Some people like the comfort of familiarity but familiarity is not something that I am familiar with! My life has always taken twists and turns that I've not expected and maybe that is why I love all things random, and it is that randomness that makes me feel settled and secure.
Having heard about The Drowned Man in April courtesy of Time Out (my bible for all things quirky and different) I keenly booked tickets for the end of July a couple of weeks after it opens even though there is barely any information about what I was actually signing up for. It is being run in conjunction with the National Theatre and having seen ‘War Horse’ and ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ that are currently running in the West End (and both utterly amazing) I trusted that it was going to be up to their usual standard. I love a bargain and am always on the hunt for a discount but I actually paid full price for a couple of tickets for this... and they weren't cheap so that goes to show how much it had peaked my interest!
Vague hints as to what it was all about got emailed to me over the next few months and about three weeks ago the exact location was announced... "A vast building next door to Paddington Station has been transformed into the forgotten world of Temple Studios, London’s legendary film powerhouse, making this promenade production their biggest to date." Oooh exciting!
A few days before the event I received another email stating the following..."The experience is a personal journey and you may find yourself separated from your group. There will be areas of darkness and confined space. Haze and strobe effects are used in this production. Audiences will wear a mask for the duration of the performance." Having read that I was feeling more nervous than excited... I hesitantly message my friend who is coming with me to let her know and rather than pulling out and running for safety she just replies with “Why?” which I answered with “Because it says so” followed by a smiley face that was sure to get her back feeling positive about it all… surely!
So the day arrives and I’m really not sure what I have signed myself up for. We enter a massive building right next to Paddington Station (I was a little relieved that I’d not printed directions as I would have looked a right idiot getting a map out in order to cross a road to the studio door). We give in our bags and receive a note that describes two stories – one of a man cheating and getting killed and the other of the woman cheating and getting killed. We are then given our masks which are eerie looking and hide all your features so no expressions can be given away.
We are given an introduction in a lift by a very glamorous lady… told to explore but to keep silent throughout… the lift stopped and a few of us were kicked and the doors were closed before our eyes could adjust to the darkness. With no other option we set off to explore our surroundings. It was dark and spooky... doors get slammed behind you and you get locked in and out of areas... leaving you feeling lost and confused… You can quickly lose the people you are with and to go on your own individual journey is encouraged. There are staff hiding in corners to make sure everyone is okay but when you spot one lurking in the shadows they just make you more freaked out. I absolutely loved it!
It is set over 4 floors and the attention to detail in some of the rooms is fantastic, you even get to go ‘outside’ whilst still being inside. As you wonder you come across actors who you can sit next to or watch from afar and once they have completed their scenes they walk off and you can follow whoever you want... There were beautiful dancing and intensive arguing scenes as you’d expect from National Theatre acting and you find yourself being drawn closer to the actors and leaning over their shoulders to read notes and work out the clues that add to the story. It is like the actors can’t see that you are there as they carry on and push through you if you are in the way – I guess it is like being a ghost – not an experience that I am familiar with! I loved being immersed in it although I thought it would be a step too far to join a clown in eating a chocolate cake that smelt great. A couple of actors ended up getting naked but at a safe distance so that was a relief! As it comes to the end of the play more doors get locked and you somehow end up all gathering in the same place with all of the actors completing the final scenes. I found myself being gripped tightly by an actor during the final climax and as the applause started he pulled me up and we ran off together… he took me into a boudoir where he got really close to me took my mask off, went to kiss me but turned last minute to whisper in my ear “you're something special” before running off leaving me alone and having to navigate a load of dark tunnels to get out to the bar and find my friend and have a stiff drink! Awesome and possibly the most random thing I've ever done... well until next weeks adventure anyway… Silencio - a silent disco circus cabaret!
For more info on The Drowned Man check out: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-drowned-man-a-hollywood-fable
