A new immersive projection show at King's Cross' Lightroom will bring Aardman characters to life as never before Photo: Justin Sutcliffe In a landmark cultural moment for 2026, London’s Lightroom have today announced Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More will open at their King's Cross site this October. This brand-new 360° immersive experience marks the 50th anniversary of the four-time Oscar-winning Aardman studio, inviting audiences to step directly into the anarchic, joyful worlds of the likes of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. Combining Aardman’s iconic cinematic moments with never-before-seen archival content and bespoke new animation for Lightroom, the experience reveals how a simple spark of childhood wonder can become a global phenomenon. Utilising state-of-the-art projection across Lightroom's four 11-metre tall walls and the floor, the production tells the story of how Aardman’s legendary films and characters are built, one tiny, hand-crafted move at a time. The 50-minute looping show is a masterclass in storytelling at scale, a journey into the Aardman world and the spectacular creativity, infectious humour and meticulous craftsmanship of the creators behind the scenes. Photo: Justin Sutcliffe Aardman’s Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Creature Comforts, said: It’s a thrill to see Aardman’s worlds leap off the screen and into this spectacular immersive experience. From the very first sketches of Wallace & Gromit to the mischievous mayhem of Shaun the Sheep, these stories have always been about heart, hand-crafted detail, and a bit of a laugh. Now, fans can step inside Wallace’s invention shed or join Shaun and the Flock in a way that truly captures the tactile spirit of Aardman. It’s a wonderful new chapter for these characters, blending our stop-motion heritage with cutting-edge magic to bring everyone right into the centre of the action. From the kitchen table where school friends Peter Lord and David Sproxton first experimented, to the high-octane train chase in Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, visitors are transported from the ‘scrap-paper pitch’ to the finished masterpiece. The experience offers a rare, awe-inspiring look behind the scenes, showcasing everything from towering sets and tiny props to the laser-focused calm of the animation unit, celebrating the tactile spirit that has defined British animation for half a century. Aardman co-founder Peter Lord said: The magic of what we do at Aardman is not about making things move, it’s about making them live; and this immersive journey at Lightroom is a brilliant celebration of the art and craft and – yes – the pure magic of animation. It’s incredibly moving to see audiences experience our characters in new and innovative ways, honouring decades of storytelling while pushing the boundaries of how these tales can be told. Photo: Justin Sutcliffe Aardman co-founder David Sproxton said: I’m very excited by this partnership with Lightroom, an innovative and truly immersive experience, where visitors will be able to experience what it’s like to be inside the Aardman studio, with everything that entails - sets, puppet characters, cameras, lights and, of course, an animator at work. There will also be a veritable galaxy of material from the Aardman archives, much of which will never have been seen in public before. The show will be a wonderful treasure trove of delights. Photo: Justin Sutcliffe Lightroom executive producer David Sabel said: I’ve been a life-long lover of Aardman’s work and they were one of the first ideas we wanted to pursue for Lightroom. Visiting their studios in Bristol is an amazing experience - you pull back the curtain, look into an animator’s unit and feel yourself shrink as your focus and imagination melt into the miniature world before your eyes. At Lightroom, we hope to give audiences this feeling - writ large - as you both join the characters in their environments and step back to discover how it all comes together and who’s pulling the strings. Image: Lightroom/Aardman Made in close collaboration with the Aardman production team, the show is written and designed by 59, a Journey studio, and directed by 59’s Nicol Scott. Larger Than Life builds on Lightroom’s growing repertoire of critically acclaimed shows that have now been seen by over 1.6 million visitors globally. Larger Than Life opens at Lightroom in King's Cross on 14th October 2026. Tickets are priced from £25 for adults and £15 for children and students, with an additional 15% discount available to families. For more information and to book tickets, visit lightroom.uk

Studio Zweklos is a London-based performance studio working between immersive theatre, comedy, live art and nightlife culture. The collective was co-founded by performer and producer Theodora van der Beek, whose six solo shows have toured internationally, alongside immersive experience-maker Nathan Ess and producer/curator Morgan Brame. Van der Beek’s work spans live performance and film, often exploring power, identity and the absurd mechanics of systems through mischievous, lo-fi theatrical worlds. Last month, her latest solo show, Mr Creep, was part of Soho Theatre's Soho Rising Festival 2026, and her 2021 theatrical film, Ram of God, was described as "deliciously daft" by The Guardian. Van der Beek first met Ess while working on the production team of You Me Bum Bum Train, where the foundations for Studio Zweklos were formed. Ess runs the creative studio Muddled Marauders (Vegetables), and Brame is known for Uncle Barry’s Birthday Party and also curates the club night Lowerhouse. Together, their backgrounds span participatory theatre, large-scale immersive production and underground party culture - a crossover that informs Studio Zweklos’ approach to live, system-driven experiences. Later this month, they'll launch their first experience, HMR-SEE, which sees them take over Bethnal Green Working Men's for an evening that begins with immersive performance and installations before descending into a cabaret and office party, all presented under the guise of a brand activation for a government body. Ahead of HMR-SEE's opening, we caught up with Studio Zweklos' Theodora van der Beek to learn more about the fictional history of the trailblazing creative agency. Immersive Rumours: Hi Theodora, thanks for speaking with us today. You're currently over in Los Angeles with Studio Zweklos - what brings you to the States? Theodora van der Beek: I’m working on an activation concept that needed a US lens. America has always been at the forefront of commerce, culture, and, whether you love him or hate him, the president wrote The Art of the Deal. It made sense to come here, immerse myself at the epicentre of capitalism, and see what Studio Zweklos can absorb, adapt, and take forward. Photo: Studio Zweklos Immersive Rumours: For those who are unfamiliar with the agency, can you tell us the story behind Studio Zweklos? Theodora van der Beek: I’d spent most of my career moving between different spheres, across marketing, design and comms, as well as festivals and travelling after hours. Over time, I grew disillusioned by the mundane briefs landing every Monday, tired of pretending that this was what the world needed, with a barely believable smile plastered across my face. I felt like Edward Norton in Fight Club before he leaves his corporate job. I longed for my own Fight Club. Not literally, but CONCEPTUALLY. I needed something to give. A chance meeting with self-styled 'Girl Boss' Ariana Aragon sealed the deal. We conceived of Zweklos - a world where brands meet chaos, and SURVIVE it. Our first activation was thrown together on a wing and a prayer. We brought a wild mix of people together, and watched them collide, improvise, and realise the magic of brand activation. That collision, that energy, became our signature: taking institutions designed for compliance and turning them into experiences designed for connection. Immersive Rumours: How do you and Studio Zweklos define brand activations in 2026? Theodora van der Beek: It’s where strategy surrenders to human experience with unexpected consequences. It’s less about campaigns and more about creating moments that matter - a Choose Your Own Adventure. When you come out the other side, all you want to do is go back and read it again and choose a completely different adventure, and you can. Because that's what Choose Your Own Adventure is. That’s what Zweklos is. Immersive Rumours: And what makes your approach different from other creative agencies? Theodora van der Beek: We change lives. Photo: Studio Zweklos Immersive Rumours: Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you turn a brief into an experience? Theodora van der Beek: We treat every brief like a system that wants to be broken. First, we pull it apart: language, assumptions, unspoken rules. Then we ask what happens if we turn them inside out. Usually, that’s the moment the client wants to leave. But we don’t let them. And needless to say, we’ve never had to give a refund. Immersive Rumours: What’s the most surreal moment you’ve seen during an activation? Theodora van der Beek: It has to be Bath Taxidermy’sThe Stuffed Experience - part of a collaboration with a local pest control business we can’t name for legal reasons. We worked closely with Jeremy Strong, who’d always focused on animals people traditionally find lovable, and challenged him to imagine a different future - one where one person’s pest becomes another person’s treasure. Watching a usually suited, office-based board of executives running around trying to catch rats was genuinely the most out-there thing I could have imagined. I never thought my life would turn out like this. But then again... just another day in the office! Photo: Studio Zweklos Immersive Rumours: Have there been any activations that didn’t go as planned? Theodora van der Beek: One moment that really tested that balance was our activation for the Coal Authority. We transformed their entire office into a mine-themed immersive environment - low lighting, industrial props, interactive displays - and gradually led participants down a series of expanding rabbit holes. By the time we reached something closer to Alice in Wonderland meets Snow White, people had completely suspended reality. That’s when we introduced the idea that a handful of guests could uncover diamonds and take them home. What we didn’t anticipate was how fully people would commit to the fiction. The play didn’t end when it was supposed to - participants forgot who they were and that they were meant to leave. The night kept going, the rules started mutating, and suddenly we were running out of diamonds. We could have pulled the plug. Instead, we made the bold decision to let it run. Yes, it cost us real money - but it was a strategic investment. What we gained in client trust, cultural capital, and belief in what brand activations can do was priceless. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t creating the world, it’s gently reintroducing reality. Some of those people may still be there, at least in spirit. My stomach only accepts Bone Broth for the first two days post-activation. I have to be really careful. Immersive Rumours: What kind of talent thrives at Studio Zweklos? Theodora van der Beek: Our ideal team member is the kind of person who sees a spreadsheet and thinks, ‘How can I make this sing?’ Morgan, our Communications Architect, thrives here because he’s always thinking three steps beyond the obvious. He’s young, eager, and knows his x from his y. His passion for executive salads isn’t just a hobby; it’s a calling. In his spare time, he now hosts the go-to virtual salad forum for all things leafy and lateral. That’s the kind of visionary thinking we love to facilitate - and the kind of talent we get behind. Photo: Studio Zweklos Immersive Rumours: What’s next for Studio Zweklos? Theodora van der Beek: We’re obsessed with one question: what happens when brands are unleashed? We’re fiercely protective of the secrecy around our activations. Clients sign NDAs, devices are confiscated on entry, and what happens inside stays inside. What I’ve shared here about the Coal Authority and Bath Taxidermy is the sanctioned edit. You don’t really understand a Zweklos experience until you attend one, which is why I’m so excited to invite you to our next activation. We’re working with a well-known government body who we can’t name, and calling this activation: HMR-SEE (in no way affiliated with HMRC), and for the first time, we’re opening the doors to the public. It’s happening at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club on Friday 20th March - and it’s not one to miss. I can promise you that. Studio Zweklos' HMR-SEE is at Bethnal Green Working Men's Club on 20th March 2026. You can find Studio Zweklos on Instagram at @studiozweklos. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.zweklos.com Follow Immersive Rumours on Instagram at @immersiverumours.

Photo: Outernet This year Outernet London, the UK’s most visited cultural attraction, is proud to unveil its biggest ever programme of exhibitions and installations across the giant Outernet screens, all celebrating International Women’s Month. With everything completely free to enter, the programme will launch on International Women’s Day on March 8th and run throughout the rest of the month. From portraits of some of the most inspiring and influential women shot for The Independent to large scale live illustration across the Outernet screens celebrating the achievements of women, visitors to Outernet will be able to experience a huge range of arts, culture, photography and storytelling that celebrates women’s creativity, influence and cultural leadership, while confronting the systemic challenges and inequalities they continue to navigate around the world. The programme in full is: ActionAid’s Women by Women – March 4th Women by Women is ActionAid’s flagship photography exhibition celebrating women both behind and in front of the camera. It uses ActionAid’s Anti-Racist Storytelling principles to shatter stereotypes and champion their collective work with women and women’s rights organisations across the world. It celebrates the incredible talent of women photographers, who are often under-represented. The Outernet show will feature standout images from Women By Women exhibitions over the last five years, spotlighting women leaders from across four continents whose vital work is transforming communities. Illustrated Live – March 8th This International Women’s Day, Outernet London presents Illustrated Live — a real-time celebration of female achievement on the giant screens of The Now Building. From 12–7pm, UK artist Katie Chappell will be illustrating live on screen, transforming powerful stories into vibrant, large-scale artworks before a public audience. Across the day, Katie will explore trailblazing women, untold histories, hard truths, inspiring facts, personal gratitude, collective challenges and — most importantly — the extraordinary achievements of women past and present. Audiences are invited to take part by submitting their own illustration requests via Instagram and TikTok DMs, helping shape the live content as it unfolds. A dynamic, collaborative moment in the heart of London — celebrating women’s voices, impact and creativity in real time. The Independent: Independent Women 2026: The Influence List —March 8th Independent Women 2026: The Influence List returns to Outernet for the third year and recognises the 50 most influential women shaping British society today The installation will be on free public display throughout March, raising awareness of The Independent’s charity partner, Refuge. The campaign aims to advance gender equality by showcasing achievement, amplifying women’s voices, inspiring future talent and improving women’s lives. GLA – from March 4th To mark International Women's Day, the Mayor of London will be sending a message on the Outernet screen to support women. As part of the Mayor's long-running support for women, the screens will show a range of messages calling on everyone to stand with women today and every day. Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard said: It’s fantastic to be partnering with the Outernet on International Women’s Day to shine a light on the importance of supporting women. We are committed to creating a city where every woman and girl is empowered, safe and able to thrive, and that is why the Mayor is providing record investment to keep women and girls safe, as we build a fairer and safer London for all. STYLIST – March 17th For International Women’s Day 2026, Stylist will launch an ambitious social‑impact campaign exploring the formative messages women absorb while growing up and the lasting effect these have on confidence, identity and ambition. Developed in response to new research from Think Stylist highlighting the lingering influence of early lessons, the initiative brings together influential voices, cultural storytelling and educational expertise to spark a national conversation about the life lessons we wish we’d been taught at school. Designed to stop people in their tracks - to challenge, to move and to resonate long after you’ve walked away - the campaign will roll out across print, digital, social and an Outernet activation running from March 17th to 31st. Further details will be revealed by Stylist on International Women’s Day. Ad Week Future is Female – March 26th Advertising Week Europe will present the winners of the sixth UK edition of the global Future is Female Awards, which celebrates the trailblazing women redefining the future of the creative economy. The Future is Female Awards began as a commitment to recognise women navigating the creative industries and has since evolved into a thriving global community - one where women aren’t just winning awards, but are hiring, working together and driving genuine change.The Outernet show will feature images of the 10 winners, who will be announced during Advertising Week Europe 2026, taking place from 24th–26th March at 180 Studios on The Strand. Recognition for women still matters in 2026 because the workplace was not built around us. We must create our own spaces, and there is something incredibly powerful about seeing that vision take physical form. We are honoured to be part of Outernet’s programme and remain committed to being at the forefront of the conversation.Advertising Week Europe is one of the continent’s most significant gatherings of the creative economy. The event will convene more than 7,000 attendees across 100+ sessions, bringing together leading figures in business, politics, technology and media to address the big questions shaping the creative industries. Jessica Dracup-Holland, CMO Outernet said: International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate women’s creativity, women in leadership and progress already made, while also recognising the conversations and action still needed to achieve true equality. This year marks our most ambitious Women's Month campaign to date, bringing together extraordinary artists, storytellers, media partners and global organisations to transform Outernet's screens into a powerful platform for women's voices and perspectives. We're honoured to continue our collaboration with partners including The Independent and The Mayor of London, alongside welcoming new creative contributors whose work challenges, inspires and connects audiences in meaningful ways. By making every exhibition in the series completely free to experience, we're ensuring these stories are accessible to everyone, creating shared cultural moments in the heart of London.

Film still from After the End (2024) by Liam Young. Image courtesy of the artist. What if the future isn’t something that happens to us, but something that we can collectively imagine? This summer, Barbican Immersive presents In Other Worlds, the first major UK solo exhibition experience created with BAFTA-nominated film maker, artist, and speculative futurist Liam Young. Spanning three locations within the Barbican Centre, the exhibition transforms the Silk Street Entrance, The Curve and Car Park 5 into a sequence of cinematic future provocations, where world-building, fiction, design and climate science collide. Created in collaboration with leading voices from film, television, literature and science, In Other Worlds unfolds through an array of bold and wondrous films presented on LED walls and as huge scale projections, as well as audio stories, set design, costumes, movie miniatures, graphic narratives and speculative artefacts. This exhibition invites visitors to step into the imagined worlds of Young and his collaborators, exploring the possibilities and challenges of what the future could hold. Featured collaborators include writer Jane Wu (Executive Producer/Director of Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai), American screenwriter and director Lisa Joy (Westworld, Fallout), science-fiction authors Kim Stanley Robinson (author of The Ministry for the Future) and Chen Qiufan (AI 2041), and Environmental Social Scientist Holly Jean Buck, who present engaging character narratives, to immerse visitors into the lives of the inhabitants of these future possible worlds. Accompanied by Young’s illustrated narratives, stories written for each world are voiced by an exciting ensemble of actors, scientists and activists, including Dame Dr Maggie Aderin (BBC’s Sky at Night), Richard Ayoade (The Mandalorian, The Phoenician Scheme), Alma Pöysti (Fallen Leaves), Adam Young (Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power) and Natasha Wanganeen (Rabbit Proof Fence). Film still from Planet City (2021) by Liam Young. Image courtesy of the artist. As visitors journey through the exhibition, fragments of graphic novels are displayed to further transport visitors into each world unfolding around them. These depict hidden stories, tools, relics, figures and fragments of lives that might be lived. Further exhibition collaborators include costume designer Ane Crabtree (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Sopranos, Westworld), as well as music artists Alex Somers, Forest Swords and Space Afrika, in addition to Indigenous Australian artists Eleanor Jawurlngali Repertory and the Iwiri First Nations Choir. Young’s practice operates in the spaces between design, fiction and futures, creating speculative worlds and visionary films which act as rehearsals for the world to come, capable of holding both our wildest aspirations and our most unsettling truths, where fiction becomes a tool for navigating the environmental urgencies we collectively face today. In Other Worlds poses a question to visitors: what stories are we leaving behind and what new stories do we dare to imagine if we have no time left to wait? In this timely exhibition, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a series of imagined futures for our planet, rooted in real technology and climate-based possibilities. The exhibition is a key highlight of the Barbican’s Summer season. Liam Young, Artist and Director, says: I am delighted to be able to present my first major UK solo exhibition experience at the Barbican and feel honoured to be joined by so many world class collaborators. We have always learned about the future through stories. Imaginary Worlds aren’t concerned with predicting the future, instead they prepare us for it. Within their fictional streets and speculative landscapes, we rehearse new ways of living, new relationships between humans and machines, between cities and the living Earth, between extinction and survival. We can glimpse the beliefs that build worlds and those that end them. Luke Kemp, Head of Creative Programming, Barbican Immersive, says: The Immersive programme at the Barbican is a place to explore some of the most important topics of our times that place the visitor at the heart of the experience. It is hugely exciting to be working with Liam Young and his collaborators on this major exhibition as now is the time to once again look for new stories, imagine different futures and create the worlds that we want to exist, rather than the ones that are being created for us. These wondrous environments created with leading talents will take us closer to what the possibilities could be. Drone Shepherd. In Other Worlds, Barbican. Image courtesy of the artist. Exhibition Highlights Science fiction has long been a shared rehearsal space for our collective dreams of what our future might look like and Young, through a chorus of stories, that sprawl from the microscopic to the planetary, emphasises to us the importance of imagination in a world where much seems to be in crisis. This immersive experience maps a constellation of fictional worlds, calling visitors to join in visions of a wondrous resistance in which a generation is called to the quiet, defiant labour of hope. Visitors are first introduced to In Other Worlds with a transfixing LED installation available to view for free at the Barbican’s Silk St entrance. This features a collection of animated portraits depicting three workers, who inhabit one of the imagined ‘future worlds’ presented further on in the experience, entitled After The End. These characters, integral to the building of a hopeful new future, help to usher in a new era of creation and storytelling, revealing to us the opportunities we are afforded when we are able to begin again. From the Silk Street entrance, the exhibition continues into The Curve gallery, where guests are welcomed into an a strikingly draped Antechamber space. Visitors are invited to situate themselves within a new physical realm, with synthesising audio narration which transports them in a reality far from that of today’s. Their journey then continues through to The Curve where they will explore worlds and provocations built out of and around each of the following films: World Machine (2026), a newly commissioned film by Young for the Barbican which will have its world premiere in the space with a 12m wide projection. In this world, there is a moment of transformative reckoning as new technologies are created at a planetary scale. Bringing together real-life footage and CGI to reflect on the accelerating demands of large-scale AI, World Machine speculates on a future in which a planetary supercomputer emerges and all of Earth’s surfaces are woven into circuits of power and calculation. In theorising on the potential for vast wind and solar farms to power AI data centres which might exist in cooperation with rewilded landscapes, Young invites visitors to further their understanding of the intricate balance between technological advancement and environmental stewardship. After the End (2024), a new creation story for Australia, co-authored with Aboriginal actor and activist Natasha Wanganeen. Created as a 50,000-year timelapse film, the story explores the journey of the earliest First Nations communities, through colonisation and a history of resource extraction, to a hopeful sci-fi future where new energy infrastructures emerge, and communities re-populate land from which they were once removed. Planet City (2021), an expansive film depicting the bringing together of the world’s population into one hyper-dense mega city, where we surrender the rest of the world to a global scaled wilderness, for Earth to regenerate. Set in an imaginary city home to 10 billion people, this film contemplates the potential of the world’s population retreating from its vast network of cities and entangled supply chains into one hyper-dense metropolis housing the entire population of the Earth. The Great Endeavour (2023), a visualisation of the design and immense scale of construction required to remove existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Premiered at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, The Great Endeavour provides visitors with the opportunity to embrace a project of global collaboration and unprecedented unified purpose. In this colossal effort to stave off human extinction, Young supposes the advent of a new infrastructural project that embraces this challenge with radical optimism and designs and visualises how this infrastructural imaginary could be built. From The Curve, In Other Worlds will guide visitors into the Barbican Car Park to experience: The Future Present, a captivating series of short documentaries displayed across seven LED screens. The culmination of Young’s research-led travels, and featuring footage captured on journeys with his nomadic studio Unknown Fields, co-created with artist and architect Kate Davies, The Future Present sheds light on the renewable energy and agriculture sites that already exist around the world today, evidencing that much of the technologies required to imagine these different and hopeful worlds are already in existence. Emissary (2024), a film made in collaboration with engineers from NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL). Charting the journey of a fictional spacecraft on a voyage through our solar system, traversing strange new planetary alignments developed from real astronomical observations, Emissary presents the last human-made object in existence: a record of everything humanity has created and achieved. Emissary explores what message a society on the brink of its own extinction would send. From the new beginnings of After the End to the concentrated urban utopia of Planet City to the climate engineering mega-projects of World Machine and The Great Endeavour and the epilogue of Emissary, these worlds offer radical alternatives to dystopian collapse and eco-romanticism. In Other Worlds is presented by Barbican Immersive, a programming strand focused on contemporary culture, emerging technology and digital creativity. After it’s London premiere, the exhibition will tour internationally. In Other Worlds will run at Barbican from 21st May to 6th September 2026. For more information, visit barbican.org.uk

Image: Emissive/Excurio Horizon of Khufu: Journey to Ancient Egypt, an immersive virtual reality expedition back in time over 4,500 years ago, is set to make its debut in Manchester on 2nd April at Transmission House on Tib Street. This award-winning VR experience, created by Excurio and presented by Fever, offers audiences an unprecedented opportunity to explore the mysteries of the Great Pyramid from within. To ensure the highest level of historical accuracy, Horizon of Khufu was developed in partnership with Peter Der Manuelian, Professor of Egyptology specialising in the study of funerary architecture, particularly the Giza necropolis, and his team from the Giza Project at Harvard University. Using state-of-the-art VR headsets and full-room motion tracking, guests are transported to the Giza Plateau to witness the construction, purpose, and grandeur of the Great Pyramid and immerse themselves in the civilisation that built it. Guided by your virtual Egyptologist, visitors explore royal chambers seldom seen, uncover the rituals of the pharaohs, and learn about the workers, architects, and priests who shaped the legacy of Ancient Egypt’s Golden Age. Image: Emissive/Excurio Experience Highlights The Giza Plateau: Begin your expedition at the foot of the pyramids, walking among the Great Sphinx, a solar boat, and temples as they appeared over four millennia ago. Inside the Great Pyramid: Enter the King’s Chamber and hidden corridors recreated in breathtaking virtual detail. Discover the architectural genius and spiritual symbolism behind every stone. A Pharaoh’s Funeral Procession: Join the ceremonial journey honoring Pharaoh Khufu, witnessing ancient rituals, music, and processions brought to life with lifelike animation and sound. Aerial Flight Over Giza: Soar high above the pyramids for a panoramic view of Ancient Egypt’s capital and enjoy a sweeping VR sequence that combines archaeological precision with cinematic wonder. Image: Emissive/Excurio Alex Winterbotham, Global Director of Production for VR at Fever, comments: We are thrilled to debut Horizon of Khufu in the UK, following its tremendous success with audiences globally, from Lisbon to Denver. Manchester, such a hub of innovation, is the perfect city for this launch. This virtual reality adventure offers curious minds a unique and accessible opportunity to explore the pyramids and experience Ancient Egyptian society in a way that has never been possible before. Fabien Barati and Emmanuel Guerriero, founders of Excurio, comment: Launching Horizon of Khufu after several months of work with Professor Der Manuelian is an honour for us and is more than just symbolic: it confirms the scientific rigour we aim to bring to our content, offering a new generation of family and friends outings that blend entertainment and culture. Image: Emissive/Excurio Having captivated audiences across Europe, North America and the Middle East, Horizon of Khufu has earned widespread praise for its cultural authenticity and breathtaking realism. This 45-minute multisensory experience connects visitors to history through immersive storytelling, spatial audio, and stunning 360° visuals. Horizon of Kfuhu: Journey to Ancient Egypt will open on 2nd April 2026 at Transmission House on Tib Street. Tickets are priced from £16.00 per person and can be booked via feverup.com

Image: Layered Reality Six years ago, audiences stepped through a door in London and emerged inside Jeff Wayne's legendary musical work, transported back into steampunk Victorian England as 300-foot Martian Fighting Machines tore through Westminster, live actors guided them through the chaos of 1898, and the iconic score surrounded them at every turn. What followed became the world's longest-running immersive theatrical production: a Guinness World Records™ title holder, winner of 15 major awards, five consecutive years as the World's No. 1 Rated Immersive Experience on TripAdvisor, and over 320,000 visitors welcomed through its doors. On 1st March 2026, that chapter closes. On 12th March 2026, the next one begins. Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds: The Experience relaunches with new content throughout, including unparalleled new Virtual Reality, and other upgraded technologies, plus Jeff Wayne himself is now part of the Experience for the first time. The production is secured in London through to 2029 under a landmark four-year partnership, with tickets available now through LW Tickets. Photo: Layered Reality For those coming for the first time, this is the Experience at its most complete. For those who have been before, the differences will be felt from the moment of their arrival. The most significant transformation is technological. The VR content for both major sequences, the Thames boat ride as 300-foot Martian Fighting Machines attack Westminster, and the epic journey to Mars balloon ride, has been rebuilt using Unreal Engine, the same technology behind the world's most visually advanced video games and films. The result is a revolutionised VR experience with next-generation environments which blur the boundary between virtual and reality in a way that was simply not possible when the production first opened. Photo: Layered Reality Paired with brand-new HTC Vive Focus Vision headsets, replacing technology that is now over six years old, audiences will experience enhanced visual clarity, seamless wireless movement for superior comfort and extended wear. Every detail of the Experience has been personally overseen by Jeff. This includes the music and sound design, which has been spatially remixed for full 360-degree immersion, placing audiences at the very heart of the Martian attack on London with the scale and intensity of a blockbuster film. For the first time, Jeff Wayne himself will feature digitally within the experience. The moment audiences step through the doors, they will be greeted by the legendary composer and visionary behind the Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, offering a personal welcome and words of wisdom for surviving the Martian invasion. It is a moment that closes the distance between creator and audience in an entirely new way, setting the tone for the experience that follows. Photo: Layered Reality Jeff Wayne's original 1978 double album is one of the most celebrated records ever made. Adapted from HG Wells' dark Victorian tale, the double album features an extraordinary cast including.Richard Burton, whose narration became the voice of a generation; Phil Lynott, the iconic frontman of Thin Lizzy, at the height of his powers; and Julie Covington, fresh from her number one hit with 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina.' Together, they recorded 'The Spirit of Man', one of the album's most emotionally charged and dramatically powerful tracks. Until now, it has never featured in the experience. For the relaunch, a new remix makes its debut in the secret Red Weed Bar. The Royal Engineer’s Lab has also seen a significant refresh with an updated script and enhanced audience interactivity, period-authentic props, and richer room dressings. The result is a deeper, more engaging encounter that rewards repeat visitors and draws first-timers fully into the world of 1898 Victorian England, heightening both the storytelling and the sense of genuine immersion. Image: Layered Reality Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds: The Experience remains the only immersive experience built entirely around a classic sci-fi novel and a cult-status album. Led by West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher, Tom Brittney, and Anna-Marie Wayne, and featuring vocals from Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward, Kaiser Chiefs Ricky Wilson, Nathan James, Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, and Julie Covington, the cast is as extraordinary as the world they inhabit. The production culminates in the brand-new 'Martian Invasion' Museum before audiences re-emerge into 2026. Live actors, movie-quality sets, next-generation virtual reality and sound, cutting-edge technology, and multi-sensory effects: woven together into something you have never experienced before. Photo: Layered Reality Speaking on the updated version of the experience, Jeff Wayne said: My Musical Version of The War of The Worlds has always been about the power of imagination, of transporting people back to Victorian England and into HG Wells’ original vision. After more than six years of The Experience being open, I am more excited about this production than ever. We have pushed into territory that simply wasn't possible when we first opened, and I cannot wait for audiences to discover what we have created. Andrew McGuiness, CEO of Layered Reality, comments: We have always believed this production was the most ambitious immersive theatre experience in the world, and the relaunch proves it. Signing a four-year partnership with Jeff Wayne is a statement of intent; this production is not going anywhere, and we are only getting started. Every decision we have made, from the technology to the new content to the deal that secures us through to 2029, has been in service of giving audiences something that simply does not exist anywhere else. This is the version of The War of The Worlds we have always been working towards. Images: Layered Reality Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience is currently booking until 31st July 2026 at 56 Leadenhall Street near Aldgate. For more information, visit thewaroftheworldstheexperience.com

Image: Bridge Command London’s immersive sci-fi experience Bridge Command will celebrate its second anniversary on 27th March with the launch of a bold new chapter: the beginning of an all-out alien war. After two years of charting humanity’s survival in deep space, the story now shifts dramatically. As tensions in the Adamas Belt reach breaking point, Bridge Command will introduce a new high-stakes mission format, Frontline Missions, placing audiences directly into active combat zones. Photo: Gabriel Burns A brand-new poster and first-look production images offer the first glimpse of the looming alien threat and set the tone for the most ambitious chapter in Bridge Command’s story to date. Frontline Missions, which are now available to book, represent a significant escalation in both narrative and gameplay for the show. From 19th to 24th May, Bridge Command will be suspending all regular missions on one of their two ships to run Frontline Missions exclusively for one launch week. Following this special run, they will become a permanent fifth mission-type option to book. Photo: Zoe Flint Unlike previous operations focused on skirmishes and patrols, Frontline Missions deploy crews directly into active warzones. Those on board can expect intense, large-scale combat scenarios, moral decisions that need to be made under pressure, greater consequences shaped entirely by player choice and crew performance, and persistent consequences for the ongoing story of Bridge Command, with whole sectors of space being lost or won. Speaking on these new Frontline Missions, Owen Kingston, Bridge Command's Artistic Director, said: So far, Bridge Command stories have been centered on peace-keeping and peace-making. The UCN has become comfortable in its role as a force for good, and our audience- participants are familiar with their tasks as future naval officers working to unify and protect humanity on the chaotic fringes of civilisation. Science fiction settings are rarely more than a few steps away from all-out war, and humanity’s first conflict with an alien race provides a narrative backdrop that will open up a whole host of new strategic and moral conundrums for our audience-participants. Can the UCN maintain its identity as a benevolent force for good when faced with the existential threat of a hostile alien race intent on the complete destruction of humanity? A large-scale Special Event will initiate the alien conflict, expanding the experience across both ships and The Mess (Bridge Command’s own sci-fi bar) to deliver one continuous, cinematic narrative. Bridge Command’s special events are renowned for their ambition and immersive scale. The forthcoming event is expected to be its most anticipated yet, marking the official beginning of the alien war and plunging audiences into the frontline. Tickets will be on general sale from Friday, 27th February, following a 48-hour Discord priority sale. Photo: Zoe Flint Since launching in London, Bridge Command has welcomed over 20,000 guests aboard its custom-built starships, earning praise for scale, depth, meaningful audience agency and exceptional replayability. What began as an ambitious experiment in immersive storytelling has evolved into a living sci-fi universe, with 26 distinct missions and counting, multi-part campaigns, large-scale special events and an active-growing fanbase extending beyond the venue through Discord. Tom Black, Chief Operating Officer, comments: Bridge Command's unique episodic approach has made it an incredible place to create and deliver stories. Getting to know our regular attendees, as well as welcoming brand new faces every day, has been even better. I know that this next chapter is going to thrill and immerse UCN officers old and new as the stakes get higher than ever. This anniversary marks a turning point in this journey. As an alien force pushes into human-occupied territory, nearly a century after the first settlement, 22 light-years from Earth, humanity must confront what it means to not merely explore but also defend the final frontier. Photo: Zoe Flint Bridge Command is currently booking until 31st July 2026 in Vauxhall. For more information and to book tickets, visit bridgecommand.space

Photo: Layered Reality After more than 31,000 performances, six years of record-breaking success, over 20,000 five-star reviews, and 300,000 visitors, Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience is about to change forever. This winter marks the final opportunity to experience the original award-winning production before it undergoes a major transformation in Spring 2026. Tickets have been released today at a special rate of £40, available for performances from now until the end of January 2026. Photo: Layered Reality Winner of 15 major awards, including the 2025 City AM Toast the City Award for Best Family Attraction, the show holds the Guinness World Records™ title for Longest Theatrical Run of a Musical Immersive Theatre Production. Since 2019, the production has redefined live entertainment, combining Jeff Wayne’s iconic musical score with cutting-edge virtual reality, holograms, holographic characters, and 5D effects across 24 breathtaking scenes. Audiences are transported to a steampunk vision of Victorian England under Martian invasion, and along the way, encounter abandoned Victorian houses, take a heart-pounding VR boat ride down the Thames as 300-foot Martian Fighting Machines attack Westminster and Big Ben, traverse the trenches to London sliding down the claw of a Martian Handling Machine, and soar in a hot air balloon on an epic journey to Mars. The climax of the first half features the naval battle of HMS Thunder Child versus the Martians, with an exclusive intermission at the secret Red Weed Bar. This will be the final chance to experience original sequences. Photo: Layered Reality Speaking on the upcoming transformations, Jeff Wayne comments: When we first opened, it was meant to run for just three months. Six years later, it has become something truly special. January 2026 marks the end of this era, the last chance to see the show exactly as it was before it evolves into its next extraordinary chapter. Layered Reality CEO Andrew McGuiness comments: Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience has been extraordinary from the moment it opened, captivating hundreds of thousands of visitors and setting new benchmarks for immersive theatre worldwide. After six incredible years, this is the final opportunity to experience the original production before it transforms into something new. From now until the end of January 2026, audiences can witness the iconic sequences, the original technology, and the moments that have made this show a global phenomenon. This is more than a performance. It is a chance to be part of theatre history and say, ‘I was there'. Photo: Layered Reality Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience is currently booking until 31st July 2026 at 56 Leadenhall Street near Aldgate. Tickets start at £50.00 and can be purchased via thewaroftheworldstheexperience.com

Photo: Banksy Limitless After welcoming more than 130,000 visitors to the groundbreaking experience since its opening in September 2025, Banksy Limitless London will temporarily close on 23rd February for a refresh of its exhibition before reopening on 4th March. The refreshed experience unveils an exciting array of new discoveries, designed to captivate both first-time visitors and returning guests. Those who have previously purchased tickets for the exhibition will also be entitled to 30% off if they return to enjoy the expanded exhibition. Visitors will be able to enjoy an expanded and enhanced exhibition, all at the same ticket price as before the restoration. Now, featuring more than 280 works by Banksy, up from the original offering of over 250, the refreshed showcase introduces additional pieces and unique new content, making it the most comprehensive iteration to date. Photo: Banksy Limitless The enhanced exhibition spans certified originals, rare prints, large-scale installations, sculpture, photography, and immersive digital environments. The exhibition offers an even more engaging journey through Banksy’s world. The reimagined presentation deepens the experience, giving visitors greater insight into the scale, wit, and political resonance that define his work - delivering more than ever before, without any price increase. New installations and pieces in place from 4th March will include the original mural Love Plane, first spray-painted in 2011 by Banksy onto the side of Norwich House in Liverpool, which was then rescued and restored by professionals over two years, Very Little Helps Test Print, Life Boat Poster, and brand new and exciting immersive installations, including an expanded Dismaland gallery, a new immersive audio-visual experience, and a newly built space for even more Banksy artworks. Showcased alongside groundbreaking artworks from Banksy’s infamous Dismaland project and original pieces connected to the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. In addition, the exhibition will feature certified prints, including Flower Thrower and Kissing Coppers, large-scale sculptural works such as Phone Booth. Other key moments include a dedicated installation responding to Banksy’s interventions in Ukraine, inviting visitors to reflect upon and donate to. Photo: Banksy Limitless Located in South Kensington’s Sussex Mansions, Banksy Limitless London has quickly established itself as one of London’s most talked-about cultural destinations, attracting art lovers and culture seekers alike. The reframed edition builds on the momentum of its opening run, deepening the experience with new elements and reaffirming Banksy Limitless Reframed as the standout moment on the capital’s cultural calendar. Curated by the producers behind the exhibition’s global success, which has welcomed over three million visitors worldwide, the London edition marks a significant cultural moment. While Banksy’s roots lie in Bristol, London has long played a central role in shaping his global profile, making this exhibition feel like a full-circle return. Photo: Banksy Limitless Producer Sorina Burlacu says: The response to Banksy Limitless London has been extraordinary. Selling over 130,000 tickets in three months confirms the continued cultural relevance of Banksy’s work today. This refresh has allowed us to evolve the exhibition creatively and emotionally, while making the experience more accessible to everyone. In addition to the artworks, visitors can explore Banksy’s creative process through meticulously reproduced stencil works, large-scale mural installations, and an exclusive documentary featuring insights from collaborators and fellow artists. True to Banksy’s activist ethos, the exhibition also invites visitors to participate in a hands-on T-shirt spray-painting experience, with proceeds supporting the M.V. Louise Michel humanitarian organisation. Banksy Limitless London reopens on 4th March 2026, offering both new and returning visitors an expanded opportunity to experience the scale, impact, and creativity of Banksy’s work. With fresh installations, rare originals, and immersive storytelling, the exhibition continues to cement its place as a must-see cultural event in London’s calendar. Photo: Banksy Limitless Banksy Limitless will reopen as Banksy Limitless: Reframed on 4th March 2026 at Sussex Mansions near South Kensington station. Tickets are priced from £20.85 for Adults, and can be booked via feverup.com

Image: Witness Next month, Witness will transfer their production of Ritual to London for a limited two-day run after a successful run in New York. Ritual is an odyssey in content and form, based on Aeschylus’s epic Greek tragedy, the Oresteia, it's an 8-hour-long installation anchored by a single performer. Ritual invites audiences to share the space on the 21st and 22nd of February at COLAB Tower in Central London. Photo: Witness Ritual invites audiences into the depths of the Mycenaean palace as Orestes lies in wait, attempting to get the gods to speak to him once again before he carries out his revenge. Throughout this day-long installation, the audience will be able to roam and explore around Orestes across two fully designed rooms over the course of this 8-hour performance at the COLAB Tower. Presented by Witness, Ritual is a transfer from New York, where it debuted in the East Village in October 2021. This is the UK premiere of Witness’s work, and it has been supported by Arts Council England. Photo: Arin Sang-Urai Writer Michael Bontatibus stated: We’re incredibly excited to take this ambitious production into London. Re-introducing this story to a new audience, and getting to tackle the mammoth task of an eight-hour show is incredibly invigorating. Director Charlotte Murray added: Ritual is a daring, massive undertaking, but we’re excited to take on the challenge, and are excited to invite audiences into the physical centre of the world we’ve created. Photo: Arin Sang-Urai The show's director, Charlotte Murray, is a director, deviser, and theatre maker. She is currently the Associate Director on Natalie Margolin's Off-Broadway play All Nighter, starring Kristine Froseth and Havana Rose Liu. Previous work with Witness includes directing Noirtown and Ritual; other directing credits include 12 Chairs at the O’Neill New Play Conference and Hartwell Church of God at Ars Nova. Ritual has been written by Michael Bontatibus, who is the Artistic Director of Witness. Past credits with Witness as a writer and producer include The Island (Archway Hospital), Ritual (Village Works), Last Days of the Tsars (Stimson-Green Mansion), Noirtown (Rave Theater Festival), Found Footage (Colonels Row) and The Visitation (Wyckoff House). Other theatrical work has been staged with The Flea, Joust Theatre Company, RADD Festival, Theatre Off Jackson Solo Performance Festival, and the Young Gotham Arts Series, among others. Ritual runs at COLAB Tower near London Bridge on the 21st and 22nd February 2026. Tickets are free and can be booked via witnessimmersive.com

Image: Witness Charlie MacRae-Tod will take on the mantle of performing as Orestes in Witness’s UK debut production of Ritual at COLAB Tower this February. Ritual is an 8-hour-long immersive performance adapting the Greek tragedy The Oresteia, and MacRae-Tod has the epic challenge of performing for 8 hours straight in this retelling, as audiences enter and exit around him throughout the day. Charlie MacRae-Tod is an actor based in Devon and London, and trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama on the MA Classical Acting course. He’s no stranger to performing in classical literature, having previously appeared as Demetrius in Midnight Circle's A Midsummer Nightmare, and in Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Jane Austin’s Persuasion. Photo: Charlie MacRae-Tod With Lily Ockwell joining the Ritual team as choreographer, MacRae-Tod is in safe hands as he tackles this mammoth performance. Ockwell has worked with leading immersive company Punchdrunk on their productions of Sleep No More, The Drowned Man and The Burnt City. Ritual invites audiences into the depths of the Mycenaean palace as Orestes lies in wait, attempting to get the gods to speak to him once more before he carries out his revenge. Throughout this day-long installation, the audience will be able to roam and explore around Orestes across two fully designed rooms over the course of this 8-hour performance at COLAB Tower. Ritual's New York run (2021). Photos: Arin Sang-Urai Ritual runs at COLAB Tower near London Bridge on the 21st and 22nd February 2026. Tickets are free and can be booked via witnessimmersive.com

Photo: Callum O'Keefe Ritual invites audiences into the depths of the Mycenaean palace as Orestes lies in wait, attempting to get the gods to speak to him once again before he carries out his revenge. Throughout this day-long installation, the audience will be able to roam and explore around Orestes across two fully designed rooms over the course of this 8-hour performance at the COLAB Tower. Presented by Witness, Ritual is a transfer from New York, where it debuted in the East Village in October 2021. This is the UK premiere of Witness’s work, and it has been supported by Arts Council England. Photo: Callum O'Keefe Photo: Callum O'Keefe Photo: Callum O'Keefe Ritual runs at COLAB Tower near London Bridge on the 21st and 22nd February 2026. Tickets are free and can be booked via witnessimmersive.com