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Fast Company
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Inside the making of Punchdrunk's new immersive ‘gothic fairytale'
'Shhhh,' Helena Bonham Carter is whispering in my ear. 'Let me tell you a story, from long, long ago.' I am lying on a mattress in a wallpapered bedroom that seems plucked from the 1990s. There are Keith Haring drawings, Tori Amos posters, and a shelf-full of teddy bears. Bonham Carter's voice, coming in through a headset, is talking about a princess named Viola. Her voice—spectral, beguiling—is about to guide me through a dizzying dreamscape of mazes and dark corridors, and it's all part of a spectacular new show by Punchdrunk. Until now, the British theater company has been known for its highly immersive productions like Sleep No More and The Burnt City. A Punchdrunk performance typically encourages spectators to roam freely and interact with masked actors who might whisk you into a cupboard or slip a note into your hand. But Viola's Room, staged inside The Shed in New York City, marks a departure from this model: There is only one prescribed path. And instead of interacting with masked actors, you are the actor. 'What Punchdrunk is all about is a physical activation of the body. It's about putting the audience at the center,' Punchdrunk's founder, Felix Barrett, told me. 'If you're stood up, and you are having to make decisions, or you're having to deal with a perceived threat, suddenly the flood of adrenaline sends all your blood to your skin.' 'Follow the light' Viola's Room was adapted from a 1901 gothic mystery story by the English horror writer Barry Pain. The Punchdrunk version was written by Booker Prize short-listed author Daisy Johnson, and it follows the story of Princess Viola, who leaves the safety of her home and ventures into a shadowy dream world where her sense of self begins to dissolve. Of all the stories Punchdrunk has crafted, this one is Barrett's favorite. 'There's something about it, where the atmosphere is so thick, and it's because it's so controlled,' he says. Barrett staged an early version of Viola's Room back in 2000. Then called The Moon Slave, it took place inside a 13-acre walled garden, where spectators were guided by staff holding burning torches. When the team revived the show (it first ran in London in 2024), they had to rethink how to replicate the concept indoors. Barrett wanted something ephemeral, 'like the ghost of Helena taking you by the hand,' he says, and he eventually landed on fiber-optic lights the size of a grain of barley. (Standard LEDs were too bright.) Spectators are now guided through the space by a synchronized mix of Bonham Carter's voice and more than 1,500 individual light fixtures concealed inside woolly gray clusters designed to resemble tiny, stormy clouds. Every light is an invitation to move forward through the sinuous set: If a lamp lights up, you walk toward it. If it doesn't, you stay put. At times, I found myself in complete darkness, without so much as an exit sign lurking in a corner. Barrett says enough visitors in London got spooked that they decided to assure people at The Shed that there are no jump scares. To further amp the senses, visitors are invited to experience the show barefoot, and every room is bathed in a custom scent. 'When you're light-deprived, all other senses kick in,' says Alex Poots, the artistic director and CEO of The Shed. These moments of pitch black called for special permission from local authorities, as total darkness goes against U.S. fire codes. Poots says Viola's Room is one of a few shows in America that's gotten permission to go complete black, and he notes that a team backstage monitors spectators via a bevy of infrared cameras and can intervene within a minute of a fire alarm sounding. A fairytale in Manhattan Viola's Room is an intimate affair designed for a maximum of six people. (People with wheelchairs can book private visits to experience the show, which is fully ADA accessible.) I visited on a clammy Tuesday evening. Outside, Manhattan was gearing up for happy hour. People were sipping Aperol spritzes, and tourists were traipsing up and down the High Line. Inside, I felt like I'd stepped into a fairytale gone wrong. The set design, by Barrett and Casey Jay Andrews, contributed to the realism. Barrett started by drawing the 'shape of the show' on a piece of paper—a line, a square, a line, a square—before adding layers of texture, a bit like a painting. To visualize the whole thing, he then worked with a team of model makers who spent months making copies of each room, then lighting them from within. For Viola's teenage bedroom, Barrett drew inspiration from his younger brother's bedroom and stuffed it with '90s ephemera he sourced from vintage shops and markets around London. Elsewhere, corridors narrowed under flickering lights. Closets opened into secret rooms. A miniature tree encased in jelly later came back as a giant tree towering over an entire room. With nowhere else to go but straight, the experience doesn't allow for any meandering, but the curious mind will be rewarded with 'treats' or easter eggs the team peppered throughout the show. (The jelly-encased tree is one of them). 'I'm a real believer that as long as one person finds it, it's absolutely valid,' Barrett says. 'In fact, if one person finds something that no one else does, then it's their gift. It's their discovery.' The show is on view through October 19.
Gizmodo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The Phantom of the Opera Has a Lot of Demands for His Immersive Masquerade
The mystery of Masquerade, The Phantom of the Opera immersive Broadway experience, begins to unfold as tickets for the initial run announcement have sold out. Don't worry, Andrew Lloyd Webber 'phans,' on July 9 there will be a new drop of tickets for an extension going into October of this year. Perfect for spooky season monster haunt lovers, dare we say? Hey, dark musical fans and immersive haunt goers have a very real overlap! With the release of the Opera Ghost's first batch of show dates, there has been a lot of speculation about what the show will entail. The uncertainty of whether or not it would be a musical was assuaged when Phantom favorites, including long-standing Erik the Opera Ghost Hugh Panaro, were announced as part of the leading cast. Panaro's tenure as the Phantom, whose iconic take was based off silent-movie era star Rudolph Valentino, is in the thousands of performances—so this is really exciting because you don't get Hugh unless he is singing. And of course there was the announcement of the show's director, Tony Award winner Diane Paulus, with Andrew Lloyd Webber's involvement. View this post on Instagram Other members of the massive ensemble of around 40 includes noted Phantom veteran Maree Johnson, who recently played Mme. Giry, and Cats: Jellicle Ball immersive actress Baby Byrne of Internet TTRPG Game Master circles. The rest of Masquerade's ensemble features a medley of past Phantom actors and rising Broadway musical actors, but it's not been announced who is portraying which role. The mystery of who is who is a little odd, and it feels as if keeping the roles under wraps might be a part of the intrigue. The reasoning for such a stacked cast is likely due in part to a pulsed performance schedule, which is a common feature in immersive theater. In this format, guests go from room to room as the story unfolds. So you may be following one cast as the next slot of guests behind you gets another roster of actors playing the characters. Tickets start at $195 but increase in price based on times and day of the week. A number of fans who will be attending reported on Reddit that their tickets cost around $211-$241.50, including fees. Additionally, yes, the Opera Ghost has some demands for his guests. Hey, he's the most dramatique of the literary monsters, so we'll allow it. Some of the rules for attending Masquerade include a strict dress code. 'Black, white, or silver only. Formal or cocktail attire is required' and 'stilettos are forbidden.' The use of a masquerade-style mask is also required, and while it's recommended you bring one of your own, they will offer complimentary ones you can wear for the duration of the show, or you can opt to buy a special Masquerade exclusive one. The other big rule is if you're late, you're out of luck, and the Phantom will shut the doors of his party on you (at least he won't have the chance to lasso you!). As rumors continue to swirl as to what will be a part of the multi-level experience, there has been speculation that the show, which we now can safely assume will have musical elements, might either stage the entire production or a selection of the most iconic moments in immersive settings. There are even some Broadway commentators who have alleged that once inside, there might be tiers to add on to unlock rooms. It's not uncommon for immersive experiences to have special moments hidden away for an unexpected element of surprise that some might get to experience, but an add-on cost would be an unfortunate paywall considering the barriers to entry already in place. io9 has reached out for more details on pricing and experience scope within the show's run-time. That said, if there's a room that teases music and events from the Phantom sequel Love Never Dies between the Phantom and Christine, that would be so wild. With the level of secrecy and obfuscation meted against how far hardcore Phantom of the Opera fans are clamoring for the show's return in any format after its 2023 closure on Broadway, it's all a bit disconcerting. Those of us who experienced Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser know firsthand that just the IP brand isn't always enough to deem an experience worth it. So it's a huge gamble on their part to follow suit in that regard in the name of immersion. Sure, Masquerade is currently sold out with its first extension ticket drop scheduled for July 9 if you sign up for the Opera Ghost's ledger, but we'll be interested to find out in the long run if the spectacle will meet the mystique built around it. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
A Wild New Take on ‘Phantom of the Opera' Is Coming, and No One Has Any Idea What It Is
For the past few months, Phans (The Phantom of the Opera fans) have been following mysterious messages and clue drops around New York City for something called Masquerade. Talk online abounded about the roses left in Times Square or the red envelope letters signed by 'the Opera Ghost' for the faithful, as a viral campaign teased that something was coming in the realm of immersive theater. As a big Phan and immersive theater nerd, I've waited from the far wings on the West Coast with major FOMO for more news. And finally, we know who the minds are behind the teased project based on Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. huge @Masquerade update um i have a mirror now?? #theatre #theatretiktok #theatretok #phantomoftheopera #masqueradenyc #thephantomoftheopera #andrewlloydwebber #immersivephantom ♬ original sound – selena Masquerade has officially been confirmed as a spin-off immersive experience inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera by Deadline. The trade named Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Real Women Have Curves) as director, with Webber on board as a producer. It has not yet been revealed if the immersive production will include musical performances or be an atmospheric walk-through much like NYC's late great Sleep No More. The Phantom himself shared a statement through Deadline: 'I have secured an address on 57th Street, a more salubrious part of town than my previous, where I have instructed the director Diane Paulus to prepare my new vision of the legend,' it read. 'I have observed that she has considerable credentials in the fields of opera and musical theater. Under my guidance she has created, along with my minion Lloyd Webber, an event like no other with my characters played by performers of exceptional ability.' Fellow Phans can RSVP for more news on the official site. Masquerade is slated to have a six-week preview run, with tickets going on sale Monday, June 30, for the show. The engagement dates have yet to be announced. Described as a production that's 'to be located on multiple floors' by Deadline, the experience 'is designed to simulate a masked ball with attendees moving from room to room and floor to floor.' If some of what TikTok has sleuthed is true, we may be walking through key moments from the musical's book. The possibilities are making my imagination run wild—there's the cemetery, the Phantom's lair, and, of course, the masquerade. We at least know the masquerade is the centerpiece of the production, as instructions mention a strict dress code including masks. On the official site you can also see pertinent details from 'O.G.,' who we can just say is a fabulous party planner with a flair for the dramatic. '1) Masquerade is a 21+ event. However, during the six-week preview period, Saturday and Sunday Matinees will be 16+ 2) The dress code is for the six-week preview period 3) Masks WILL be provided to guests free of charge if they arrive without one. The complimentary masks are designed to be worn under glasses if you require them. Limited edition couture masks will be available for purchase as well. 4) Guests can choose either the glass of champagne OR a non-alcoholic sparkling option on arrival 5) The experience is ADA-accessible' The details of having a mask on and it mostly being a 21+ production are definitely reminiscent of Sleep No More's hallmarks. So this might be Phantom in a way we've never seen. As a Universal Monsters fan, the possibility of horror tonally being involved pleases me. A celebration of his return, homaging his whole legacy, would be a dream. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find out how to secure seats in Box Number 5. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
New York Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
My Spooky Sleepover With Helena Bonham Carter
Felix Barrett, the artistic director of Punchdrunk, a premier experimental theater company, has often been asked to name his favorite show. This is a lot like asking a parent to choose a favorite child. But Barrett has always had a ready answer: 'Viola's Room.' Didn't see 'Viola's Room'? You are in good and ample company. In the fall of 2000, Barrett, a recent college graduate, staged a version of 'Viola's Room,' then called 'The Moon Slave,' at various locations around Exeter, England. Audience members arrived, one by one, at an otherwise empty theater and were then whisked away to a 13-acre overgrown walled garden. The journey culminated with 200 scarecrows and a marine flare that required clearance from the coast guard. The show ran for one night and could accommodate only four spectators. 'It was the most beautiful, intimate Fabergé egg of a show,' Barrett said, on a video call from Shanghai. He has always longed to revisit it. Now he has. A reconceived 'Viola's Room' began performances on Tuesday at the Shed. The acreage is smaller, there are no scarecrows. But for a company that has become synonymous with large-scale masked extravaganzas ('Sleep No More,' which ended a 14-year Manhattan run in January, was the most celebrated), making a hushed, actorless work for just a handful of audience members to experience at any one time is an audacious choice. Like the early mask shows, it announces and refines a new form of immersive theater. 'It's all about trying to do things that our audiences aren't expecting,' Barrett said. 'Push the form, pull the rug, find further ways to seduce and lose audiences in these fever dreams.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Immersive theater and dance production thrills audiences at Point Park's Playhouse
A unique, immersive theater and dance production at Point Park University combines STEM and art, focusing on the elements of fire, air, water and earth, and it's probably unlike any performance you've ever attended. "Ascend" is a family-friendly production choreographed and directed by Keisha Lalama, managing and artistic director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park. She says she wanted the show to feel youthful, which is why her sons, who are in their 20s, helped write it. In the theater space at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Downtown Pittsburgh, the dancers perform around and among the audience, who is in the center. "It's immersive but not invasive. I'm one of those people who doesn't want someone in my face. This is one of those experiences where you can participate or kind of sit back and observe," Lalama said. The show has a corresponding educational component that many schools and youth community groups participated in before attending the show, including science experiments involving the different elements. A field trip of high school students from Upper Saint Clair were inspired to move and dance with the performers. "I'm still riding the high from it. That was awesome," junior Logan Campbell said. "I'm a dancer, and it connected a lot of stuff for me. I loved it," said freshman Adriana Daniele. "That was one of the coolest shows I've ever been to. I'm a theater nerd, and getting to do an interactive show was amazing," sophomore Cameron Calabrese said. "Ascend" is family friendly and there is seating available for those who need it. The show is open to the public and runs through May 16. And for more things to do with kids and families, check out KDKA is proud to partner with
