This past Halloween weekend we travelled to the big top! The Clapham Grand was the latest venue for the travelling circus-inspired clubbing event. Cirque Du Soul brands themselves as the 21st Century’s Moulin Rouge, and we can tell why with the level of colour and energy they bring to the table. Granted, Clapham Grand is a smaller venue than they are used to performing in, but it was no less delightful than we expected, and let us dress up in our favourite twisted-carnie-style!
Credit: Storefront City
There was a wide range of great music on offer, anywhere from house, to soul and funk, to a bit of disco and hip-hop spun from live DJs on the dance floor. Clapham Grand set up the night in an interesting manner, with the DJ on the ground floor allowing for two different dance areas, one on the Grand’s stage itself, which was fun to experience as we’ve been to the venue many times but have never set foot on the stage before. This also allowed for a variety of perspectives to experience the decor and performers from several vantage points, and we loved the immersive feeling this provided with everything happening all around us.
Credit: Cirque Du Soul
The performers were definitely our highlight of the night, with circus-themed stilt walkers roaming the crowd and even two giant puppet-like clowns dancing among the revellers. Upon seeing these Killer Klowns from Outer Space-themed creatures we knew right away that Cirque du Soul must work with Area 51, an immersive design and event company who also provide performers and costumes – and we’re well acquainted with these favourite clowns of theirs! All the performers made the night what it was, dancing and interacting with the crowd in these incredible-difficult costumes. They charged up the atmosphere, and brought the circus to life at this incredible venue. We didn’t stay the entire night having already been to some other Storefront City events that evening, so we don’t know if we missed a bigger variety of acts (we thought there would be aerialists, fire or more, but The Grand is too small of a venue for this). Regardless, we were more than satisfied from the floor performers and the delightful and raucous energy they brought to the party.
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: While not as show-stopping as rival event The Dark Circus Party, Cirque Du Soul is definitely a fun themed night out with high levels of entertainment value, and heads above the Twisted Circus events we’ve also attended before. We’d be interested in seeing what Cirque du Soul can do with larger event spaces, especially with their relationship with Area 51 and their expertise in the circus arena – they’ve got a Christmas/NYE event coming up at the Troxy this year, so we’ll head over and try it out. And we can never say no to some Killer Klowns from Outer Space – these wacky weirdos will always have a place in our Halloween hearts!
Deep in the Chiltern Hills, a twisted array of man-made caverns is waiting for its next set of victims. Excavated in the 18th century by Francis Dashwood, a notorious rake and co-founder of the mysterious Hellfire Club, they stretch 300 feet underground and conjure up images of the rumoured dark rituals and hauntings within. Whilst usually a heritage site, on Halloween you’ll find the tunnels populated by a frightening variety of ghouls and devils. Our exploration had started!
The theme for this year’s most haunted attraction is the stuff of your nightmares – quite literally, for dreaming is the name of this depraved game. As we visited much later in the night, no queueing was required and we were immediately greeted by a most well-dressed and spirited poet who whisked us down into this otherworld. The passages were crammed with creatures who were not afraid to run up and get right in our faces, sometimes popping out from the most unexpected crannies.
Credit: Storefront City
One of the highlights of the Caves is the actors penchant for following close behind us between the segments, which meant that more often than not you looked over your shoulder and were greeted by continuing terror. Also, bear in mind that there is only one way in and out of the Caves, so if any of the creatures within particularly frighten you, you’ll need to face them again on the way back up! We’d highly recommend you visit at later times so that you can experience the haunt relatively alone – it was exceedingly creepy being locked in the central shrine festooned with eerie masks peering down upon us.
Credit: The Hellfire Caves
Final Thoughts: The caverns themselves are a huge part of the draw here, with the River Styx perfectly lit to accentuate the uncanny cast of the place. Coupled with a range of sinister actors, from deadly twins to an ominous dream catcher, and some giant and monstrous entities, Nightmare on Church Lane is spooky, fun, unique, and well worth a visit this Halloween.
For the past few years, Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights has been our number one scare attraction, so we were beyond excited to see what the haunt had in store for us this year. Dr. Fright’s is known for showcasing completely new mazes every single year, whether they are sequels to past ideas or novel concepts. But perhaps our best memory of this attraction is the perfect mixture of scare and fun they bring to the table – from dancing and laughing with Killer Clowns on a Spaceship, and being absolutely petrified at last year’s Yokai Temple. The actors at Dr. Fright’s are all volunteers, which is ridiculously surprising as they are some of the best scare actors in the UK, and Dr. Fright’s really knows how to set up their talent in the best ways to thrill…and kill!
Credit: Storefront City
Dr. Fright’s has certainly grown a bit this year, and their signage and branding is off the charts, with new theming covering all four sides of the mostly-covered event, a large branded map of the park, and a new merchandise stall selling shirts, keyrings, and even branded hot sauce. A hugely creepy nun followed us around, and various food and drink stalls peppered the space. They even have their themed horror bar where you can sit back and watch live scarecams, streaming the faces of terrified patrons from inside the mazes onto a large screen to add another layer of fun to the event. Whilst not as large as Hallowscream or Fear Avon, the level of thought and detail in the space and in each and every one of the haunts is second to none.
Credit: Dr. Frights Ltd
Grindhouse in Wonderland: A defunct fairytale village attraction deep in the Louisiana swamps, experience a blood soaked journey through a once magical land of enchantment. Welcome to your deadly never after!
As butchery is usually our least favourite concept, we went into Grindhouse in Wonderland first, and this is where the tongue-in-cheek fun started! Immediately in the queue and throughout the haunt we danced away to song after song of Disney-music-gone-wrong, and every which way we turned we had the most evil of fairytale creatures jumping out at us. These actors are not afraid to get right in your face, but they know exactly where they are in this horrific fairytale and aren’t afraid to have fun along the way.
Credit: Dr. Frights Ltd
Killer Clowns of the Caribbean:The notorious killer clowns have commandeered a popular pirate themed attraction, transforming it into the perfect venue for their latest killing contest!
We always leave the clown attraction for the last, as it’s usually the best on offer. Unfortunately, we got stuck behind a large group of slower guests during this maze, so missed out on a majority of the scares, but we still thoroughly enjoyed all of the crazed pirates here. There was even a short segment of the maze which must have had at least five or six clowns coming at us from above, below, and pretty much everywhere one after the other – such good shock values, and all to the tune of ridiculous pirate shanties.
Credit: Storefront City
Monsters and Madmen: A reclusive millionaire has spent years building up a collection of live exhibits for his museum. Prepare to come face to face with the worlds most feared killers, creatures and demons that lurk around every corner!
This maze was by far the most heart-pounding scary maze we have attended this year, with the most petrifying of serial killers coming at us from all sides. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a werewolf in a haunted maze, and Dr. Fright’s not only brought a wolf, but also aliens from the X-Files, numerous characters from The Purge, and of course every single serial killer from every franchise you can think of. Another thing Dr Fright’s always does right is their ability to make you question what is real and what isn’t, and you’re never quite prepared for when the real killer comes out to get you! Hands down an amazing, terrifying maze that had our adrenaline spiked for the rest of the night.
Credit: Storefront City
House of Wax: Legend has it, the eccentric owner Madame La’trusse, owner of The House of Wax and condemned as a witch, still haunts the house, reanimating the twisted remains of her beloved wax works.
There is nothing more eerie and unsettling than that feeling one gets around waxworks. Lifelike, yet so totally dead, and yet…did we just see that finger move ever so slightly? This maze is packed with them, along with mannequins and dolls that do leave you wondering who’s going to attack you next (as is Dr. Fright’s speciality). Some brilliant effects meant we couldn’t be sure what was real (including simple objects like mirrors) and so fell prey to an array of scares that were cleverly hidden at first glance. And yes, we did scream!
Final Thoughts: Dr. Fright’s did not disappoint this year, and if the attraction had given us the opportunity to ‘top up’ and attend all the haunts twice, we certainly would have – we didn’t want to leave! We attended on a Sunday so the queues weren’t too bad, but fast track passes are always a great deal and a good idea. However, the ambience and soundtracks in the queues make the wait a ton of fun and worth it when you get to go into the attraction as individual groups, another exclusive element of Dr. Fright’s we really love. You’re guaranteed to experience the maze with you and your loved ones and friends and not with complete strangers, so it was just the two of us against these terrors, which made it all the more frightening. Dr. Fright’s is the best value for the best scares and laughs you’ll get, and we can’t recommend this place enough. It’s THE experience of the season!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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…
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 TheBurnt 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.
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.
The Path to Purgatory awaits at an English country house and garden in the heart of Leicestershire. Designed by award winning scare attraction creators Area 51, this 40 minute, 1 mile walk through extensive and terrifying gardens is truly an immersive experience not to miss!
Alicia: Whatton House of Horror was a surprise find for us as we started planning our Halloween ventures. Knowing already that we’d like to attend one of Leicester’s more well-known multi-event haunts (this year it was Screamfest), we wanted to fit in another event with our long journey. Fate brought us to Whatton House — and who ever thought the road to Hell could be so much fun?
Upon arrival we were pleasantly greeted by many of the staff there — we were one of the last groups to arrive for the night and must admit we were really spoiled by that fact — we were able to attend just the two of us — smaller batches always intensify and improve the experience in our eyes. Provided a lantern to guide our way, we knocked on the gate to Purgatory and were tasked to walk amongst the inhabitants on the terrible journey to Hell.
Credit: Whatton House of Horror
Every so often on the journey we were met with a stunning vignette with a character attempting to entrap us in their world, and in between these mini-stories we were able to walk along the beautifully strange path wondering where the next creature would pop out and what would be in store for us next. Is that one of the many strange statues belonging to the garden estate, or were our eyes tricking us? Even though we were constantly on alert, these devilish creatures were always able to completely blindside and terrify us.
We don’t want to spoil the night for you, but ultimately this event started our Halloween season off with a bang. All of the characters were incredibly thought out and costumed — some with fabulous makeup (some, yes, could have done with a bit more), and all with absolute commitment to their craft. Thinking back, it’s actually incredible how many scenes were so memorable, with a lovely dose of humour to bring even more impact to the scares.
Adam: I can easily say that Whatton House of Horror is, in equal measure, entrancing, terrifying, and a spectacular piece of theatre. So often with haunts and scare parks, it is forgotten that narrative is at the heart of any good performance, instead sacrificing substance for cheap thrills. Nothing could be further from the truth at Whatton House of Horror, a spine-chilling road trodden side-by-side with spirit folk.
I do not wish to spoil the surprises along the way, but the dedication of the creative team to their craft is impressive, the realism of each encounter enhanced by the natural and eerily lit surroundings. Whether a sinner or saint, all are judged by an array of vicious (and sometimes humorous) creatures stalking the deadly night.
Before or after your adventure, an excellent array of goodies are available to fortify your spirit. Snobby Burger and the Wood Oven Pizza Company have kiosks, as well as abundant ice cream and seriously creepy cocktails. Just make sure you always look behind you — you never know who (or, indeed, what) might be following close behind.
Credit: Whatton House of Horror
Final Thoughts: Eversy theatrical event nowadays brands itself as site-specific or immersive, just words to put on some marketing material and some decorations strewn about. Whatton House of Horror was truly an immersive event that knocked it out of the park when utilizing the space around them. From ponds to statue gardens, Hell’s inhabitants were at home here, and we could tell the creators of this event really cared. This is a Halloween event not to miss, and completely worth the journey out to Leicestershire if you’re not local!
P.S.: We’ve got plenty of Halloween reviews coming, so keep your eyes open — next up: Screamfest!
There’s big business in immersive theatre these days. With the rise of Punchdrunk and consequent rise of ticket prices, Shunt’s The Boy Who Climbed Out of His Face provides the full, rich force of the immersive experience without the outrageous price tag. Beautifully poignant, unsettling and often funny, Shunt uses the space it has excellently and evokes many fantabulous vignettes, in which attention to detail is always evident and caring.
Adam: After walking some time from the North Greenwich DLR station and leaving behind the more obvious signs of life, I approached what is aptly described as The Jetty, a new riverside venue hosting Shunt, in the old Docklands area. It’s very important that I don’t spoil this incredibly special experience, but from the outset it is clear that clambering through disused shipping containers will be key to your journey.
As you venture deeper into the complex of containers, the bizarreness of the world becomes ever more brazen – highly detailed worlds emerge from the dark to get lost in, while characters top off the surrealism with psychologically challenging performances.
There is something funhouse about the whole performance and it is best experienced by those not afraid to dive in and get involved. Before you know it, the 45 minutes are up, as is the case with many immersive productions. Perhaps some would say it is just too short, but by concentrating their efforts to a confined space and definite vision Shunt creates a believably weird world – one which it was a pleasure to be a part of.
Alicia: Shunt has taken great pains to transform a series of shipping containers into a melange of beautifully absurd stories and environments, taking you outdoors, indoors and within minds all at the same time. It is obvious that a shipping container environment could provide some limitations to a theatre piece due to size constraints and a variety of other factors but this has not stopped this ambitious and risk-taking company in creating a masterful world. While the aesthetics of some of the rooms are breathtaking in their vision, it is really the characters who pull the whole piece together, inviting the audience to explore, consider and question. Again, I don’t want to spoil too much of the show!
What makes this Shunt show a great experience is that the company invites you for a full night out. When you make your way to The Jetty you immediately step into a pop up BBQ and Cocktail bar complete with entertainment and live music to keep your blood pumping before and after the performance. Chef Matthew Baxter is the man of the hour here, producing sumptuous treats with anything from fish and chips to barbeque ribs and pulled pork. But really, the Long Island Iced Tea with a scoop of fresh coconut ice cream was the crème de la crème of the night.
It will be interesting to see what The Jetty next has in store in regards to pop-up and participative experiences – I’m sure we’ll be back here again soon!
Final Thoughts: The Boy Who Climbed Out of His Face is your go-to show this month. For a tenner you can get great live music, explore the Greenwich Peninsula, and experience the peculiar and beautiful work Shunt is known for. Shoeless and vulnerable, we suggest you let Shunt guide you through this unique maze of adventure. And make sure to look out for our favorite bit in the last scene. Hint: it has batteries.
