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Archive for the tag “London”

05 Jan 2020

Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh

WHAT: Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh
WHEN: 2 November 2019 – 3 May 2020
WHERE: Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY)
PRICE: £24.50-28.50 (Adults)

OUR RATING: Do It!

Gold Inlaid Canopic Coffinette of Tutankhamun Dedicated to Imseti (Protector of the Liver) and Isis.
Credit: IMG

“At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold – everywhere the glint of gold.” – Howard Carter (Archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb)

Gold is timeless – untarnishable and everlasting. It is for this very reason that the ancient Egyptians crafted their most sacred and enduring objects from this rare substance, the surfaces communicating across time to us still in sparkling majesty. For Tutankhamun, the finely crafted statuary that adorned his tomb would function as vessels for immortality up to the present day. Beautifully and touchingly presented at the Saatchi Gallery in what is billed as their last great tour outside Egypt, these mementos of a life lived so removed from our own open up the secret, personal world of the boy King.

Wooden Guardian Statue of the Ka (soul) of the King Wearing the Nemes Headcloth.
Credit: IMG

For those who have seen past iterations of travelling Tutankhamun exhibits, much of what is on display will be familiar: the canopic coffinette, a storage vessel for the embalmed organs of the King, has been emblazoned upon the literature of many of these blockbuster shows. And yet, new objects are carefully and helpfully marked, making the repeat visitor feel as if they are on a treasure hunt, discovering both old and new artifacts.

Whilst most people are attracted to the shining bullion all around them, important everyday items paint a different picture of the Pharaoh. In Tutankhamun’s reed “pen” case, we can imagine a young boy sitting down with his tutors and learning about what it takes to rule a mighty empire, whilst throwing sticks and bows attest to more leisurely (or warlike) pursuits. Undoubtedly, all these objects also carry ritualistic significance, but one could just as easily imagine them being used by the young Pharaoh.

To the seasoned scholar, this exhibition does have its drawbacks. A (paid) photo opportunity no doubt brings in much needed revenue, but somehow cheapens the overall experience. An epic video introduction, like much of the labelling, is high in floral language, weak on the facts. Speaking of facts, we spotted several misspellings and misunderstandings on the labels (a reference to the god “Atem”, which, in this context, should clearly have read “Aten,” the solar disc deity). To the ordinary visitor, these oversights might seem small, but to anyone knowledgeable of the period, they are most disappointing for such a well-designed exhibition.

Gilded Wooden Jackal-Headed Figure of Duamutef (Protector of the Stomach).
Credit: IMG

The exhibition itself is laid out across multiple floors and with intricate vinyls perfectly framing objects in the black-box style rooms. It is true that due to this multi-level approach, you lose your immersion in the world of the tomb each time you progress to a new gallery, but this is not a major limitation.

Final Thoughts: As potentially the last time you will be able to see Tutankhamun’s “wonderful things” outside Egypt, this is a must for Egyptophiles of all ages. Even those with more knowledge of the subject will appreciate seeing familiar artifacts and some new ones. A glittering spectacle that will amaze all who gaze upon it.

P.S. The companion volume to this exhibition, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb, by Dr. Zahi Hawass is breathtaking in its detail and completed with sumptuous photographs by Sandro Vannini. Simply stunning!

Posted in Do It!, See It!, Tours and Museums, Visual Arts and tagged , , , , , , , ,
20 Nov 2019

The Emerald City Rooftop Bar

WHAT: The Emerald City Rooftop Bar
WHEN: 24 October 2019 – May 2020 (4:00pm on)
WHERE: Queen of Hoxton (1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX)
PRICE: Free Entry

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

Travel down the yellow brick road to The Queen of Hoxton’s newest rooftop retreat – a cozy winter escape and hidden bar far far away from Kansas. We had the fortunate opportunity to attend this immersive event’s launch a few weeks ago, but luckily for our readers this emerald realm is open for free all the way to May 2020.

After entering the venue we climbed the themed yellow brick road all the way to the rooftop, where we were met with a snug and spellbinding viridescent hideout with Dorothy’s house dropped upon the evil witch herself all inside QoH’s famous rooftop WigWam. Afterwards, we found ourselves in the outdoor and bar spaces, complete with fire pits, beautiful lights, and entertaining roaming witch characters.

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

We immediately headed to the bar area, excited to try some hot alcoholic drinks to keep the cold away. For those less adventurous the venue offers familiar drinks – pumpkin spiced mulled cider and mulled berry wine, both of which can be spiked with additional liquor. We instead opted to try two of their spiked hot chocolates. While we were slightly underwhelmed by their Bad *itch Hot Chocolate (dark hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, activated charcoal), we thought the Wicked Hot Chocolate (white hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, matcha powder) was a unique and very smooth drink. Our favourite drink, by far, was the hot buttered rum (mulled with cinnamon, peppercorns, butter, rum, and fudge), which we had a really hard time not ordering again and again. Just thinking about it gives us fond warm memories!

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

If hot alcoholic drinks aren’t your thing (what??), they also serve up some cold green drinks, such as the Green Lady (egg white, gin, lemon, orange liqueur) and the Emerald Bellini (vodka, passion fruit, orange, Prosecco, salted caramel and popping candy rim). We weren’t a huge fan of the latter drink, but thought the fun and flavourful rim was well worth it.

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

We also tried some of the Kansas-inspired food QoH had to offer, including meat and vegan burgers with black charcoal buns, and beef or pumpkin pot roasts with collard greens & cornbread. We weren’t overly impressed with the burgers and chips, but thought the pot roasts were quite yummy and perfect for a cold night, albeit a bit pricey.

Credit: Queen of Hoxton

For the remainder of this Autumn/Winter, QoH will be celebrating the season of the witch with a variety of free events on this emerald rooftop, including witch academy classes, feminist witch storytelling, a winter witch craft market, and green eco-events such as pickling workshops and a clothes swap.

Final Thoughts: We can’t wait to return to The Emerald City with some mates and sit down in the gorgeous green glen of their WigWam sipping mug after mug of hot buttered rum. We might skip the food this time, but for a free immersive bar experience, this is sure to keep you warm this winter. And don’t forget to get some of their marshmallows to toast over their open fire pits – a nostalgic and perfect addition to your night out.

P.S. For better burgers, head over to The Old Bengal Bar for some fun and juicy ones!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , ,
08 Nov 2019

Le Bun

WHAT: Le Bun
WHEN: 2 November – 1 December, 2019 (every Saturday and Sunday, 11:30am – 4:00pm)
WHERE: Old Bengal Bar and New Street Grill (16 New Street, London, EC2M 4TR)
PRICE: £8-14 (Buns)

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Le Bun

This month kicks off a four-week residency with Le Bun at New Street Grill and Old Bengal Bar. Coming up, there will be four weekends with four collaborations every Saturday and Sunday featuring different Le Bun burger classics. We had the amazing opportunity to attend their launch event last weekend, and boy do they have some mouth-watering burgers in store for you!

So what does this month bring in the burger world? The upcoming collaborations include the first week with @theburgerlist and Le Bourguignon Bun ‘2.0’ (pulled beef shin, red wine jus, beef fat rosti, Roquefort crumble, smoked lardons, champagne slaw, truffle mayo, and potato brioche) and then the second week with @TheBiggestLew and ‘Le Grande Lew feat. Oxtail Crack’ (aged beef, smoked oxtail crack, confit garlic dijonnaise, double American cheese, pink onions, mustard, and potato brioche). Week three follows with @LaurenwCapulet’s vegan version of the Le Bun menu (see below for our review of one of their vegan burgers), and then week four with @Fitwaffle and the classic Le Bun burger.

Credit: Time Out

The Old Bengal Bar itself is a swanky affair – complete with luxurious sofas, exposed brickwork, and an eye drawing mirrored bar (which looked exceedingly well-stocked). Certainly a perfect spot to shelter in these colder months.

So now for the important part – how was the food?

Credit: Storefront City

Alicia: I took the opportunity to try the Chicken Skin Caesar salad and the Truffled F*****g Vegans burger with a vegan patty, burger sauce and cheese, confit beer onions, pickles, ketchup & mustard, and a potato bun.

Credit: Le Bun

The salad had a lovely dressing and a generous amount of creamy blue cheese, although it was far too dressed and practically swimming in sauce. The best part was definitely the chicken skin pieces, which were reminiscent of pork rinds and had a gorgeous crunch. The burger itself was without doubt a much more successful dish, with a great bite from the pickles and a very pleasing vegan take on cheese. The patty was quite similar to Quorn – perhaps not the best vegan patty I’ve ever had but still extremely delicious.

Credit: Storefront City

Adam: The Double Double (double aged patty, double American cheese, truffle veal jam (how decadent!), truffle mayo, and potato brioche) my burger of choice, was a truly perfect masterpiece. Superbly finished in a mouth-watering combination of condiments complementing the subtly smoked richness of the beef, you need to be prepared for this one: it’s a HUGE stack! Most decidedly a knife and fork job!

Credit: Le Bun

What goes better with a burger than fries? Unfortunately, as with all the sides, I was a little less impressed with this offering. Fries and truffle mayo might sound splendid, but these were pretty standard thin cut fries with a smattering of mayo (the truffle taste wasn’t strong). A little perplexing given the amazing quality of the burgers.

Final Thoughts: Go for the burgers (maybe skip the sides), some lovely bubbly and the stylish ambiance. Next time we return we might go for a Bloody Mary with a cheeseburger slider on top and try their small bites like their truffle mac and cheese. We can’t wait to experiment with all the upcoming burger options!

P.S. Have burgers on the brain? Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on The Queen of Hoxton’s Emerald City event and their charcoal bun burgers.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , ,
06 Nov 2019

London Halloween Parties 2019

In addition to the many haunted attractions we attended this Halloween season, we also let our hair down for a few nights and attended some of London’s most unique Halloween parties. Obviously there were dozens upon dozens of events this year, but here are our thoughts on a few to get some ideas on what to visit next season, as we’re sure they’ll return with a vengeance in 2020!

Credit: The Mansion London

WHAT: Halloween Ball at the Mansion
WHEN: 26 October, 2019 (9:00pm – 4:00am)
WHERE: Loft Studios
PRICE: £24-150

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Perhaps the most chic event we attended, the Halloween Ball was definitely a very artsy and multi-layered event. Guests did not take the fancy dress requirement lightly – we saw the best costumes this year here and literally every single patron put at least a bit of work into them, which made it a great participative event.

The most memorable aspect of this event was the macabre art exhibition by Y. Wildi, with amazing handcrafted skeletons around the rooms in a creepy and beautiful setup. We also enjoyed the free tarot reader, a photobooth and some yummy food, including the all-essential candy floss. We were also super thankful that there were three different dance floors so that we could select which ones fit our fancy: pop/mainstream, electro and Latino. The electro was even visited by sax player Tolik and djembe player Paolo Forcellati – some really great music!

Artwork by Y. Wildi

There were, however, quite a few letdowns at this event. The marketing promised fire shows, cage dancers, a Beelzebuth walking performance and a real backyard graveyard, none of which we saw no matter how many trips we took walking around the entire event space to find them. Admittedly, we didn’t stay the entire night, but after staying for four hours one would think we’d see at least some of the elements we were promised. Overall, however, it was something we’d go to again if some of these elements were better incorporated into next year’s event.

Credit: Apocalypse Events

WHAT: Carnivale: The Dark and the Damned
WHEN: 31 October – 2 November, 2019
WHERE: Bunker 51 (3 Herringham Road, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE7 8NJ)
PRICE: £5-30

OUR RATING: Chance It!

There were so many options for events to attend on Halloween itself, but, in the end, we chose an event that was a bit more local to us, had the perfect carnival theme and, most importantly, promised two scare mazes as part of the entertainment! We couldn’t resist.

The large underground nuclear bunker where this event was hosted was really an amazing space – we’d love to produce something there ourselves! The space was very fun, allowing guests to wander through a series of small carnival games, such as basket toss, hook a duck and Zolda – these came at a small extra fee, but if you won you got a drink ticket, so very worth it for the prizes and fun of it all. The best part of the event, hands down, were the mazes, which completely went above and beyond our expectations. The first maze, Freakshow, took us up and down and all around through the lost souls of the carnival, requiring us to crawl, climb, and squeeze our way out through the natural architecture of the bunker’s smaller spaces. Send in the Clowns was an amazing amount of fun and used a ton of gimmicks we hadn’t even seen in any of the professional mazes we attended prior to this. Unforgettable moments included a crazy clown on a zip wire, a balloon room, and even a slide!

However, there were a few aspects we weren’t too happy about this night – the event opened almost an hour late and the music was not very good whatsoever (and with only one dance floor we couldn’t explore any other options). This may not have been the best choice to celebrate Halloween night itself, but if Apocalypse Events put their heads into a more professional maze attraction we would definitely be first in the queue!

Credit: The Clapham Grand

WHAT: Twisted Circus Halloween Festival
WHEN: 1 November, 2019 (10:30pm – 3:00am)
WHERE: The Clapham Grand (21-25, The Clapham Grand, St John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TT)

OUR RATING: Skip It!

Twisted Circus returned for its sixth year with death-defying acts, crazy characters and a raveyard dance floor. We attended this party after another event at The Clapham Grand so were able to stick around to witness this sold-out happening. Loyal readers to SFC might know that we aren’t the most keen guests for ‘twisted’ acts such as sword swallowing, wax pouring, and body stapling – all which were front and centre at this event. The performers were really into their acts and involved with the guests, which we definitely appreciated. We also enjoyed some (but not most) of the music, especially the remixes of popular scary songs, fun circus snacks, and a really sweet clown stilt walker.

Credit: The Clapham Grand

Ultimately, however, we felt really let down by the event, having thought that the acts would be a bit more immersed in the event itself. Worst of all, the MC was absolutely atrocious, constantly making terrible rapping attempts and, worst yet, horribly sexist and inappropriate comments about all of the female circus performers. We finally got sick of all the disgusting and unnecessary harassing commentary and dreadful MC-ing and left the party early. We’d go back to The Grand, but not for this event!

Final Thoughts: There were so many options for Halloween parties this year, and to be honest, we’ll probably try a completely different batch next year. However, we’ll definitely keep a look out at all events hosted by The Mansion, Apocalypse Events, and The Clapham Grand, because while none of the events were perfect, we did enjoy ourselves a bit at each, and we’d like to see what they have in store next!

P.S.: We actually attended The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Clapham Grand the same night as the Twisted Circus party, so stay tuned for that review coming soon!

Posted in Do It!, Nightlife and tagged , , ,
28 Oct 2019

Phobophobia 13

WHAT: Phobophobia 13
WHEN: 25 October – 2 November, 2019 (6pm-10pm)
WHERE: The London Bridge Experience (2-4 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2SY)
PRICE: £31-60

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

This year, we returned to The London Bridge Experience for Halloween and their latest iteration of the attraction, Phobophobia 13, after attending a similar event several seasons ago. With the term phobophobia meaning the fear of phobias and the sensations associated with those phobias, and mentions of monsters, clowns, snakes, insects and more, we were quite excited to see what the most central to London Halloween maze had to offer.

We remember creepy performers and hospital beds rolling down the street as we queued up last time for the event, but this year they had a much different approach – karaoke? With lyrics projected onto tunnel walls, a very entertaining Steampunk gent invited the crowds to sing along with popular songs. Most of the line seemed to enjoy it during the long wait to enter the attraction, but it mainly had us really confused how karaoke – and not even Halloween themed karaoke – had anything to do with the attraction, nor did it prime us to anticipate anything scary!

Perhaps due to the popularity of the event, the organizers chose to put everyone in groups of ten to enter the maze – this is by far the greatest number of people in a single group we have experienced, and in our opinion much too large to be able to traverse a haunt properly.

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

There are two parts of the maze, an upstairs themed space, which we assume changes drastically depending on the theme that year, and the lower London Tombs, which itself becomes part of the maze. While the first intake room with snakes was a bit of a miss (and we wonder how pleasant for the snakes involved), we soon entered a seance calling forth a victim of Jack the Ripper; a thoroughly unsettling happening. The upstairs as a whole was a bit hit or miss, with the most unappealing part of the night being a hillbilly wedding where a character physically and somewhat sexually harassed one of the men in our group. Perhaps it was supposed to be creepy and funny, but it was just really off-putting!

The best part of the night was once we got through the first half of the maze and entered into the tombs, which are such an amazing setting for a haunt. However, there was a downside – here we were asked to put our hands on the shoulder of the person in front of us. Little did we know then, but the rest of our group were so terrified that we basically jogged the entire way through the maze in order to keep up with everyone in front of us – thereby missing most of what the lower part of the tombs had to offer.

However, what we did experience was quite hair-raising, with actors emitting terrifying shrieks and groans, and emerging out of the most unassuming places. Another huge difference with this maze compared to the others we’ve attended this year is that not only did these actors touch us, they grabbed us, and two creatures completely physically overwhelmed one of the girls in front of us who had gotten cut off from the rest of the group (again, since everyone was basically running, there is only so much we could all do to hang on and keep up!) Since we’ve gone to so many no-touch mazes this year already (usually our preference), having the actors touch us was so surprisingly terrifying.

Credit: The London Bridge Experience

Final Thoughts: In terms of haunts, we can’t say that Phobophobia 13 has been our absolute favorite this year. However, if you are limited to London it is by far your best option for a scare maze in the centre of the city. The experience is possibly contingent upon your group attitude: if they decide to run through the maze, the price of admission might be considered a tad steep. If, however, they are willing to absorb the terrors within like a fine Amontillado, best savored, you will have a far better adventure.

P.S.: If you are able to travel a small while outside London, Tulleys Shocktober Fest is where you want to head for a night of trepidation and terror.


Posted in Do It!, See It! and tagged , , , ,
24 Oct 2019

Cursed Presents Fright Fest 2019

WHAT: Cursed Presents Fright Fest 2019
WHEN: 17 October – 2 November, 2019
WHERE: Wat Tyler Centre (Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon, SS16 4UH)
PRICE: £18-34

OUR RATING: CHANCE IT!

Credit: BCM Productions

On the winding back roads of the Essex countryside, you come across a whimsical fairground, complete with big top. But beware: this isn’t your ordinary circus, which you’ll soon realize when the friendly-looking clown that’s rapidly approaching has something other than fun on his mind. Enter Cursed…

Credit: BCM Productions

Safe Zone
Our Scare Factor: 6/10
Atmosphere: 7/10

Storyline: The infected are honing in, and you need to make it to quarantine. Will you arrive at the safe zone unharmed, or will you become one of them?

After facing judgement we were thrown into the outside ‘safe zone’ starting with a journey through a haystack maze. This was definitely one of the highlights of the night, as the haystacks and the actors created a chilling ambience, and it was really fun trying to decide in the complete dark which path to take and if we should venture under the haystack piles and face the wrath of the creatures in order to get out. 

The only real downside to this maze is that after we passed the actors some of them broke character and started chatting and laughing, but it was still probably the most fun we had all night. 

Credit: BCM Productions

The Institute
Our Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Storyline: As Junior Reporter’s, you have been assigned to witness the execution of Andie Gard at Bridgegate Institute, the infamous serial killer… but inmates don’t take too kindly to visitors, so watch your back

The beginning of this maze was definitely scary as you witnessed the attempted – and botched – execution of a serial killer who escapes in front of your very eyes. Other than this, this was a very typical prison-style attraction with lots of metal bars and strobe lights, but the beginning certainly made it an entertaining adventure. 

Credit: BCM Productions

The Haunting
Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10

Storyline: This house has been left vacant for decades, and you are about to learn why. You’d be surprised how heightened your senses are when you aren’t able to see.

After experiencing Tulleys’ VIXI maze, the concept behind this maze was very familiar. We put on blackout goggles to venture into this hair-raising house – while a bit annoying for those who wear glasses, this was much better than the black hoods of Tulleys, as we could feel water, air, and other elements on our faces, which was certainly an interesting experience. We don’t think the two mazes were too different from each other other than this – it still seemed a bit too simple and missing out on lots of sensory opportunities (again, no smells!) but there was a tiny bit of touching by the actors which was definitely creepy! (Granted, they should have warned about this for those who have issues, but it was so slight to not be problematic for us – instead it was quite intriguing!)

Credit: BCM Productions

Abducted
Our Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Storyline: A quiet drink in the local tavern leads to a chilling story about local disappearances. What will you do when you come face to face with the explanation? Running may be your only option.

The beginning and end of this maze were exceptional, with an immersive tavern-themed intake room and a crazy room full of alien-like nests and creatures protecting them at the end. We also enjoyed the slower strobes in this maze where we couldn’t really see what terrors we were headed toward at the end of harrowing hallways. Our special warning for this maze is to put your hats and any loose accessories away before you get extremely squeezed – do not take the warnings of claustrophobia in this one lightly!

Credit: BCM Productions

The Sewers
Our Scare Factor: 4/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Storyline: The Workshop was shut down, forcing business underground. Will you be able to navigate your way through the tunnel system and escape the butchers clasp?

This maze certainly had a genuinely fun theme perfect for the UK at Halloween, with old and eerie Victorian-style brick walls and tunnels you had to choose between. Unfortunately, while all the mazes at this park were short, this one was even shorter, and we were out before we really knew what was going, but it was gripping while it lasted!

Final Thoughts: This was for sure a special community-style event and we could tell the actors really cared and tried very hard to help you enjoy your evening. The mazes were admittedly quite short, but they definitely took amazing advantage of the space allowed in each of the maze marquees. The biggest disappointment was the theming of the main event green area, which is the hub into and out of the mazes. There was a small entertainment space and a single food truck, but the lack of lighting and any decorations really let this area down. We didn’t really want to hang around and enjoy the ambience as there really wasn’t any – this was the biggest let down of the night, and just a few small touches, from decorating the ped-barriers to adding some strands of lights or even a sweet stand, would have changed everything. But all in all the mazes and actors made this a night we would suggest you give a try, especially if you are local to the area!

P.S.: The UK has haunts galore this Halloween season. Why not try out Hallowscream at York Maze for some more chills and thrills.

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , ,
07 Sep 2014

The Boy Who Climbed Out of His Face

shunt-artwork-Time-Out-528x334WHAT: The Boy Who Climbed Out of His Face
WHEN: 14 Aug-28 Sept, 2014
WHERE: The Jetty
(Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0FL)
RUNTIME: 45 mins.
WHO: Shunt
PRICE: £10
OUR RATING: Do It!

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.

images (10)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.

shuntAlicia: 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!

shunt4What 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!

shunt3Final 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.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
18 Jul 2014
1 Comment

Leviathan

WHAT: Leviathan
WHEN: 15th-26th July, 2014
WHERE: Hackney Downs Studios (17 Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT)
Screen Shot 2014-07-18 at 1.03.25 PMRUNTIME: 45 mins.
WHO: Living Structures
PRICE: £16-20

OUR RATING: Skip It!

[Warning: Contains Spoilers]

The hunt for the great white whale. Immersive Theatre-makers Living Structures specialise in  visual, physical and musical performances within large-scale immersive structures, this time attempting to take audiences on an artistic adventure through the high seas.

This time, Storefront City London invited our Visual Arts editor Éimear Doherty (check her bio below) along for the ride:

Screen Shot 2014-07-18 at 1.03.08 PM

Photo by Angela Alegria

Éimear: My first exposure to Moby Dick was the 1956 film starring Gregory Peck. I remember feeling perplexed and uneasy after the black and white classic…then again, I was only 7 years old, so I forgave myself for not quite picking up on the complexity of the tale and film. Last night, however, I felt a little bit of a failure. No matter how hard I tried, I was unable to completely immerse myself in the experience, too distracted by a litany of questions:

‘Am I supposed to understand what they are saying?’

‘Why are they pushing me?’

‘What am I supposed to do with this shot of salted water?’

‘What did she say?’

‘Is this theatre or performance art?

I enjoyed the musical element of the performance; the chanting and exercise-ball-percussion brought a dimension to the experience that I think many could enjoy.

Photo from Living Structures

Photo from Living Structures

But Living Structures is known for their ‘immersive performance events’, correct? The audience was ‘immersed’ in parts, but if I am being honest, on too many occasions, I felt coerced. At 9pm, after a balmy day in London, I had experienced my fair share of pushing and shoving for the day. Either this was a play exclusively for Living Structures’ followers, who understood how to ‘perform’ as an attendee, or it aimed to immerse the audience in a space above and beyond their comfort zone.

As someone who enjoys trying new things, I cannot help but shed a positive light on the experience. It certainly did challenge and provoke many a thought. But surely nothing should be that difficult to follow and enjoy. This time, Skip it.

Photo by Angela Alegria

Photo by Angela Alegria

Alicia: Despite being a regular immersive-theatre goer, I had a strikingly similar experience of the performance as did our guest reviewer. Walking into the performance space sent chills down my spine (despite feeling clammy and uncomfortable wearing a version of an oil-skin jacket) as a naked Ishmael swam his way on a downward slope, struggling for survival, struggling to tell his heart-wrenching story. And it was powerful, beautiful, sonically excellent. But then he opened his mouth and the entire show turned for the worse.

Photo by Angela Alegria

Photo by Angela Alegria

There are seeds of beauty – flutters of potential. The use of monochrome colours, geometric shapes and Russian Constructivism are mostly all stunning, the choreography sometimes masterful. And the music? In an entire different league, at least in terms of composition – spectacularly haunting. But these moments are few and far between. The show as a whole feels extremely unpolished and the relationship with the audience completely unclear. It needs tightening here, expanding there, focus everywhere. Not just gimmicks of “Why not make the audience stand up and then push them to the side so they don’t know where you want them?” or “Let’s just put another sheet on top of their heads to play with space and height.” Many theatre makers adopt these types of tools, but never has it been so painfully obvious and obviously misused.

Screen Shot 2014-07-18 at 1.03.50 PMI commend Living Structures for the graphic and sonal beauty of rare poetically beautiful moments. But the piece overall is just confusing, rushed, and poorly tied together. Words are eaten by the very devices that are meant to project them, water cools and drizzles on the audience when it should spark and ignite their imagination, giant whales are flacid and lifeless when they should be terrifyingly dangerous, the ship sails calm seas when it should be tossed, turned and whipped around by perilous storms and a deadly beast, and large props are dragged here and there leaving one to question – what was it all for?

Screen Shot 2014-07-18 at 1.02.37 PMFinal Thoughts: While admirably composed and a good effort made, Leviathan simply doesn’t live up to the grandeur required of it. However, we hope to see what the future brings for this inspired company.

P.S. Éimear Doherty Bio:

Éimear is in the final stages of her MA in Arts Policy and Management at Birkbeck University, a project she juggles alongside a number of other projects and passions. Since moving permanently to London in the autumn of 2013, she has endeavoured to attend as much theatre as her time and pocket permits; striving to catch up after years of being immersed in the world of visual arts and art history. When not in the library or kitchen, Éimear can be found on her bike or eyeing up the city’s latest art exhibitions.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
05 Jul 2014

Macbeth

macbeth2WHAT: Macbeth
WHEN: 7:40pm-9:30am June – August, 2014 (select dates)
WHERE: Secret Zone 2 Location
RUNTIME: Approx. 14 hours
WHO: RIFT
PRICE:£20-40

OUR RATING: Do It!

(Warning, contains some spoilers)

A great Eastern European Banquet. Blood. Murder. The infamous Scottish play comes to life in a secret Zone 2 location. Billed as an immersive theatre piece, the performance takes place from dusk ‘til dawn, RIFT (formerly known as Retz) invites audiences to enter the rift and be transported to spend the night in a murderous building undergoing a series of intense political, emotional and moral conflicts.

macbeth1

Adam: Entering into the world of RIFT’s Macbeth is a hauntingly beautiful, spine-tingling and an (occasionally nervous) laughter-filled adventure. Begin by being whisked into a dark, dangerous void only to emerge into a dimly lit realm of intrigue and vice. The set, real rooms in a undisclosed building, is immense and meticulously dressed, while the acting convincing and consistent. Enter suites aptly named “Fife”, “Edinburgh” and so on, each holding a special scene just for you.

Credit RIFT

Credit RIFT

Different to most immersive events, narrative is no lost in scenic design as with recent Punchdrunk shows and is central to your experience. Don’t worry, you won’t miss anything as you are well looked-after (just watch out for the occasional blood-spatter). Interspersed with the action, you’ll have ample opportunities to mingle with fellow guests over many delicious beverages, but make sure you change enough money at the checkpoint on the way in.

My only minor concern (or should I call it confusion) was the choice to base the play in a stereotypical Eastern European/Balkan country called Borduria (which I believe is derived from the Tintin comics) rather than in pure Scotland. I partly find this an unfortunate decision, as Scotland was referred to by cast members often, even when not part of the original play. I feel that perhaps the organisers were subconsciously influenced by the 2007 version of Macbeth at the Chichester Festival Theatre, which was heavily based upon Stalinist Russia. Nevertheless, commitment to accents and characters was brilliant and not to be missed.

Credit RIFT

Credit RIFT

Alicia: What truly made this performance unique for me as a regular theatre (and immersive theatre)-goer was the element of personal engagement allowed for and nourished during the production. We were taken along with five other individuals into the first scene, and these were the five individuals we spent the rest of the night with, led by a group guide Natasha, who’s wit and delivery of comic responses to certain situations was absolutely classic! Natasha and the nurturing of the group dynamic created a little family of adventurers (many of us accidental illegal immigrants to the country of Borduria). Encompassing a broad range of unexpected genres – from moments of comedy to the clear dark tones of this tragedy – RIFT transported our entire group through an intimate, chaotic and tension filled epic.

The meal was also quite unexpected. I won’t go into the specifics and ruin the surprise, but RIFT definitely provided a sumptuous feast – and even if you are the most outrageous carnivore I bet you you’ll enjoy the bounteous vegetarian supper! This meal was yet another opportunity to engage with other audience members and the cast, who never once slipped from their characters despite sporting Eastern European accents for countless hours.

Credit RIFT

Credit RIFT

I must caution ye all, potential audiences of Macbeth, that this adventure is not without its dangers. I’m not quite sure it passes all of the safety requirements of a large-scale production, and I can feel my foot still throbbing from a raised doorstep and no cautions to watch my step. And if you don’t like stairs, this probably isn’t the production for you either. Nonetheless, I must say I think the level of attention put into such things was mostly acceptable, and I applaud their conversion of the site into their own unique realm without worrying about unnecessary bells and whistles some companies spend a fortune on.

macbeth5Final Thoughts: We say do it – but don’t get your hopes up too much about immersion lasting from dusk to dawn. The overnight aspect of the performance is not much more than a gimmick, with the performance lasting until 1am or so and with the only morning wrap up being a bit of food, a few minutes of acting and a forced prompt to survey the view from the roof. And make sure you are up for a late night when you opt-in to this, or if you really are tired when the acting ends and the night’s celebration begins, make sure you are proactive about telling the attendants you want to go to sleep – they don’t really make this option clear when the night starts to wind down.

Despite these pitfalls, you really do get your bang for your buck with this production, with hours of personal and engaging performance paired with a delicious feast and the opportunity to share a unique experience with those around you, and the supporting cast of guides and the amazing Alexander Luttley really do make you feel like you exist and matter in this new world. Just watch out about the first impressions you give off – nicknames will stick like glue!

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , , ,
03 May 2014

Venice Preserv’d

VenicePreservdWHAT: Venice Preserv’d
WHEN: April 24th – 8th June, 2014
WHERE: Paynes & Borthwick (SE8 3JF)
RUNTIME: Approx. 215 min
WHO: The Spectators’ Guild
PRICE: £10-45

OUR RATING: Do It!

Encounter the brilliance of Italian piazzas and the wonder of celebration in San Marco Square as The Spectators’ Guild’s carnival parade leads you through the streets of maritime Greenwich to Paynes & Borthwick Wharf – a bustling Venetian metropolis. Welcome to The Most Serene Republic and the site for Thomas Otway’s tale of corruption, friendship and love.

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

Adam: As masked revelers flit past me, exchanging tales of what is to come excitedly while waving the flag bearing the Lion of St. Mark, one is immediately plunged into the vivacious and watery carnival atmosphere. Moving between elaborate sets, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing and always experiencing, the audience is captivated by Charlotte Westenra’s immaculate presentation of this classic tale.

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

For a 17th century Restorationist play, Venice Preserv’d explores the extremely current topics of mega-wealth, the corrupt elite and whether violence is a solution to a nation’s ills. Indeed, Venice is often used as an apt parallel for London, and while Otway was merely hinting at such analogies, The Spectators’ Guild is explicit (after all, the site for the production is an under-construction series of pluto-flats).

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

The torn Jaffeir (Ashley Zhangazha) must choose between committing an act of mass murder (terrorism? freedom fighting?) against the Senate of Venice at the bidding of his friend Pierre (Ferdinand Kingsley), or spare them at the urging of his wife Belvedera (Jessie Buckley), whose father just happens to be a senator himself – Priuli (Emilio Doorgasingh – whom you may remember from the latest season of Game of Thrones). Powerfully delivered lines immerse you in the world of greed tempered by honour – thrillingly brilliant!

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

The City of Bridges is brought even closer by the carefully curated elements that let you know The Spectators’ Guild is one to watch. Pounds are exchanged for authentically reproduced ducats (at least to this partially trained eye), while delicious Italian wine flows freely into magnificent goblets. The only drawback to the fare on offer was the food, but when you consider the spectacular and heartfelt effort put into the rest of the work this slight oversight seems of little importance.

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

Alicia: At the start of the performance I was a little wary, with the gathering point and the long promenade through the streets of Greenwich a little more slight than I expected. Yet, it is worth noting the level of interaction mandated by such an extensive parade route, and it was ultimately enticing to see the integration of a Venetian world into the threads of the local area, from gondolas gliding through Deptford’s waters to a pedal-powered Popemobile navigating the pedestrian walkways. It was always lovely to see such spontaneous interaction between the performers and any locals we encountered, and the actors were not afraid to change things up a little and think on their feet.

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

Yet, the entire endeavour would have been brought to the next level if the audience had been pushed more to come in costume. I was over-the-moon to see that the company suggests more affordable options at costuming, mirroring the economically accessible ticket prices (such a world of difference from Punchdrunk and Secret Cinema), and it was finally great to see a company like this collaborate with costume and transportation companies to facilitate the audience experience. Yet, no one really dressed up at all, making the experience a little weaker than it otherwise could have been.

SGvenicepres2014JP-05267All of this aside, the night just kept getting better and better, with great set integration into the venue by Helen Scarlett O’Neill with a lovely mix of Venetian luxury, industrial simplicity and awe-inspiring installations. This paired with moving performances from both Buckley and Zhangazha, this show is definitely an amazing collaboration between classic stagecraft and site responsive event theatre.

Credit Johan Persson

Credit Johan Persson

Final Thoughts: Be sure to check out the company’s videos on making ruffs, headdresses and capes from anything from bin bags to plastic to complement your journey to the Venetian canals. Ultimately, Venice Preserv’d is an electrifying and rebellious piece of site specific theatre interspersed with elements from the commedia dell’arte and infused with spectacular showmanship.

P.S.: If you’d like to take a look over the script, here’s a great edition to pick up: Venice Preserv’d

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

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