Chronic Insanity to debut immersive Trojan war production 'Apple of Discord' in Nottingham this March

Photo: Pexels

A legendary story from the mythical world of Ancient Greece is being brought to life at an unusual venue in Nottingham next month. Apple of Discord is the latest immersive production from the pioneering and critically-acclaimed theatre company Chronic Insanity, who are based in the city.

Artistic Director Joe Strickland aims to provide an experience that rivals the production values of London-based immersive shows from companies like Punchdrunk, but with affordable ticket prices and with local performers at the heart of the magic.

Chronic Insanity is an award-winning theatre company and has been staging work in Nottingham since 2019, with a diverse portfolio that includes immersive theatre, hybridised digital and live performance art, a streaming platform for Fringe theatre, and more.

They regularly take radical new writing to Edinburgh, tour nationally, and most recently have released a storytelling card game based on one of their most successful shows. Their 7-year track record has seen them produce innovative immersive experiences on a variety of scales, and they've previously worked with industry giants such as the BBC, BFI, and Nottingham Playhouse.

Apple of Discord will take place in the Grade II-listed People’s Hall in the heart of Nottingham City Centre. This stunningly preserved, 18th-century townhouse has three floors, with an ornate central staircase, cellars and subterranean caves. The site has had many uses over the years, including a working men’s club, a textile

training school, and a meeting place for the fraternal lodge - ‘The Antediluvian Order of the Buffalo’. Rich in history and dripping with character, it is an ideal location for an interactive production.

Photo: Rachael Halaburda

This new and dramatic experience depicting the Trojan War will take place over multiple rooms in the building, with a cabaret in the main hall, static exhibitions in other rooms, and live immersive and interactive performances to transport audiences along the way.

Visitors can grab a drink, enjoy cabaret performances and watch scenes and stories unfold around them, or they can tackle quests and solve puzzles themselves, and even talk to the Ancient Greek characters. They will also be free to move between different levels of engagement at their own pace and tailor their own experience of the legendary story of Troy.

Speaking on Apple of Discord, Joe Strickland says:

For the audience, it’s not about seeing all of it necessarily. The point is to immerse yourself in a new world, and know that around every corner there’s going to be something interesting to do, to see, and take part in if you’d like to.

Strickland has intentionally pitched Apple of Discord as an accessible and affordable alternative to the usually expensive world of immersive theatre. The industry has a reputation for eye-watering ticket prices, not to mention the additional costs of travel, food and accommodation for anyone outside London.

By comparison, Apple of Discord will offer 3-hour tickets for £30 and 2-hour tickets for £20. With cheaper travel costs for people living close to Nottingham, and the wealth of food options in the city centre, the experience will be much more affordable than events in the capital. Strickland says:

We are trying to create something that is often inaccessible financially and geographically to people in the East Midlands. Our mission is to widen participation in this exciting form of theatre. The people of this area deserve to experience this wonderful art form. There’s no question that ‘Apple of Discord’ will be the ‘must-see’ show in Nottingham this Spring.

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Apple of Discord runs at The People's Hall in Nottingham from 30th March to 5th April 2026. Tickets are priced at £30.00 for the three-hour experience and £20.00 for the reduced two-hour experience. To find out more and book tickets, visit universe.com