notable that some sections of the maze did seem a little empty, but as soon as you thought you were alone along comes a chap with an airgun to give you a good rattling. The sets truly looked as if society had fallen apart!

Credit: York Maze Hallowscream

The Flesh Pot: In Victorian times people flocked to the butcher’s stall, and talked of how eating his meat made them happy – unaware that the meat they were eating was human flesh laced with opiates.

A grisly journey into mad butchery, this maze was replete with energetic ghouls that were persistent in their persecution. The set and ambience was, as before, very comprehensive, but the subject matter didn’t move us towards the sheer terror that it might for some. Again, this is a matter of taste, not quality, and we’re sure that those who enjoy more peculiar cuts of meat will salivate over this offering.

Credit: York Maze Hallowscream

The Singularity: A man’s vision to create a new species that combines the best of man and machine, one true perfect being called ‘The Singularity’. Enter his laboratory and see for yourself, but beware the process is not yet perfected and more human test subjects are needed for his warped experiments.

What a petrifying adventure – you never quite know were a demonic bot will pop out from, even swinging from the ceiling, complete with wrecking ball. Prepare to be scanned, examined, and stunned, with a disorientating white-out part way through in a room filled with blinding fog so thick that one can only see inches ahead of you. There is great attention to detail in this maze that continues to mark it out as an excellent scare.

Credit: York Maze Hallowscream

Barnaggedon 3D: Enter a kaleidoscopic world – put on your 3D glasses to reveal a perplexing, space shifting subterranean chaos, where your eyes can’t be trusted to separate what’s real from illusion. 

We loved the colourful world of Barnaggedon, with the 3D glasses creating a difference in our perceptions and making everything dizzying and chaotic. From water effects to subterranean smells, Barneggedon was a world to its own. We didn’t review this haunt very well our first time around, and while we’re still confused in the theming, we did find it a fun and disorienting adventure!

Credit: York Maze Hallowscream

Corny’s Cornevil: Enter Corny’s Cornevil where demonic clowns and mind-bending illusions will have you questioning your sanity and begging for the exit!

Corny’s Cornevil, which is based upon the existing fun maze, is still such a thrill years later, even unchanged. There are so many unique funhouse elements that other clown mazes miss out on, from slanting and tilting spaces, moving floors, and other endless optical illusions. We particularly loved its squishy floors, hidden creepy clowns, and all the interactive elements!

Final Thoughts: We’re probably too harsh on Hallowscream: it’s honestly an amazing attraction with a wonderful atmosphere both inside and outside the main marquee. What’s also important to note is that roaming actors were clearly having fun and enjoying themselves, and it was always hilarious to see the killer butcher shaking his bum or doing the time warp, or the chainsaw-carrying granny dropping it like it was hot in the middle of a dance circle. Sure, it set the bar high for us in 2019 and didn’t quite meet our expectations this time around, but we’re excited to see them in the coming years as they find their equilibrium after COVID and maybe hopefully after a reskin or two of some of their haunts. 

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
14 Oct 2022

Face Your Fears at Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park – 2022

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

WHAT: Face Your Fears
WHEN: 7 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park (Hell Lane, Heath, Wakefield, WF1 5SG)
PRICE: £21-23

OUR RATING: Do It!

We ventured back to Yorkshire this year to start off our Halloween scare-season, and what a start it was at Yorkshire Scare Grounds’ Face Your Fears. This almost hour-long experience takes you through many scare zones and attractions during a long dark walk through the creepy woods of an historic 24 acre estate in Wakefield. Having given this haunt a ‘Chance It’ back in 2019, we came to see the new and improved haunt this year and were amazed to see what they had in store for us!

Face Your Fears is cleverly designed, with a creepy path in the woods taking you through completely different scare attractions, but all the while feeling like a total experience from start to finish. Whilst we’ll give you the flavor each of these terrifying experiences, we don’t want to spoil the thrills and chills too much.

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

They | Them: A crazed scientist unveils his latest invention – the teleportation machine. 

Less “Beam Me Up”, more “Chop Me Up”, these experiments have gone horribly wrong indeed. Enter a world of genetic confusion, where some of the dear doctor’s subjects have become hopelessly jumbled with others. Animatronics and actors complemented each other well to deliver short, sharp shocks of terror that made this maze a perfect introduction to the world of Yorkshire Scare Grounds.

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

Human Safari: Deep in the misty jungle danger lies ahead. Hunters are on the prowl for fresh meat to satisfy their bloody thirsty lust.

Run for your life! The hunters are after you in this most dangerous game. Dashing between the protection of hunters-hides, you’ll need to dodge more than just bullets with these wiley adversaries. Warning: prepare to get wet! Whilst perhaps weaker visually than some of the other zones, the uniqueness of the experience was startling (in a good way), with our good-natured group adding more laughs and screams as we cantered towards safety.

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

Whitechapel: Take the trail of terror through London’s East End on 1888 where crime, murder & prostition is rife. Killer on the loose.

Wending your way through the hidden back-alleys of East London, this intricately designed and long section of maze plunged you into a different world. Integrating outdoor and indoor sections flawlessly, as you pass between the various establishments (apothecary potions or unknown meat butchered to perfection, anyone?) you’re accosted by the denizens of this cursed city. Maybe you’ll even run into the infamous Ripper himself! We really appreciated the sheer numbers of actors, which is a huge improvement from 2019, each one unique, highly enthusiastic, with equal measures of terror and humour. The set dressing was also studied in terms of the Ripper’s crimes, with the designers doing a great job at eerily recreating a crime scene from Hell.

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

Dollhouse: We dare you to explore the dark hallways of this life size dollhouse. It’s haunted hallways inhabited with tormented toys & deranged dolls. 

Dollhouse was one of our favourite attractions this year – who doesn’t love creepy dolls? This was such an intelligent re-skin of their hotel haunt, and we highly admired the makeup and costume elements for the actors in this one. It was a fully realised concept, and many of the actors inside really did give us a scare. We’re still giddy about the horrifying life-size killer teddy bear! What was great in this attraction is one never knew what inanimate creatures were actually going to jump out at you!

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

Twisted Tooth Fairy: Disgraced Doctor D. Cay, the demonic demented dentist from hell, opens up the appointment book once more. 

What a fantastic idea! While we’re not the biggest fans of the blood and gore elements of haunts, this was definitely a theme we don’t think we’ve ever seen a whole haunt based upon, and we saw a lot of new creature and makeup concepts as well. Amazingly, the waiting room also smelled a bit like antiseptic and menthol – astounding levels of immersion here. Again there was great dedication from the actors, and particularly creepy featureless faces with gigantic bloody smiles – the stuff of nightmares.

Along our route through these haunts we also came upon two “scare zones” in the woods, one an area of the undead with smashed vehicles and police cordons, and a deadly circus path complete with clowns who apparently have a love for wooly hats – ours included! 

Final Thoughts: Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park have really upped their game with this year’s Face Your Fears, and we were thrilled with the level of quality from the haunts and the actors, as well as the amazing balance between inside and outside scare time. We also love how long this attraction is open throughout the month, as well as their accessible price point, which all culminates in this being a must-do for any haunt season. And if you can’t make it in October not to worry, they also have haunted attractions for Christmas and Valentines day!

Posted in Do It!, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
11 Sep 2022

The Burnt City

Credit: Punchdrunk

WHAT: The Burnt City
WHO: Punchdrunk
WHEN: March – 4th December, 2022
WHERE: One Cartridge Place (1 Cartridge Pl, Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6ZR)
PRICE: £55+
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

One of the highlights of being a reviewer is the ability to witness the unusual, the mystical, the bewitching. Our immersive theatre journey began over a decade ago and we have been both audience, producer, director, and performer across many projects. Back in 2013, we were fortunate enough to see Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man, which was, for us, a formative moment of wonder in our theatrical education. As such, we were eager to experience their newest production, The Burnt City, a reimagining of the paramount moments of the Trojan War. Immersive theatre should not be spoiled by revealing too much, so forgive us if this review is a little more general than you’re used to.

Photo: Julian Abrams. Performer: Yilin Kong

Adam: It is undoubted that The Burnt City is a monumental undertaking. From the moment you enter, one is thrust into the past, traversing the millennia through literal museum displays into the vibrant and disturbing world of the Trojan War. You are enveloped in this world, and although the theming may be modern, the ancient details shine through; the neon glow of Mycenaean Linear B inscriptions dappling entrances in eerie brightness.

The archaeological remnants scattered about mirror the fractured storytelling, allowing the audience to piece together the narrative as if a shattered vase. Typical of Punchdrunk, this is a promenade performance arranged over an enormous area, which means you must have dogged determination to see everything (and, even then, it’s quite possible to miss certain scenes). The individual must interpret the vignettes as best they can, so it is very useful to have foreknowledge of the Trojan War, its heroes, villains, and voyages, before attending so as to get the best possible experience.

Adding to the sense of veil between yourself, the performers, and indeed the audience, is the traditional “plague” mask that Punchdrunk requires patrons to wear. This gives added anonymity to your interactions, making it easier to lose yourself (and your compatriots, if you so desire) and have a more individual experience. In those encounters, you start to piece the scattered storytelling together through interactions with those fragments left behind in war, the abandoned spaces, or the sudden rush of a troop towards you.

The all-encompassing nature of The Burnt City means this production is true to its name. As we would expect, immaculate attention has been paid to the details of set, props, and lighting, though it is notable that the variety of spaces present in previous Punchdrunk works does seem absent. For the best experience, we recommend you book as early a slot as possible, for only with time and exploration can you uncover the full nature of this epic. You are in for a stunning dive into a tragic-heroic world that leaves no stone unturned, nor path untrodden. Take risks, explore, and always push on that closed door…

Photo: Julian Abrams. Performers: Andrea Carrucciu and Dafni Krazoudi

Alicia: Immersive theatre doesn’t start from curtains up. It starts from the moment you enter the event venue, and ends when you step back into the real world. Upon going into the building there was immediately a rather hostile atmosphere created by the front of house staff, an almost bully-ish nature directing us here and there: a judgemental edge to every interaction. And this wasn’t a thematic decision, this was a stressed out staff transferring onto audience members, creating an unfortunate environment before we even entered the world of The Burnt City. Perhaps they were overwhelmed, and that wouldn’t be surprising due to the large numbers of audience members entering every second and creating queues throughout the space. Unfortunately, we weren’t treated any better upon leaving, with instructions being barked at us up until the point of exiting the venue.

Putting front-of-house aside, let’s get to the meat of it all. Of course our expectations for this event were high – The Drowned Man was one of the best theatrical creations we’d ever seen, and the ticket price for The Burnt City naturally reflects this. But, in the end, it suffered from a weak narrative. They attempted to set the scene for the audience with a display and information boards like a museum, but with crowds and queues, we felt rushed in the preparation stages and overwhelmed by both the amount of people around us and the quantity of information we had to read and take in. And, unfortunately, the performance itself, as well as the distinction between the two different worlds presented by the company, was often confusing. One of the strangest elements was the beautiful soundscape – but sadly sometimes there would be huge builds and swells in the music with nothing much going on, and vice versa. 

Let me be clear: the level of detail and the physicality of the performances were amazing. The lighting and soundscape were steps above what we remember in The Drowned Man and added astonishing depth to the world-building. And there were some strong final scenes, a brilliant use of the unique venue in a subtle site-specific way, and real passion, energy and talent from all the performers. Of course it was stunning, it really was, but it was also confounding and a bit bereft of that magic we felt from their past performances.

Photo: Julian Abrams. Performers: Vinicius Salles, Omagbitse Omagbemi, and Andrea Carrucciu

Final Thoughts: This is magical worldcrafting that breaks all boundaries. If you are unfamiliar with Punchdrunk, this performance is the perfect introduction. If you have attended before, we still highly recommend The Burnt City despite our critiques, which come from a place of love for the company and their astounding productions.

P.S.: True immersion is a rare occurrence, but for a similar level of high-quality and enthralling production, we recommend you check out The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
09 Jul 2022

Twilight at London Zoo – Adults-Only Late Opening

Credit: ZSL London Zoo

WHAT: Twilight at London Zoo — Adults Only
WHEN: 30 June — 22 July 2022 (Thursdays & Fridays)
WHERE: ZSL London Zoo, Regents Park, Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY
PRICE: £21.50-£36.50
OUTDOORS: Yes

OUR RATING: Do It!

Looking for a laid-back but adventurous night out in London? Look no further than ZSL London Zoo’s late-night experience for adults only. Take this amazing opportunity to unwind and explore the world’s oldest scientific zoo where the usual crowds and kids are replaced with a super chill atmosphere complete with a wide array of street food, music, pop-up bars, keeper talks, and fairy-lights galore.

ZSL London Zoo is massive and you’ll want to arrive early to experience it all. The world’s oldest (scientific) zoo established all the way back in 1828, the truly remarkable collection spans all the major continents and species, from ferocious lions, to tropical rainforest-dwellers, and even the tiniest of leaf-cutter ants. And you’re not just here for the animals: an array of other entertainments are on offer, including street food, cocktails, and live music. Once you have your drink in hand, why not take a wander and listen to the fascinating animals talks, including for more elusive creatures such as the mysterious Komodo dragon.

Credit: Storefront City Team

Upon entering the zoo, we were immediately presented with an array of choices, from animal talks to meeting the keepers, to a variety of entertainment options. While a majority of attractions we’ve been to lately have converted to a more digital lifestyle of QR codes and apps, ZSL London Zoo is still pretty old school, asking guests to take photos of the zoo map and programme. While we honestly do have issues with all the apps these days, we thought this way of navigating around the zoo by constantly referencing a photo on our phones was also a small annoyance, but we just decided to put our phones away and see where the zoo’s paths took us!

Perhaps a highlight for us was the sheer activity the animals were displaying. These crepuscular behaviours (twilight-activated) meant that the lions were roaring away, bats were ducking over us, and monkeys were more playful than we’d seen before. Aside from the animal antics, live performance pervaded the night, with an acoustic set in the since repurposed and historic Lubetkin Penguin Pool. If you’re even more adventurous, an upgrade is available to spend the night at the zoo amongst the plentiful wildlife in one of the lodges.

Credit: Storefront City Team

One of the only grievances we had at the zoo was the limited supply of free water throughout the park. We weren’t allowed any of our water bottles going in, and once we were inside the park we had to pay to fill our bottles with cold fizzy water — very strange. It wasn’t until a few hours into the event that we finally came across a free water fountain. Since we were there in the evening and only for a few hours this wasn’t a huge problem, but we can see this being difficult for those braving the odd London heatwave during the daytime while trekking hours through the park. However there’s always plenty of shelter — we got caught in a bit of a downpour but visited the indoor birds, nightlife, and creepy creatures exhibits while we waited it out!

Credit: Storefront City Team

Final Thoughts: It’s been awhile since we’ve been to a zoo, but we were constantly awed at how quiet everything was without the crowds and kids, and instead with the sights and sounds of nature fully immersing us all evening. If you want to come to the zoo and don’t have a child, this is the ultimate way of experiencing it, with very affordable tickets and a lovely atmosphere. And if you want to upgrade, you can add a private guided tour or even a champagne experience! After our evening with thousands of animals, we can’t see ourselves going back to a zoo any other way!

Posted in Do It!, Nightlife, Outdoor Attractions, Tours and Museums and tagged , , , ,
27 Jun 2022

Brother Marcus Borough Yards

Credit: Brother Marcus

WHAT: Brother Marcus Borough Yards
WHERE: 1 Dirty Lane, London SE1 9PA
PRICE: £7.60–14.50 (Brunch Dishes)
OUTDOORS: Yes (Seating Available)

OUR RATING: Do It!

Delicious, fresh, and wholesome Eastern Mediterranean food is the star attraction at Brother Marcus’ newest location. After wild success in Spitalfields, Angel, and Balham, the chic and trendy eatery has taken up residence in the ultimate cool of Borough Yards, superbly accessible from both London Bridge station and Borough Market. A light and bright interior is instantly welcoming and has a feel of New York about it, which we suppose is the idea.

Brunch is the name of the game here, with an extensive menu spanning the staple of Yoghurt and Granola to the decadence of a full vegan breakfast (vegan and vegetarian options are happily plentiful). One can particularly recommend the Harissa Eggs (British rainbow chard, avocado, poached eggs, toasted organic sourdough, and harissa oil), which was extremely pleasing of flavour and well-proportioned, the harissa shining through in all its abundant and fiery brilliance. This was well-paired with a grapefruit juice, a perfect brunch complement.

Credit: Brother Marcus

Final Thoughts: Eminently eatable food, a buzzing atmosphere, and a stellar location, Brother Marcus Borough Yards is the ideal location for that birthday brunch you’ve been planning. Next time, we might even go for the bottomless drinks option.

P.S.: Still in a brunchy mood? Why not head over to Rudy’s Vegan Diner and grab your fill of the best vegan food we’ve ever tasted.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , ,
20 Jun 2022

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

WHAT: Ocean at the End of the Lane
WHEN: 23rd October – 14th May, 2022, Touring 12th December, 2022 – September, 2023
WHERE: Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4BG
PRICE: £20 – £49.50
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

Now that London has reopened in the wake of the COVID pandemic, Storefront City has had the pleasure of returning to the theatre scene. We have a few reviews up our sleeve to share with you over the next few weeks, but the most awe-inspiring one of them all has been the National Theatre transfer of The Ocean at the End of the Lane to the Duke of York’s Theatre. 

In our view, this tour de force production is by far the most impressive piece of spectacle theatre in London since Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man. Based on Neil Gaiman’s 2013 novel, this work tells the story of a man who returns to his childhood home in Sussex and is transported back in time to his 12th birthday, a time when he makes a best friend named Lettie who introduces him to a magical world threatened by ancient forces. When these forces break through the protective barrier to their world, the safety of the boy’s family is put in jeopardy, and his survival depends on Lettie, her magical family, and the boy’s love for his family.

Credit: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Featuring amazing puppetry, beautiful choreography, mind-boggling magic design, and haunting set, lighting and sound design that gave us major Stranger Things feels, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a must-see story about family, memory, growing up, and imagination. 

Credit: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

To be honest, summing up this play is a difficult feat, and we also don’t want to ruin any surprises, since this performance is chock full of them. Every single element of this play was jaw-dropping, but the amazing aesthetic choices and the immersive design were only so strong because of the emotionally powerful strength of the story itself and the brilliance of the cast. James Banford performs stunningly as Boy, the main character of the play, but the supporting cast of characters were equally impressive, especially Nia Towle as Lettie, Nicolas Tennant as Dad, and Laura Rogers as Ursula. 

Credit: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Final Thoughts: We’ve already recommended this show to a few friends, loving every time they message us during intermission with expletives and all caps. It’s a play that pulls at your heartstrings but is also a feast for your ears and eyes and really makes your imagination run wild.

P.S.: For more theatrical wonder, why not check out The Haunting of Susan A.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
16 Jun 2022
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The Haunting of Susan A

Credit: King’s Head Theatre

WHAT: The Haunting of Susan A
WHO: By Mark Ravenhill
WHEN: 1st – 26th June, 2022
WHERE: King’s Head Theatre
PRICE: £10 – 28.50
OUTDOORS: No

OUR RATING: Do It!

Buildings are the bones around which the flesh of history is built. People construct, thrive, and die across innumerable generations, transient and fleeting, whilst the structures remain, absorbing tales from their inhabitants. The King’s Head Theatre, founded over 50 years ago, occupies the back room of the pub of the same name, but will soon be moving to a new location. As such, Mark Ravenhill’s (Artistic Director, The King’s Head Theatre) response to both this anniversary and the expected transformation of the space after the theatre’s departure is poignant and timely. Ghosts, both real and imagined, haunt the liminal spaces created by Ravenhill’s superb narration, leading one to question how the place was really used and what deeds were done there.

Credit: King’s Head Theatre

Whilst leading us on this historical overview, including that the theatre was the venue for illegal bare knuckle boxing, Ravenhill is seemingly disrupted by an audience member (Suzanne Ahmet), who declares that there is a shocking truth behind the room in which we now sit – a haunting that she herself experienced 20 years previously. Indeed, the idea of truth is toyed with throughout the production, with the names (Suzanne Ahmet vs. Susan A), places, and histories evoking a strong realism that leaves one wondering where the fiction ends and the facts begin. During the performance we saw, we were told that technical difficulties caused a delay in curtain-up, but we suspect (perhaps wrongly) that this may have been a crafty bit of misdirection to ramp the tension up. Either way, the delivery of this unsettling work was only enhanced by the anticipation.

Credit: King’s Head Theatre

Ahmet’s telling takes us through her own transformation, from scientifically-minded student, to last-minute replacement actor, to traumatised hermit, now ready to face her past – and that of the ghost haunting her. The facets of this evolution are complex, delving into gendered power dynamics (both through the domineering director and the historically crushing life of the being haunting the space) and the theatrical gaze of which the audience is now a part. As well as a compelling narrative, there are ample shocks and jump-scares, which come when one is perfectly at ease for maximum effect.

Final Thoughts: Simple, chilling, and, to some measure, heartbreaking, one cannot help but be engrossed by Ahmet and Ravenhill’s exemplary performances. An utterly enjoyable night of ghostly intrigue.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , ,

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