There was a time, not so long ago, when we couldn’t even sit next to the other members of the audience. Now we are getting fully immersive with the whole cast.
Theatre goers in London in 2023 can get cosy with the cast of several immersive musicals in London: Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre (re-branded the Kit Club Club for the purpose), Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls at The Bridge Theatre, Deja Vu Kabaret at The Red Lion in Leytonstone and, probably the most famous, Mamma Mia The Party at the O2.
Before the show, guests are invited to enjoy the Kit Kat Club with drinks, dining and pre-show entertainment all on offer. When booking, guests will receive a ‘club entry time’ so they’re able to immerse themselves in the club, encouraged to arrive early, leaving plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny of the Kit Kat Club before the show begins although actual interaction with the cast is limited.
The Bridge transforms for Guys and Dolls – one of the greatest musicals of all time. Based on the short stories and characters created by Damon Runyon, this production of Frank Loesser musical has seating wrapped around the action while the immersive, standing tickets transport you to the streets of Manhattan and the bars of Havana.
Deja Vu Kabaret on the other hand is written specifically for the venue, with audiences being taking from room to room to discover the stories of what happened during the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul in 2013 between police, protesters and performers.
In this production, interaction is key as performers engage with the audience in a space typical of the Turkish genre of “alternative theatres”; putting on shows away from traditional theatre buildings to help deepen the relationship between cast and audience.
And, like the Savoy Theatre on the Strand, the Red Lion even has it’s own hotel, so you can see the show AND stay the night for a mini break in Leytonstone!
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Deja Vue only has one performance left, if you are quick, book here, but Cabaret and Guys and Dolls theatre breaks are already booking to 2024.
Also check out The Choir of Man where you can join the cast for a drink before the show and even play pub games.
