Photo: The Lost Estate Opening March 2026 at The Lost Estate’s West London home, Chat Noir! is the latest creation from The Lost Estate, the company behind The Great Christmas Feast and 58th Street; celebrated for transforming live performance into fully realised worlds. Here, audiences will be transported to bohemian Montmartre of the 1890s, inside the legendary Le Chat Noir – the original Parisian cabaret club that launched a cultural revolution and gave birth to the modern nightlife we still chase today. Photo: The Lost Estate At the centre of the story stands Rodolphe Salis – the real-life proprietor of Le Chat Noir and architect of its most notorious cabarets – as he prepares his final, and most ambitious, creation: a feverish celebration of love and madness. Played by the ‘Dandy King of Cabaret’, Joe Morrose, Salis is a man aflame with ideas, careering between anarchy and art, chasing one last moment of transcendence before the curtain falls. Tonight he has summoned the greatest artists of his age — the magician Buatier De Kolta (performed by acclaimed magician Neil Kelso), dancer Cléo de Mérode, mime Paul LeGrand (performed by the virtuosic Pi the Mime), and chanteuse Yvette Guilbert — to create one final, audacious revue, a night of love, madness, and French art from across the ages. Together they conjure a variety show of reckless brilliance, accompanied by the club’s house band, Les Enfants Vagabondes. Photo: The Lost Estate A wild troupe of bohemian musicians, led by the young Erik Satie, takes their place at the heart of Chat Noir!. One of the most eccentric and influential figures of the Parisian avant-garde, audiences join Satie at the height of his career as the real-life resident pianist of the original Le Chat Noir – a composer whose music would go on to define a generation of French modernism. Known as Les Enfants Vagabondes, the ensemble performs new arrangements of French late-Romantic masterpieces by The Lost Estate’s composer-in-residence, Steffan Rees. Their ragtag quintet - piano, violin, cello, accordion and percussion - reimagines Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Bizet’s Carmen, Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and Saint-Saëns’s Danse Macabre for a night that blurs the line between elegance and delirium. As the evening unfolds, their performances spill from stage to floor, musicians roaming between tables while a spellbinding sequence of shadow puppetry transforms light and smoke into living art. It is a world where sound, movement and illusion entwine, and where cabaret first sparked into a global phenomenon. Photo: The Lost Estate As night falls, guests slip into a world of after-dark delights. Inside, they become part of the story as they join the writers, illustrators, poets and musicians who made Montmartre hum – the artists, revolutionaries and mad romantics who lived by night and dined between poems, paintings and half-finished manifestos. The experience evokes the secret suppers of Paris’s wayward aristocrats, where indulgence is an art form and pleasure a quiet rebellion. Guests dine as they did - not with aristocratic formality but with appetite and abandon. The tables are laden with the classic haute cuisine dishes that gave birth to modern gastronomy: Coq au Vin, Crème Brûlée, champagne, absinthe, Parisian cocktails and an extensive old-world wine list. The Lost Estate Executive Chef Ashley Clarke and Head of Beverages Ilya Demenkov have created a feast of butter, brilliance and bohemia, served beneath flickering lamplight. Photo: The Lost Estate This is time travel by velvet and smoke - a living, breathing story where music, theatre, design and hospitality become a single work of art. This extraordinary immersive world is created by The Lost Estate’s Head of Design Thomas Kirk Shannon, lighting designer Mike Gunning (Alice’s Adventures Underground, Drowned Man, Grace Jones) and couture by Susan Kulkarni (Secret Cinema, Come Alive!). The Lost Estate are fast becoming the leader in immersive live arts experiences, crafting worlds that blur the lines between stage and reality and offer Londoners something rare: a night that feels like it could change history - a night out, a century in the making. Photo: The Lost Estate The world of Chat Noir! is designed for surrender. Guests dress in Vintage Parisian style - silks, velvets, waistcoats and smoky eyes - and cross a threshold where phones are forbidden and time loses its grip. Somewhere between dinner and dream, the city outside disappears, and the cabaret begins. Speaking on the experience, William Kunhardt, the Co-Founder of The Lost Estate, comments: Every experience by The Lost Estate begins the same way – an obsession with a moment in time when art, hospitality, and visionary people collided to create an inflection point in culture. Chat Noir! is the expression of our latest obsession: the bohemian subculture of 1890s Paris, the dawning of French Haute Cuisine, and amidst it all, the impresario Rodolphe Salis with his masterpiece, Le Chat Noir. It was the world’s first cabaret – a night-club where great French artists gathered to share and experiment, where every layer of Parisian society came to be entertained, provoked, and liberated. Dining, drinking, and artistic freedom became one. A movement was born that would change global culture forever. What a moment to bring back to life – to give people the chance to travel back in time and step inside this extraordinary nocturnal world, indulge utterly and live out one of the most explosive, daring and hedonistic moments in European cultural history. Photo: The Lost Estate The Lost Estate's Chat Noir! opens on 24th March 2026 in West Kensington. Tickets are priced from £124.85 and can be booked via chatnoirlondon.com

Photo: Lottie Amor Groundbreaking immersive theatre company Punchdrunk have revealed first look images of their new project LANDER 23, which is running at their home base in Woolwich until 29th March 2026. A live action video game, LANDER 23 sees the immersive theatre pioneers collide with the world of gaming as never before, as audiences become players in a multiplayer stealth game. Photo: Lottie Amor LANDER 23 splits players into two squads - Command (Drivers) and Ground Team (Fields). As the Fields navigate the alien landscape, players rely solely on the voice and guidance of their Drivers, stationed aboard the ship. In the spirit of sustainability and accountability, the company have repurposed the extraordinary world of Troy from The Burnt City - reimagined for this new narrative. Photo: Lottie Amor LANDER 23's full description is as follows: The Lander Division of the Centre for Astrobiology is responsible for exploring the outer realms of the galaxy. No division goes further or deeper into the unknown. Tasked with discovering uncharted territories, exploring the outermost reaches and bringing back valuable data to the mothership. A week ago, the crew of Lander 23 vanished while harvesting a new and valuable energy source. A distress signal, then silence. You are the next crew in. Your mission is clear – continue their job without the same happening to you. Time is not on your side. The environment is treacherous. There are hidden dangers lurking in the shadows. Do not deviate from the mission. Photo: Lottie Amor The experience has been conceived, directed & designed by Felix Barrett, with Kath Duggan and Joel Scott co-directing. LANDER 23's game systems have been created by Meaning Machine, who create 'premium, author-driven AI characters that can play meaningful roles in the stories and objectives of their human creators'. Photo: Lottie Amor Founded in 2000 by Felix Barrett, Punchdrunk has pioneered a game-changing form of theatre which places the audience at the very heart of the action. Listed amongst the 50 most influential artists of the last 50 years (Sky Arts, 2022) alongside Bowie, Sir Steve McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, Punchdrunk disrupts the theatrical norm, creating worlds in which audiences can rediscover the childlike excitement of exploring the unknown. Its iconic 'mask' shows, which redefined the genre of immersive experiences, have been cited amongst the 40 creative moments that changed culture (Creative Review), and have found phenomenal success across the globe, with record-breaking productions established in the US, UK and China. Sleep No More in New York played to sell out audiences for 14 years from 2011, and in Shanghai the show has been running since 2016, making it the longest running show in the city’s history. A new staging of Sleep No More opened in Seoul last summer. The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable broke the National Theatre’s box office records when it went on sale in 2013. Punchdrunk's 2022 London production, The Burnt City, became the company's longest-running show in its home city, coinciding with the opening of its first permanent venue at One Cartridge Place in Woolwich. Photo: Lottie Amor In 2024, Viola’s Room debuted in Woolwich, marking a shift from Punchdrunk's signature mask performances. This intimate, barefoot sensory experience distilled two decades of the company's immersive expertise, using binaural sound to create a deeply personal journey. It premiered At The Shed in New York in June 2025. Punchdrunk’s past theatrical works include: Faust (in collaboration with the National Theatre), Tunnel 228 (in collaboration with The Old Vic), The Masque of the Red Death (with Battersea Arts Centre), It Felt Like A Kiss (with Adam Curtis and Damon Albarn, Manchester International Festival), The Duchess of Malfi (with ENO), Sleep No More (London, Boston, New York, Shanghai), The Crash of the Elysium (Manchester International Festival), The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable (with the National Theatre), The Burnt City, and Viola’s Room. Photo: Lottie Amor LANDER 23 is running at One Cartridge Place, Woolwich, until 10th May 2026. Tickets are priced from £38.75 and can be purchased via punchdrunk.com

Photo: Fever Bubble Planet will open at Depot Mayfield in Manchester this February after previously having launched in more than ten global cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Milan and London. Set within one of Manchester’s most exciting cultural destinations, Bubble Planet finds a fitting home at Depot Mayfield - a former railway depot transformed into a vibrant hub for arts, entertainment, and large-scale experiences. Photo: Fever Co-produced by family entertainment producer Exhibition Hub and Fever, the leading platform for discovering live entertainment and cultural experiences, Bubble Planet invites visitors to step into a joyful, dreamlike world where bubbles take centre stage. Enjoyed by over four million visitors worldwide, the experience was designed to awaken curiosity and reconnect audiences with a sense of childlike wonder, unfolding across a series of visually striking, multi-sensory environments. As visitors journey through the experience, they are immersed in a bubbly universe where colours, lights, textures and illusions blend seamlessly. From giant balloons to floating soap bubbles, each space offers a new perspective, encouraging exploration and playful discovery. Carefully designed to engage all the senses, Bubble Planet transforms imagination into a tangible, interactive adventure. Photo: Fever Ten themed rooms guide guests through surreal landscapes that blur the boundaries between dream and reality. Highlights include the Bubble Ocean, a vast expanse of bubbles designed to evoke calm and serenity, and the Infinity Room, where mirrors and shifting lights create the illusion of endless space. Underwater Bubbles transports visitors into a hypnotic aquatic world, recreating the magic and mystery of deep-sea exploration. Younger visitors can unleash their creativity in the Bubble Dome, a play area designed for hands-on fun, whilst tech fans can embark on an exhilarating virtual reality journey that adds an extra layer of adventure to the experience. Photo: Fever Speaking on Bubble Planet's Manchester opening, Hamza El Azhar, CEO of Exhibition Hub, comments: We are delighted to be bringing Bubble Planet to Manchester rfor the very first time alongside the team at Fever, and to be part of a city with such a strong and celebrated cultural identity. We look forward to welcoming everyone to experience a joyful, immersive adventure that sparks curiosity and wonder for all ages Bubble Planet opens at Depot Mayfield this February. To learn more and sign up to the waitlist, visit feverup.com

As part of our Year In Review series, we spoke to creators, writers and performers from across the immersive industry, including UNCLE BARRY, Phantom Peak, Voidspace, Sleepwalk, and Bridge Command to find out their favourite immersive and interactive work from the last twelve months. Undersigned By Yannick Trapman-O'Brien July to August 2025 at COLAB Tower and Edinburgh Fringe Photo: Lyra Levin A deeply personal, revelatory and moving experience, delivered with a tremendous amount of care and skill. It's unusual to find a practitioner who can bring us out to the bleeding edge of theatricality while holding us with safety and trust. Yannick managed this and created something authentic, surprising and intensely meaningful as a result. Katy Naylor, Voidspace Handle with Care By Ontroerend Goed November 2025 at Battersea Arts Centre Photo: Ans Brys It starts with a box and an audience and ends with us setting fire to the box's contents. In between, there is mayhem and reflection and a burgeoning sense of connection with those around you and everyone who has attended this show. There are no actors, just a list of instructions which lead us from scene to scene with the ever-playful Ontroerend Goed forcing us from our seats and into the thick of the action (should we wish). It's anti-theatre at its best, an interactive masterpiece that evokes surprise and emotional responses at every twist and turn. Franco Milazzo, Critic at Broadway World The Shop for Mortals and All Fools By Vinicius Salles February to October 2025 at Stanley Arts and COLAB Tower Photo: James Lawson My greatest surprise of 2025 came from a show I had become almost embarrassingly attached to, The Shop for Mortals and All Fools. It was a fully scripted piece with a clear narrative that invited the audience to witness a tragic moment in the life of a woman adrift inside her own memories, caught in a liminal space between past and present, somewhere between gods and mortals. I truly believed I understood it from every angle. After all, I had written and directed it, and surely that meant I knew exactly what London was about to experience. I had convinced myself that once I create an immersive work, it remains in place, fixed, stable, obedient, perfectly behaved. Fool of me. I could not have been more wrong. One month into the run, I watched the show. Kate Webster and Lily Ockwell had taken it gently but confidently by the hand and transformed it into something entirely their own. What I witnessed was not simply interpretation. It was a shift in the very fabric of the event. Delicate and dangerous. The piece had developed its own pulse and no longer belonged to me. Watching the actors and audience meet inside that suspended world reminded me of Antonin Artaud and his belief that theatre becomes most alive when it generates a charge that passes between performers and spectators. He argued that this charge can loosen the boundaries of ordinary perception and create a fragile reality where instinct and presence matter more than text. That was exactly what unfolded before my eyes. The room trembled with that shared tension, that delicate sense that everyone was stepping into a reality held together by breath and attention. At that moment, the words no longer felt like mine. My presence no longer felt required. And truly, in the spirit of Artaud, that is the best place a director can ever hope to be, standing back and witnessing a living event that thrives because it escapes control. Vinicius Salles Uncle Barry's Birthday Party By UNCLE BARRY February to October 2025 at Theatre Deli and COLAB Tower Photo: UNCLE BARRY This year was a big one for the Voidspace's ability to support new work, and I was thrilled to welcome Uncle Barry to this year's Voidspace Live, after their debut at February's Side/Step festival. A deceptively simple exercise in collaborative world-building, that left us all with a collective grin and many fond memories of everybody's favourite Uncle. Side/Step and Voidspace were together a bit of a generative powerhouse in our platforming of new interactive theatre this year: I'm looking forward to seeing what 2026 brings 🖤 Katy Naylor, Voidspace Creature By Peter Broughton September to November 2025 at COLAB Tower Photo: Peter Broughton/Creature There is truly nothing like watching a performance made for one audience member, and Creature is no exception. The immersive experience is like nothing I've ever seen before, with the sole audience member relinquishing all control and sitting in a wheelchair that is moved by members of the cast throughout the production. Broughton has made a beautiful adaptation of Frankenstein with a seamless cast and an incredible puppet! Kat Mokrynski, Critic at Broadway World and Little Lark of London Sleep No More By Punchdrunk/Ms. Jackson July 2025 to January 2026 at The McKithan Hotel, Seoul Photo: Punchdrunk/Ms. Jackson I was lucky enough to travel in Korea this year where I managed to see Punchdrunk/Ms.Jackson’s Sleep No More. The new staging expands on what previous editions of the show have built. With a bigger building and expanded set, it would’ve been easy to lose the heart and soul of the show, however I found that the magic of Sleep No More was definitely not lost. Fans of the show will love this new location and with an undeniably talented cast; the McKithan will not disappoint. Sebastian Huang, Sleepwalk Hollow Knight: Silksong By Team Cherry Image: Team Cherry My favourite immersive experience of the year is Silksong, the follow-up to Hollow Knight by Team Cherry, the Australian indie game developer. It’s genuinely incredible: complex, beautiful, engrossing, frustrating - just like seeking funding for capital projects in a declining Western world, where hope is dead yet I live endless and alone. In terms of live experiences, the immersive attraction I empirically most emotionally engaged with was Phantom Peak. My favourite part of Phantom Peak is “payroll” - a game that comes around every 4 weeks, with a flourish like no other. It’s just like that magic heist film, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t, except I am performing a job upon myself. I guess in this metaphor I am a little bit Isla Fisher with a gentle Jesse Eisenberg peppering, like salt on steak, or powdered sugar also on steak (not recommended). By the way, I have a lot of concerns about that movie: it clearly only makes narrative sense once you realise these are not stage magicians but a coven of witches, possessed with powers beyond the ken of man. I am no medieval peasant, but I for one think that immolation is too good for them and their smug posturing shows a dalliance with sinister powers that echo in the great beyond. Am I advocating for Jesse Eisenberg’s character J. Daniel Atlas to be burnt at the stake, flames lambent, his sequinned heels glittering against the night? No. Will I weep for him when his soul is cleansed by fire? No, coz his soul gets to go to a better place, duhhh. Oh! I also went to You Me Bum Bum Train! Yeah, man, that was really good. 12/10. Nick Moran, Creative Director, Phantom Peak ETERNAL By DARKFIELD April 2025 at Shoreditch Town Hall Photo: Katie Edwards This was a first-time physical mount of a show originally conceived as an at-home audio experience during Lockdown. The gaping maw of a row of bare iron beds in the dark and the growl of a low voice in your ear... the effects stay with you. Shelley Snyder, Immersive Actor at Bridge Command and The Key of Dreams Masquerade By Diane Paulus July 2025 to March 2026 at 218 West 57th, New York Photo: Luis Suarez From the minute audience members step into the show, they are immersed in the world of the Paris Opera House. This isn't just an adaptation of the musical everyone knows and loves - there are references to not only the original novel, but the films too, as well as some new interpretations exclusive to this production. The performers and staff members do a fantastic job of working together to create a seamless experience from beginning to end. The price tag may be high, but it is one of the best immersive experiences one can find right now! Kat Mokrynski, Critic at Broadway World and Little Lark of London What We Must By Aaron James Oliver October to November 2025 at COLAB Tower Photo: Angelina Cage I am a passionate supporter of smaller scale immersive productions, and I always will be. I strongly believe they are the breeding ground of exciting new ideas for the industry, and challenge the rest of the industry to push their boundaries and offer more intimacy, more agency, and more interactivity. What We Must is a great example of all of these tenets. Aaron James Oliver offers a truly collaborative experience, and brings their own unique storytelling elements to shape out their world - a genuinely different approach that strays from the more tried and true methods of engaging audiences. It's really exciting to see someone try a vastly different approach, and I hope they keep experimenting and bringing their unique style to the industry. Danny Romeo, Experience Director and Experience Designer at Phantom Peak, Founding Director of Ludens Theatre Company Alibi: Dead Air By Dean Rogers and Tom Black October 2025 at Theatre Deli Image: Dean Rodgers/Tom Black Jubensha is a relatively new game format to the UK; solving a murder mystery is far more fun when you're one of the suspects, with piles of evidence to review...or tamper with. Shelley Snyder, Immersive Actor at Bridge Command and The Key of Dreams R.O.S.E By Sharon Eyal, Gai Behar, Young and Call Super July 2025 at Sadler's Wells East Photo: Johan Persson This show was both a great night out and a great lesson for me in how atmosphere, sound, and lighting, as opposed to text, can do so much of the immersion in an experience! When I first walked into the space, it was a pitch black, enormous room filled with hundreds of people. I felt like I was swimming in the darkest depths of water. The world was created heavily externally, and overlapped with a personal, familiar favourite setting - a nightclub. We were pulled in and out of being left to usual clubbing behaviour by interspersed dance performances, which always left us wanting more. At the very end of the night, it felt like the wall between the performers, the audience, and the atmosphere of the space was at its thinnest. We were guided by their movements to form a circle around them, and as the music dropped, the evening's built-up tension was released, letting us free to dance as one beating heart. It was beautiful! Mia Foster, UNCLE BARRY Sadler’s Wells was turned into a nightclub on a Sunday night at 7pm. The episodic show alternated between near-blackout stretches of dancing to music by Call Super and Sharon Eyal’s dancers cutting through the space with their otherworldly movements and performances. Each time the dancers appeared, the tension ramped up, until it finally exploded into an ecstatic dance battle. By the end, joining in felt totally irresistible. Ariana Aragon, UNCLE BARRY The Alchemist By Sherlocked December 2022 to September 2026 at Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam Photo: Sherlocked The best escape room I've ever done. Exquisite build. In the final moments, I felt like I was actually in a movie. A movie with special effects, but they weren't special effects; it was like it was real, and I was taking part in some sort of Merlin-oriented, magical, super-sci-fi, amazing adventure movie. It was breathtaking. James Wallman, CEO, World Experience Organization We Should Have Never Walked On The Moon By (LA)HORDE September 2025 at Southbank Centre Photo: We Never Should Have Walked On The Moon What made this three-hour experience work was the freedom to drift around the Southbank. Being able to step in and out of episodes at will reinforced the show’s ideas on fragmented attention and Gen Z internet culture. My own movement, boredom, and curiosity became part of the choreography. I was completely hooked by the performers’ bodies that offered hope amidst the bleak, gritty, and oddly beautiful aesthetic. Ariana Aragon, UNCLE BARRY DATA-COSM [n°1] By Ryoji Ikeda October 2025 to February 2026 at 180 Studios Photo: 180 Studios/Alice Lubbock The best piece of digital immersive art, sound and visual that I've probably ever experienced. At times, you felt like you were floating through space above the planet, and other times, wandering into microscopic areas. It was electric, mesmerising, engrossing, brilliant fun. James Wallman, CEO, World Experience Organization Sophie's Surprise Party By Three Legged Race Productions November to December 2025 at Underbelly Boulevard Soho Photo: Roger Robinson This immersive 90s circus/cabaret party returned to Underbelly as exciting as it was 18 months ago. After one (un)lucky audience member is plucked to play Sophie for the night, there's all the tunes you might expect, party games to get involved with, and plenty of nods to films of the era while an expert crew of circus/cabaret artistes put on an innovative and decidedly adult show. Franco Milazzo, Critic at Broadway World Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha By Julia Masli August to October 2025 at Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre Photo: Austin Ruffer This show inspired me loads! Through the heartwarming and simple concept of asking audience members their problems and solving them with the room, Julia Masli listens and responds to realities that exist for people beyond the theatre walls. As an audience member, it was wonderful to be a part of the playful journey where these problems are explored, transformed, and solved. I was left with a sense of creative possibility and a feeling of empowerment, having been in a space that is supported for people to be bold in their vulnerability. Throughout the show, there is a feeling of precarity, yet we are kept safe at all times whilst drifting between realities with Julia Masli’s otherworldly calming presence. I laughed a lot. The mechanics are fascinating to witness as a maker, and as an audience member, there is such a joy in the show's spirit that allows space for a whole spectrum of emotions. After an evening of assisting in the orchestration of a new reality in which we help solve the problems of people sitting around us, for me, the show tipped into ‘immersive’ when leaving the venue. As you walk out, your eyes catch with fellow audience members, and more conversation than usual is struck up amongst us. There seemed to be a mist of hope that followed you out after the show, as the possibility of what the world could look like if we listened to and helped one another more often hovered in the air. Mia Foster, UNCLE BARRY Mind Control Disco By But Why? Theatre October 2025 at IEN Summit/Dial Arch, Woolwich Image: But Why? Theatre Although I couldn’t see the whole thing, I was able to see experience an extract from But Why?’s Mind Control Disco at the IEN Summit. The show is built upon an incredibly fun concept, taking the form of a club night where each audience member wears headphones and is directed by an ominous voice, connecting people through music and group interactions. I thought the piece did a wonderful job of bringing the audience out of their shells, allowing us to fully embrace the humour and silliness of the show and make genuine connections through music and dance. I would highly recommend Mind Control Disco to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted night out as well as veterans of the immersive scene. Sebastian Huang, Sleepwalk Oscar at the Crown By Shira Milikowsky, Mark Mauriello and Andrew Barret Cox May to November 2025 at The Crown, Tottenham Court Road Photo: Luke Dyson Admittedly, I didn't get to see as many immersive shows as I'd like to this year. I really appreciated Oscar at the Crown's take on an immersive musical. While I think the format needs some rethinking to engage audiences deeper, I don't think anyone has really nailed the balance between proscenium-style musical performances and audience interaction. But Oscar was exciting and high-energy, and did make some good attempts at bringing the audience into the world of the show. The design was colorful and fun, the songs were exciting and high energy, and I think the show made some distinctive steps in the right direction towards a fully immersive musical. Danny Romeo, Experience Director and Experience Designer at Phantom Peak, Founding Director of Ludens Theatre Company COLAB Tower 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London Photo: COLAB Theatre 2025 was a year that swept me away. If anything, it felt a bit like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 once I caught a fish alive, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 then I let it go again. Everything seemed to slip past me before I had time to hold on to it. Yet there were so many intriguing pieces happening out there, and so many compelling ideas about what immersive experiences might become. And honestly, whether they were good or bad or gloriously confusing in between did not matter as much as the sheer exercise of exploring new ways of experiencing performance. And for that, applause is due. Claps to Colab Theatre for making all of this possible right in their backyard, in their saloons of old tiles and slightly questionable gold paint. There are not many organisations in the UK that truly act as catalysts for experimentation and innovation, places where independent artists can settle in and plough their craft. A mother ship of creativity. For me, they were the real show in town this year. And I am already looking forward to what might unfold there in 2026, perhaps something as spectacular as a galactic war. Vinicius Salles

We recap our picks for 2025's best immersive shows as part of our Year In Review series. #5 - Bacchanalia (Sleepwalk) Hoxton Hall, March to April 2025 Photo: Akil Wilson Sleepwalk's 2025 staging of Bacchanalia was one of the most anticipated shows of the year, with the show's initial runs at Crypt in Bethnal Green garnering rave reviews and multiple sold-out runs. Thankfully, their updated staging of the Greek tragedy managed to exceed the already high expectations placed upon it, thanks to a hugely talented cast, an expanded storyline, and a space much better suited to housing such an epic story. Those looking to scratch that Punchdrunk itch found themselves well looked after, too, with plenty of sprinting up and down stairwells, numerous world-class performers, and, of course, additional one-on-one interactions for a lucky few. #4 - Phantom Peak (The League of Adventure) Canada Water, January to December 2025 Photo: Alistair Veryard Phantom Peak's ongoing narrative continued to outshine nearly every other immersive show out there in 2025 with another exceptional year of seasonal updates. Engaging and accessible for first-time visitors, while being deeply rewarding for long-time tourists, the show's ever-changing line-up of genre-bending trails form the backbone of a one-of-a-kind experience that isn't being replicated anywhere else. In years to come, it'll be looked back on as one of the most ambitous pieces of immersive work ever produced. #3 - Creature (Peter Broughton) COLAB Tower, September to November 2025 Photo: Creature/Peter Broughton Peter Broughton's Creature delivered an experience unlike anything else we've ever seen. Fusing puppetry with immersive elements and binaural audio, it's a wildly cinematic thrill ride that offers more jaw-dropping moments in its 20-minute runtime than most shows achieve in multiple hours. It's 2025's best immersive debut, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for it. #2 - The Key of Dreams (Lemon Difficult) Treowen, Wales, January to December 2025 Photo: Lemon Difficult This 24-hour-long immersive experience, created by Lemon Difficult, is rightfully regarded as one of the county’s best. Thanks to a dense narrative, a huge amount of audience agency, and terrific performances from a cast that stays in character for upwards of 12 hours at a time, attendees find themselves slipping deeper and deeper into the show’s world with every passing hour. By nightfall, the intensity ramps up to an almost unbearable level, and every decision, regardless of whether it’s big or small, carries huge weight and even bigger consequences. A must-do for immersive theatre fans everywhere. #1 - Undersigned (Yannick Trapman-O'Brien) COLAB Tower, July 2025 Photo: Lyra Levin After several years of touring the United States, Yannick Trapman-O'Brien's Undersigned made its long-awaited UK debut in 2025 with a short run in London before moving to the Edinburgh Fringe. Using little more than a blindfold, a candle and a notepad, this intimate piece of immersive theatre for an audience of one deftly balances being both emotionally devastating and wonderfully uplifting at the same time. The show has the potential to be life-changing, and for us at least, it has fundamentally altered how we see ourselves. For coverage of all the latest immersive experiences coming to London in 2026, follow us on Instagram, X and BlueSky.

An exclusive look inside Phantom Peak's latest summer offering, Starlit Summer. Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Photo: Alistair Veryard Phantom Peak's Starlit Summer runs until 15th September 2024 in Canada Water. To find out more about the show and to book tickets, visit phantompeak.com

Step Into Room 101 with these first look photos from 1984 :A Unique Theatre Experience at Hackney Town Hall Photo: Maggie Jupe Pure Emotion's site-specific production of 1984: A Unique Theatre Experience began previews earlier this week at Hackney Town Hall. Directed by Jack Reardon, the show stars Dominic Carter (O’Brien), Joe Anderson (Winston), and Neetika Knight (Julia). Jack Reardon, the director of 1984 at Hackney Town Hall, said the following about the show's cast: The cast assembled are truly extraordinary. It is testament to our casting director Fran Cattaneo. Each person has brought such unique insights and flavour to their characters. Dominic Carter’s wealth of experience on stage and screen has made him both a formidable O’Brien and invaluable rehearsal room leader. Joe Anderson’s years oexperience on screen is incredibly captured in this production given the utilisation of live cameras and his experience has evolved the production with innovative ideas. Neetika Knight is a generational talent. Her natural presence on stage and instinctive response to the work has been awe inspiring. Together, we have created an extraordinary principle cast, supported by the extraordinary ensemble cast. Everyone plays an essential role in creating this one of a kind production of 1984. Adam Taub, the executive producer of Pure Expression, said: I am so excited at the talent of the creative team we have brought together for this new production, and the standard of this cast is just the cherry on top.. It is a brand new team and the show is being completely reimagined with astonishing AV, lighting set and sound design - Hackney Town Hall remains the perfect venue for the Ministry of Truth. Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Photo: Maggie Jupe Immersive 1984: A Unique Theatre Experience runs from 1st October 2024 to 22nd December 2024 at Hackney Town Hall. Tickets are priced from £24.50. To find out more and buy tickets, visit immersive1984.com

To reflect on the variety of immersive and interactive shows we've seen debut in 2024, we spoke to immersive creators, performers and writers from companies including COLAB Theatre, Phantom Peak , Deadweight Theatre and Sleepwalk Immersive to find out their favourite pieces of work from the year. The Manikins: A Work In Progress By Jack Aldisert, Deadweight Theatre June-November 2024 at CRYPT, Kingswood Arts and Studio 55 Photo: Marc Tsang When I first read the prototype script for The Manikins around this time last year, I was bowled over. It took several months and some revisions before it was possible to put it on at CRYPT, but it remains one of my favourite pieces of new immersive work ever. Owen Kingston, Artistic Director, Parabolic Theatre and Bridge Command Manikins is a shining example of how much small-scale immersive theatre can achieve. This show has more inventive ideas and novel approaches to immersing audiences than most shows with 6-8 figure budgets. The unique blurring of lines between the world of the play and the audience's reality makes the show gripping and inescapable, and the emerging gameplay offers a unique form of control that audiences can't experience in larger-scale productions. The Manikins uses its intimate nature as its greatest asset, focusing all of the production's attention on a singular audience member, firmly casting them as the driving force behind the narrative. Where bigger productions lean on a more anonymized approach to audience engagement (such as the masks in Punchdrunk productions, or casting audiences within a role like Phantom Peak or Bridge Command), Manikins examines each audience member's pre-existing identity and personality as a core focus of the experience. It allows the show a sense of focus and personalization that can't be found anywhere else. While it's hard to see how these techniques can be applied to a wider audience base, given time I'm sure that Jack Aldisert and Deadweight Theatre will find a solution that's just as inventive and original as their solo concept. I fully expect big things will be coming from this company in the future, especially as they expand into larger spaces and audience capacities. Danny Romeo, Experience Director, Phantom Peak A mind-blowing weird theatre experience, completely unlike anything else out there. Unparalleled emotional impact, all delivered by two actors and a stage manager in a simply furnished room. Cleverly constructed, thoughtfully delivered and quite literally mind-blowing. I can't wait to see what Deadweight get up to next. Katy Naylor, Voidspace So much of Jack's show was a knockout, but it's the repetition that really got me. I love repetition in art, particularly in music. The Manikins manipulated repetition so boldly that it gloriously fucked up everyone lucky enough to go. Nathan Ess, Muddled Marauders Very rarely do you find a show which successfully breaks your perception of what’s real and what is not. However, Jack and his team at Deadweight seemed to manage to do so with ease. I thought the performers were excellent and the simplicity of the set and tech allowed the fantastic writing to shine. From concept to execution, ‘The Manikins’ is one of the strongest pieces I’ve seen in recent memory and I look forward to seeing more creations from Deadweight. Sebastian Huang, Sleepwalk Immersive Bridge Command By Parabolic Theatre March 2024 - Present in Vauxhall Photo: Alex Brenner Bridge Command is an absolute delight. While it's amazing to see Parabolic's years of hard work pay off, the show itself is more than the sum of its parts and is a powerhouse production within the London industry. The set is gorgeous, the tech is impressive, and the premise of flying a spaceship excites my inner child to no end. But what stands out most to me is the effortless collaboration between players that the show inspires. Whether you've known everyone on your team for years or met for the first time minutes ago, Bridge Command's gameplay demands fluid teamwork. I've played the experience twice, each with different groups, and both times our teams started out as individuals trying to be the hero. But the game quickly sets you on the right track, requiring fluid communication between job roles and rewarding groups who support each other. Both of my teams bonded quickly over the course of the show, and we celebrated our wins and losses as a singular unit, which is an impressive achievement for any immersive production. The scope of the show, which boasts an expansive catalogue of unique missions and a progression system, also seems exciting, but I've yet to experience it myself. Parabolic surely have plenty more surprises in store. Here's hoping that their tenure in Vauxhall is a long one, because Bridge Command is an excellent entry point for new audience members into the immersive industry and could prove to be one of the most important productions in the London immersive scene. Danny Romeo, Experience Director, Phantom Peak The big-budget remake of 2019's magical string and sticky tape predecessor delivers a complete storytelling experience. As you operate stations in a spaceship and interact with performers, every word and every pixel work together to create an experience where your actions matter - but also receive a satisfying narrative - without seeing the joins. Absolutely thrilled to see this show back, with the budget it deserves and as strong as ever. Katy Naylor, Voidspace I think what was achieved in terms of not only tech, but world-building and audience agency allowed me to fall into the role of a comms officer with complete immersion. I found the show to be a good balance of theatre and gaming and with multiple spacecrafts and missions, the draw to return is definitely strong. Sebastian Huang, Sleepwalk Immersive Parabolic being the classic, brilliant Parabolic. A well-designed game given a slab of cash just made it feel so immersive. There was a moment in the med bay (which I don't think we were supposed to be using - sorry gang!) but the scanner just made me giggle with glee. Bertie Watkins, Founder/Director, COLAB Theatre The Key of Dreams By Lemon Difficult April 2024 - Present in Treowen, Wales. Photo: Lemon Difficult This 24-hour horror adventure delivers on every front with a deep storyline that develops hour by hour to a satisfying finale, intense acting from a committed cast and a highly immersive environment. Franco Milazzo, Critic, BroadwayWorld UK Almost overwhelmingly dense world-building and lore to be uncovered in this 24-hour immersive/puzzle/sleuth/weird experience set in a 17c Welsh country house While hardcore clue hunters will love whipping around the place in a frenzy of discovery, what I loved was the opportunity to really get to know characters, absorb the uncanny atmosphere in the bones of the house and throw myself into the action as darkness fell and things grew stranger. Katy Naylor, Voidspace This is what free-roaming immersive theatre should be. A long, carefully crafted, deep-worlded performance that is impressively easy to slip into. The piece is scaffolded by precise, complex, and apparently adaptive dramaturgy that keeps the experience manageable despite the often overwhelming amount of content and the difficulty of portraying Lovecraftian elements in live performance. The actors, though, are the centerpiece of this production. The impressively durational and flexible performances by actors who clearly care deeply about their characters and their relationships with the audience make this show special, and they will stick with us for a long time. Jack Aldisert and Dominika Uçar, Directors, Deadweight Theatre Viola's Room By Punchdrunk May - December 2024 at One Cartridge Place I know it's a cop-out choosing the biggest immersive company (and I think it probably is more of an indication of how little, in my limited opinion, shows came out this year) but I just loved the bit when there was a miniature city with mini moving lights. It was a stand-out moment for me this year when I literally couldn't help but shout - 'wow'. It was a special moment and showed you don't need big epic sets to make an impact (even though that moment probably cost more than an entire fringe show...) Bertie Watkins, Founder/Director, COLAB Theatre The lighting, sound, and set design were all stunning! This show was a wonderful reminder that you can create theatre and art just by creating an environment that feels truthful and grounded. Having no shoes brought me into the experience even more - it was a sensory masterpiece. Serena Lehman, Actor (The Manikins: a work in progress) The whole show felt like you were stepping into another world, the story, the soundtrack, the sensory element, everything was just perfect. Puck, Magician and Actor (Rhythm&Ruse) Phantom peak By The League of Adventure March - December 2024 in Canada Water Photo: Alistair Veryard Consistently the best immersive show in London with continuous bursts of invention and ideas throughout the year. Franco Milazzo, Critic, BroadwayWorld UK Phantom Peak is incredible! An open-world video game mixed with immersive theatre, the perfect recipe for a fun time. Each time I’ve been has been so fun and different, and the characters you meet and learn stories from are all a delight. Puck, Magician and Actor (Rhythm&Ruse) Horizon of Khufu By Excurio October 2023 - December 2024 at Westfield Stratford Photo: Excurio There's a long list of new shows I haven't yet made it to this year yet, but this free-roaming VR experience I did in New York (also in London) left an impression. It takes you on a dreamlike journey into an Egyptian tomb late at night, blending digital historical recreation with interactive storytelling. Simple in design and narrative, but expansive in a way I’ve rarely seen in location-based VR. By the end, you feel like you’ve truly walked/travelled on a real expedition, rather than just crossing a room or two, heightening immersion. And it oozes atmosphere—exactly how my inner child (and adult self) dreams of experiencing and understanding history. Jack Pirie, Director/Creative Director, Elvis Evolution, The War of the Worlds Immersive, Jetpack Odyssey The Great Murder Mystery By The Lost Estate March - September 2024 in West Kensington An incredible retelling of a much loved story, The Hound of the Baskervilles in a theatre dining experience that is best-in-class. The food was an experience in itself and blew my socks off. Honestly, every dish I was excited about before it even arrived at the table. The theatre is brilliantly written, directed & performed. Tom Shannon’s set design is first class and kept the surprises coming. Really was the best night at the theatre I had this year. Neil Connolly, Creative Director, Immersive Everywhere Fight Night By Ontroerend Goes October 2024 at Watford Palace Theatre Photo: Ontoerend Goes Exposing the flaws and hypocrisies of the democratic process through an audience-driven voting-based competition. While political statements were kept out of the picture, OG nevertheless exposed the flaws at the heart of the process that provided an unsettling lesson in the madness of crowds and what it means to 'take back control'. Katy Naylor, Voidspace La Bohème By Bread and Bus Stop November - December 2024 at Safehouse 1, Peckham Photo: Bread and Bus Stop The immersive elements landed the story successfully even for audiences that normally don't connect with opera. Temperature, dynamic movement, spatial elements, and proximity with the performers all brought the audience into the story and created connections with the characters that were more intimate than in typical operatic performance practice. Hannah Gintberg-Dees, Director, Deadweight Theatre This Time (Travel) Will Be Different By Chloe Mashiter June 2024 at Theatre Deli Photo: James Lawson This was an enchanting hour of lo-fi high-concept interactive theatre. One performer (also the creator, the immensely talented Chloe Mashiter) ably led a tightly-packed room through a clever exploration of the logic of timeloops, with lots of time travel jokes (better ones than the clichés you may be tired of by now!). I came away with warm feelings and buzzy thoughts about time travel, and the emotional connections we make in the real world where we (usually) only get to do things once. Tom Black, Co-founder, Bridge Command and Jury Games Where We Meet By Unwired Dance Theatre June 2024 at Theatre Deli Photo: Romain Tissot Using headphones, which allows performers to curate the soundtrack that they send to their free-roaming audience, Where We Meet allows us to understand the inner thoughts and be truly close to the characters. Katy Naylor, Voidspace Unfurl By Bubble Club Photo: Bubble Club Unfurl takes place in Room 2 of Bubble Club, an accessible club night in East London. Hosted by Tilley, Del and Isaac, it mixes art installation, Puffing and Wooling, improv, interactive performance, and open mic. It's immersive, interactive, and utterly unique - consistently the most joyous experience in London. Nathan Ess, Muddled Marauders A Quest For Rest By Ariella Stoian & Mushmoss Collective June 2024 at Theatre Deli Part-game, part-exhibit, part-theatre (my descriptors, not the creators), this was a lovingly-crafted and detailed exploration of energy management and chronic fatigue. It's the most effective example that I have yet encountered of the form of interactive theatre being used to explain concepts that are difficult to comprehend simply through reading or listening. It did all this while remaining charmingly light in tone, and gave me that feeling that immersive work is uniquely-placed to provide: empathy. Tom Black, Co-founder, Bridge Command and Jury Games Uwolnienie By Zenon Fajfer and Kuba Kowalski Numerous dates throughout 2024 at Wrocławski Teatr Współczesny, Wrocław, Poland Photo: Filip Wierzbicki This was an immersive performance inside a proscenium theatre that turned the proscenium space into an immersive, non-traditional performance environment in a clever post-modern deconstruction of the theatre. A boundary-pushing, political challenge to the audience that never lost its sense of humour and delight. I'd never seen anything quite like it before. Dominika Uçar, Director, Deadweight Theatre A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute to this article. For coverage of all the latest immersive experiences coming to London in 2025, follow us on Instagram, X and BlueSky.

Photo: Grant Walker The much-loved Backyard Cinema has returned to London bigger, bolder, and more spectacular than ever with an all-new Christmas experience that promises to celebrate the festive season in true West End style. Celebrating the nation’s most loved festive films, from Elf and Home Alone to Love Actually and The Holiday, this year’s production transforms the movie-going experience into a full-scale theatrical event; a Christmas spectacular that fuses film, music, and live performance into one unforgettable celebration. Photo: Grant Walker Directed by acclaimed Creative Director Stuart Glover (Speakeasy UK Tour & West End featuring Strictly stars Karen and Gorka, Madagascar The Musical, The SpongeBob Musical, We Will Rock You, Footloose), this year’s production transforms the movie experience into a full-scale theatrical event; a Christmas spectacular where live music, performance, and festive nostalgia set the stage before audiences sit down to enjoy their favourite Christmas films. Running until 31st December, Christmas at Backyard Cinema will once again transform a Victorian warehouse space, this time on Tanner Street, London Bridge Backyard’s most central London location to date and transform it into a breathtaking Enchanted Forest Theatre: a hidden world of festive wonder and performance, just moments from Borough Market, Maltby Street and Tower Bridge. Photo: Grant Walker This is Christmas reimagined as pure spectacle. From the moment audiences step inside, they’ll be immersed in a living, breathing festive show — free to wander through scenes of wonder brought to life by West End stars and festive acrobats. The cast includes AJ Jenks (The Buddy Holly Story, Saturday Night Fever, Million Dollar Quartet), Joel Priest (Between the Sheets), Eve Maidwell (A Christmas Carol, Connections The Musical), Aaron Bladen (Cinderella, Sappho, The Three Little Pigs), Madeleine Wilshire (The Grimoire Diaries, Alice in Wonderland, The Vilebites), and viral sensation Matt Kent (@iammattkent – “Turning Classical Music into Pop Songs”). Expect festive cabaret, live music, and secret theatrical moments unfolding before the film even begins. Across three spectacular spaces, guests will encounter world-class vocals, spontaneous performances, and atmospheric bars—all culminating in an unforgettable cinematic finale. Photo: Grant Walker In the Christmas Cabaret Room, expect performances of classic Christmas hits delivered by a talented West End cast of singers and musicians, with vibrant table service that brings the festive spirit roaring to life. Inside The Enchanted Forest, a spellbinding indoor world awaits, made up of towering trees, 20 tonnes of real bark underfoot, and surprise performances around every corner. Tucked among the trees, a cosy hidden cabin and themed bars await, creating the ultimate festive retreat. Finally, guests are led in a joyful carol-singing procession to The Cosy Forest Cinema, a retro-style theatre where it snows before every screening, marking the perfect crescendo to this theatrical journey through Christmas magic. Photo: Grant Walker Creative Director Stuart Glover says: We’re creating a truly theatrical experience, a celebration of Christmas that combines the storytelling of cinema with the joy and energy of live performance. It’s designed to surprise, delight, and completely immerse audiences in the spirit of the season. Founder and CEO of Backyard Cinema, Dominic Davies, adds: It’s been three years since our last Christmas show in London, and we knew we had to come back with a bang. We have a brand-new venue, a brand-new show, and a host of magical surprises waiting to be discovered. This isn’t just a return. It’s a reinvention, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Photo: Grant Walker This year’s film line-up features beloved Christmas favourites, each packed with nostalgia, laughter, and heart: Elf (2003) / Home Alone (1990) / Love Actually (2003) / How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) / The Holiday (2006) / The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) / The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) / Miracle on 34th Street (1994) / The Grinch (2018) / It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). With five screenings daily from midday to 8 pm, including family-friendly matinees, Christmas at Backyard Cinema offers something for everyone - from families and couples to friends and festive work socials. Every ticket includes the full cinema experience plus an hour of live, immersive theatrical entertainment from the moment you arrive - the ultimate way to kickstart Christmas in style. Christmas at Backyard Cinema runs until 31st December 2025 (Closed on 25th and 26th December) at 49 Tanner Street near London Bridge. Tickets are priced from £26.50 and can be booked via backyardcinema.co.uk

From boozy immersive dive bars, to fantastical Christmas adventures and festive three-course meals, here are our recommendations for the best immersive experiences in London this side of New Year's... With the nights drawing in and the temperature beginning to drop, Christmas is fast approaching. While London has no shortage of festive activities, you might be on the lookout for something a bit more interactive and immersive. We've made a list, checked it twice, and these are our picks of London's best immersive experiences this Christmas. From family-friend festive adventures to immersive three-course meals and adults-only parties with Santa, these are the capital's top immersive offerings this Christmas... HUMBUG! Immersive Christmas Dive Bar Photo: Grant Walker Returning for 2025 after a second sold-out festive season, HUMBUG is an immersive adults-only Christmas dive bar experience. Split into two halves, with live music, festive DJs and singalongs following the 2-hour main show, guests need to try and help Santa regain their Christmas spirit in his favourite watering hole alongside a cast of characters including Daphne, the disgruntled dive bar waitress, Johnny, the leader of the in-house band, and Howard the mailman, who's misplaced all of the letters addressed to Santa after one too many cocktails. Expect live music, Christmas cabaret sing-alongs, immersive storytelling, and hidden experiences throughout the venue. Throughout the night, guests can sip on festive tipples from HUMBUG’s ‘Naughty or Nice’ cocktail menu and enjoy festive-themed street food from Bang Bang Burger. Photo: Grant Walker Santa’s been working overtime for centuries and he’s hit breaking point so, of course, he’s back at his favourite dive bar where Christmas cheer (and booze) is available on tap. Along with some of Santa’s closest friends, guests will be tasked with bringing their Christmas A-game, ready to help the big man get his groove back and, as long as they do, everyone will be rewarded with an epic party complete with confetti canons, merriment and festive surprises. Photos: Grant Walker 📍 Waterloo 💰 From £22.00 🕒 18th November - 31st December 2025 🎟️ Book via feverup.com PHantom Peak's Wintermas Photo: Alistair Veryard Hot on the heels of its excellent Halloween season, the town of Phantom Peak is once again getting a festive makeover for its annual Christmas offering, Wintermas. Continuing the show's ongoing story, this festive edition of the platypus-obsessed mining town will have 11 brand-new trails for guests to complete. As ever, last year's Wintermas saw the return of demigod Father Platmas, who vowed to take down JONACO following their imprisonment in a make-shift jail during Phantom Peak's first Wintermas. While the specifics of exactly what's in store for the town this Wintermas are still under wraps, it's safe to assume that the town will be on high alert for the return of the man in purple. To finish all the trails on offer at Phantom Peak, you'll need at least three visits, but a one-off trip is still a great experience, with the various storylines you complete throughout the 4-hour-long experience all getting wrapped up during the closing ceremony. There's also a string of additional activities on offer, including carnival games, a visit to Father Platmas' Grotto to spin the wheel (Don't land on 'Death'!) and the Wintermas Puzzle Hunt for those looking to pack their visit full of extra festive cheer. Photos: Alistair Veryard Step into Phantom Peak's one-of-a-kind Wintermas celebrations, where festive fun meets the usual adventures and mystery of town. Join Mayor Pocket, Dr Winter, and all of your favourite townsfolk as we present a season full of surprises, schemes, shivers, and secrets - a season where the town itself faces the biggest challenge yet. 📍 Canada Water 💰 From £30.00 🕒 21st November 2025 - 18th January 2026 🎟️ Book via phantompeak.com The Nutcracker Noir - Immersive Dining Experience Photo: Matt Crockett Taking over Protein Studios in Shoreditch across November and December, The Nutcracker Noir is the latest production from Secret Theatre and DesignScene. The show combines world-class performances, mischief and theatrical storytelling with a decadent three-course meal, put together by Feast & Fable's Jenny McNeill (Gingerline, Fat Duck). Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet, The Nutcracker Noir follows the story of Clara, an orphan raised in a fantastical world, as she searches for her long-lost father and finds herself directing her own wild adaptation of The Nutcracker in her quest to save her father’s theatre. Before guests take their seats, there are five interactive spaces filled with captivating performances, hidden surprises and extraordinary characters, and with a cast made up of West End talent with shows like Hamilton, Wicked and Cabaret on their CVs, the show boasts to have some top-tier talent on stage. Behind the scenes, the show is co-directed by Richard Crawford (Secret Theatre's SE7EN / The Great Gatsby) and Gary Lloyd (who's previously worked as the choreographer on shows such as Thriller Live and Heathers: The Musical). The Nutcracker Noir is an epic adaptation of a classic Christmas tale. Guests will be transported into a fantastical, wonderful world with an outrageous dining banquet at its core. Move through a series of immersive worlds to discover the newly created Christmas story of The Nutcracker Noir before taking your seat as the culinary experience unfolds in tandem with the show. Explore and experience rooms, hidden surprises and interact with stunning characters, all designed to bring the adventure to life. Immersed in a vibrant and jubilant feast that intertwines with the action, providing a festive extravaganza of dance, music, food and one hell of a Christmas story. Photos: Matt Crockett 📍 Shoreditch 💰 From £48.00 (Bar Seating) 🕒 25th November - 21st December 2025 🎟️ Book via feverup.com The Great Christmas Feast - Immersive Dining Experience Image: The Lost Estate The Great Christmas Feast is one of London's immersive dining mainstays. Now entering its eighth year, the show has quickly become many people's annual tradition, and for good reason - this immersive production of A Christmas Carol is famed for its world-class storytelling and excellent menu. It's Christmas Eve 1894, and Charles Dickens is opening the doors to his home to guests... Expect to tuck into a three-course meal designed by Ashley Clarke that's described as a 'love letter to Christmas in Victorian London', with choices that include either Rare Breed Beef or Hot Smoked Salmon for starters, Roast Duck Leg or a Pithivier of Shitake & King Oyster Mushroom for main. The dessert is, of course, Christmas Pudding, but alongside it there's a selection of Victorian-inspired cocktails on offer, including the legendary Smoking Bishop, Pear Tree Cup, and Devonshire Punch. David Alwyn (Secret Cinema, Peaky Blinders: The Rise, Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience) stars as Charles Dickens in the immersive show that's seen critical acclaim and sold-out performances for the last seven years. Christmas Eve. Charles Dickens – writer, performer, occasional magician – is preparing his famous annual feast at his home near Regents Park. This year is very different. Charles has spent months stalking the City at midnight; locked in his study, weeping and gaffawing at who knows what; ushering vast theatrical machines into his home amid the pre-dawn light. Tonight, you and his other guests will discover why. Tonight, ‘A Christmas Carol’, the greatest festive tale ever told, will be born. Video: The Lost Estate 📍 West Kensington 💰 From £139.50 🕒 14th November 2025 - 4th January 2026 🎟️ Book via christmasfeast.thelostestate.com Wundrful World of Christmas Photo: Wundrful World of Christmas Created by immersive entertainment company Wundr, and produced in partnership with Live Venture Group, Wundrful World of Christmas comes direct from Australia for its UK debut. The experience invites guests on a 50-minute walk-through, theatrical journey to the North Pole, blending rich storytelling, live performance, dynamic animated content, projection screen technology, detailed sets and sensory design to create a magical and interactive celebration of the season. Children and their grown-ups journey through a series of fantastical rooms, guided by a cast of animated characters and real-life actors. They have the chance to meet Santa’s hard-working elves, sort magical mail, and travel skyward in a simulated lift ride to explore a snowy ‘Wundrland’, and enjoy festive tales with Mrs Claus in her cosy cottage. Rounding things off, there's a heart-warming encounter and photo opportunity with Santa Claus himself included in the price (No upselling! It's a Christmas miracle!). Perfect for young believers aged 3 to 8 and their families, Wundrful World of Christmas is a celebration of imagination, wonder and joy, and offers guests a brand-new way to experience the magic of Christmas this festive season. Wundrful World of Christmas is now coming to the UK for the very first time. This 50-minute-long immersive, festive adventure will open in a specially selected venue just moments from Borough Market, transforming one of London’s most historic neighbourhoods into a world of Christmas magic. Children and their grown-ups will journey through a series of fantastical rooms, guided by a cast of animated characters and real-life actors. They will have the chance to meet Santa’s hard-working elves, sort magical mail, and travel skyward in a simulated lift ride to explore a snowy ‘Wundrland’, enjoy festive tales with Mrs Claus in her cosy cottage, and finish with a heart-warming encounter and photo opportunity with Santa Claus himself, a family moment to treasure. Photos: Wundrful World of Christmas 📍 London Bridge 💰 From £22.50 🕒 8th November - 24th December 2025 🎟️ Book via wundr.live/london Fireside Tales Image: Punchdrunk Enrichment The second show to launch at Punchdrunk Enrichment's new permanent venue in Wembley Park, Fireside Tales, is aimed at children aged 7-11, and invites guests to step into a magical world to help preserve the long-held tradition of oral storytelling. As you'd expect, there'll be meticulously crafted sets, plenty of interaction, and the lion's share of the cast's attention is given to younger audience members. Fireside Tales is written and directed by incoming Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Enrichment Steve McCourt with additional material devised by the company. The cast (who will rotate two roles in the production) are Siddiqua Akhtar (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, BBC/Netflix), Rebecca Clark (who has performed recently with Frantic Assembly and Complicité), Amari Harris (who has collaborated with venues including the Old Vic and Half Moon Theatre in his work as a storyteller and drama facilitator) and Alex Stedman (The Lost Lending Library, Punchdrunk Enrichment; Murder On The Orient Express, UK & Ireland Tour). While Punchdrunk Enrichment was originally founded in 2008 to take the innovative practices of immersive jugganauts Punchdrunk into schools, community and family settings, they became an independent charity in 2021, and have since gone on to create a series of shows, including Enitan’s Game, a production for 7-11 year olds and their family which opened their venue in Brent and Against Captain’s Orders, a family show created in partnership with the National Maritime Museum. Fireside Tales is a new immersive experience for children aged 7-11 and their grown-ups. Step into a magical world where stories flicker like flames and imagination keeps them burning bright. For thousands of years, we have gathered to share tales around the fire. But this tradition is fading, and many stories are at risk of being lost. When a new story arrives — faint as an ember, not brave enough to be told — it needs your help to be heard. Developed with schools, this interactive adventure encourages you to draw, write and share your own stories. Without your care, the fire might fade, be forgotten or take on a dangerous new form. This is a show about the stories we tell, the ones we pass down, and the ones we forget — and what happens when we take the time to listen. Photos: Nina Photography 📍 Wembley Park 💰 From £15.00 🕒 6th December 2025 - 4th January 2026 🎟️ Book via punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk A Merry Misrule Image: Battersea Arts Centre/Wild Rumpus Following the success of last year's family-focused immersive offering, The Holly King and The Oak King, Wild Rumpus returns to Battersea Arts Centre with their latest immersive show, A Merry Misrule. In this brand-new show, audiences will be invited to enter a magical world, venturing through an immersive, theatrical trail, meeting new characters to learn about Yuletide traditions from across Europe. Audiences aged 3+ will be taken on a journey to tackle unruly festive folklore characters that have run amok and restore peace and joy to the holiday season. Alongside A Merry Misrule, Santa is also setting up shop in his very own Grotto at BAC from 6th to 24th December, where little ones can share their Christmas wishes, get their name added to the nice list and receive a gift from the main man himself, creating lasting memories for the whole family at the most wonderful time of the year. After last year’s five-star festive performance, The Holly King and The Oak King, award-winning immersive arts creators Wild Rumpus return to Battersea Arts Centre with a new family adventure. Across Europe, mischievous Yuletide traditions have run riot, and it’s up to YOU to save Winter from chaos. Guided by the rousing ‘Resistance Rabbit’, wander through enchanted lands and meet characters intent on causing disruption to the most wonderful time of the year. Can you join the mission to bring harmony back to the holidays? ​ Photo: Ali Wright 📍 Clapham Junction 💰 From £15.00 🕒 29th November - 24th December 2025 🎟️ Book via bac.org.uk Christmas at Backyard Cinema Photo: Grant Walker Celebrating the nation’s most loved festive films, from Elf and Home Alone to Love Actually and The Holiday, this year’s festive edition of Backyard Cinema transforms the movie-going experience into a full-scale theatrical event that fuses film, music, and live performance. Running until 31st December, Christmas at Backyard Cinema has transformed a Victorian warehouse space, this time on Tanner Street, London Bridge, into a breathtaking Enchanted Forest Theatre: a hidden world of festive wonder and performance, just moments from Borough Market, Maltby Street and Tower Bridge. Expect festive cabaret, live music, and secret theatrical moments unfolding before the film even begins. Across three spectacular spaces, guests will encounter world-class vocals, spontaneous performances, and atmospheric bars—all culminating in an unforgettable cinematic finale. Backyard Cinema returns to London bigger, bolder, and more spectacular than ever with an all-new Christmas experience that promises to open the festive season with a bang! You’ll get to roam freely through the Enchanted Forest and enjoy an hour of immersive entertainment across multiple rooms made up of live music, Christmas Cabaret, festive bars, cosy seating areas and surprise performances. All topped off by a screening of your favourite festive movie. Photo: Grant Walker 📍 London Bridge 💰 From £26.50 🕒 26th November - 31st December 2025 🎟️ Book via backyardcinema.co.uk For the latest news and updates on all things immersive in London, follow us on Instagram 🎅

Photo: Nina Photography New production photography has been released today, giving a first look at the world premiere of Punchdrunk Enrichment’s Fireside Tales, an enchanting interactive adventure for children aged 7-11 and their grown-ups, running at Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores in Wembley Park, Brent, from 6th December 2025 to 4th January 2026. Photo: Nina Photography Fireside Tales is written and directed by incoming Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Enrichment, Steve McCourt, with additional material devised by the company. The cast (who will rotate two roles in the production) are Siddiqua Akhtar (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, BBC/Netflix; Tartuffe, Birmingham Rep), Rebecca Clark (who has performed recently with Frantic Assembly and Complicité), Amari Harris (who has collaborated with venues including the Old Vic and Half Moon Theatre in his work as a storyteller and drama facilitator) and Alex Stedman (The Lost Lending Library, Punchdrunk Enrichment; Murder On The Orient Express, UK & Ireland Tour). Photo: Nina Photography The creative team includes design by Mydd Pharo (who has designed and directed works for WildWorks, Kneehigh, Shakespeare’s Globe, Royal Court, National Theatre and Young Vic), costume design by Melissa Simon-Hartman (who has collaborated with global icons including Beyoncé and Doja Cat, and whose work has been featured by artists such as Little Mix, Stefflon Don and Wizkid, and appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, VOGUE and GQ), lighting design by Sarah Readman (whose credits include Enitan’s Game, Punchdrunk Enrichment; The Glass Menagerie, Yard Theatre and The Burnt City, Punchdrunk - as Lighting Associate) and sound design by Dominic Kennedy (whose credits include Enitan’s Game, Punchdrunk Enrichment; God’s Dice, Soho Theatre; You Stupid Darkness, Paines Plough). Photo: Nina Photography Fireside Tales is a show about the stories we tell, the ones we pass down, the ones we forget and what happens when we take the time to listen. Audiences are invited to step into a magical world where stories flicker like flames and imagination keeps them burning bright. Developed with schools, Fireside Tales encourages young audiences to draw, write and share their own stories. Fireside Tales run at Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores in Wembley Park until 4th January 2026. Tickets are priced from £15, and can be booked via punchdrunkenrichment.org

Photo: NEON/World Heritage Exhibitions NEON in partnership with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiques and the Egyptian Museum has announced that Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold, a spectacular international exhibition celebrating the reign, power, and legacy of Ramses the Great. Opening 28th February 2026, this major cultural event will be exclusively hosted at NEON at Battersea Power Station as part of its global tour following acclaimed runs in Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, and Tokyo. Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold marks a cornerstone moment in the area’s cultural expansion and is anticipated to be one of London’s most unforgettable exhibitions of 2026. Photo: NEON/World Heritage Exhibitions Featuring 180 priceless artefacts and opulent treasures from the reign of Ramses and ancient Egypt, including ornately carved sarcophagi, animal mummies, magnificent jewellery, stunning royal masks, and exquisite amulets the exhibition features many objects that have never before left Egypt. Visitors will encounter the original wooden coffin that once held Ramses II’s mummy as one of the exhibition highlights, offering an extraordinary connection to history. Over 3,000 years old, all of the artefacts in Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold have come from museums and historical sites in Egypt and are on loan to the exhibition from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. Through immersive galleries and state-of-the-art storytelling, visitors will step into the extraordinary world of King Ramses II, widely known as Ramses the Great. Part of the 19th dynasty, Ramses II ruled Egypt for nearly 67 years and is celebrated as the mighty warrior-king who helped define the height of Ancient Egyptian civilisation. Photo: NEON/World Heritage Exhibitions Known for his extensive monument-building, military strategy and diplomacy, and a vast dynasty of more than 100 children, Ramses remains one of history’s most iconic pharaohs. The exhibition also features an immersive virtual reality experience, transporting visitors deep into Ramses’ legacy from the resplendent Tomb of Queen Nefertari to the monumental temples of Abu Simbel. Ron Tan, Group CEO of NEON, said: We are truly honoured to present Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold at NEON at Battersea Power Station. At a time when the world is celebrating the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, this remarkable experience offers a timely and extraordinary journey into one of humanity’s greatest civilisations. By uniting priceless artefacts with immersive storytelling, we bring the wonder of Ancient Egypt to life in a way audiences have never experienced before. As Battersea continues its cultural evolution, we look forward to welcoming London to discover the richness, legacy, and enduring fascination of Ramses the Great through this world-class experience. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Minister of Antiquities of Egypt, said: Ramses the Great was a remarkable pharaoh who helped shape the legacy of Egypt. Many of these treasured artefacts have never travelled outside the country before, and London is about to witness something extraordinary. This exhibition provides a rare opportunity for people to come face to face with the world of Ramses in all its glory before they are returned to Egypt and placed at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum. It is my hope that by discovering the story of Ramses, audiences will be inspired to explore Ancient Egypt further and to deepen their appreciation for its enduring cultural importance. Photo: NEON/World Heritage Exhibitions Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold opens at NEON at Battersea Power Station on 28th February 2026. Tickets are priced from £24.90 for Adults, with discounts available for children and seniors. To find out more and book tickets, visit ramsestheexhibition.co.uk/london