Against Captain's Orders

Welcome aboard the HMS Adventure! We're a little cheesy here but totally awesome too. To get you ready for your immersion, floatation vests! You there, you look like you like shiny objects, you can be part of our Salvage crew. And you, the tall gangly one, you look like you have a sharp eye, we'll put you in Ships Watch. Right-o, have we got everyone? Navigation crew? Midshipmen? Ready? Good. Let's go!

Its Thursday night and I've dashed out of work to make one of the 'Against Captain's Orders' adults only (no, not that kind of adults only!) sessions at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. I could tell you what happened. I could. And I so, SO want to. But really, do you want me to spoil it for you? What I will tell you is that the sets are jaw-droppingly detailed, the actors funny, the story clever and, at just under an hour, it left me wanting more. I wanted time to wander around the set, like I had in The Drowned Man, and lose myself in this 'other' world.

Against Captain's Orders is an immersive theatre collaboration between the incredible Punchdrunk and the National Maritime Museum. The adults only sessions are open to Punchdrunk Keyholders and Museum members. But anyone can become a key holder or a member, for a price. I myself am just crazy enough about Punchdrunk that a became a Keyholder just for this event, and in the hopes that there might be more this year. Or, if you have kids, this is a great thing to do with them, you dont have a member or keyholder to attend with kids.

So, will you be brave and dare sail into the unknown???

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Curiouser and curiouser!

You know I've become *slightly* addicted to immersive theatre ever since Punchdrunk. So when I heard of Alice's Adventures Underground, I decided to take a tumble down the rabbit hole and go on my own adventure in Wonderland - which just so happens to be under the arches of Waterloo station, don't you know?

Its a wonderful immersive experience, I wasnt just a bystander watching a scene unfold but I was seen, spoken to and given jobs to do - but I could also just watch. I loved the tunnel of books (and I totally want one), the Cheshire cat, the haunting Mockturtle's song, the acrobatics of tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee, the Mad tea party and the cheeky Red Queen who kept blowing kisses to all those who were designated a heart suit during the court scene.

"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail.
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle--will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go."
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Eat me, drink me
I chose the "eat me" option and was given a small candy before being shown through to be assigned a S.U.I.T and beginning my own adventure into the nonsensical, mad and utterly enchanting world of Wonderland. The lovely Emma, my fellow Wonderland adventurer, was given a different S.U.I.T so we were temporarily split up, but that was OK as we got to compare notes afterwards. The outcome of comparing notes? We want to go again and try the "drink me" path!

I don't want to give too much away, it really is a fun experience. Also, as a nice bonus to attending one of the shows, the card given to you, your S.U.I.T, can be used to go back into the quirky bar area (complete with maze, croquet space and live music on weekends) on other evenings and you can bring 3 friends - a great twist on a night out.

The show is running till the end of August so you still have time, just don't be late like the White Rabbit!

What do you think? Would you be game to take a tumble down the rabbit hole?

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Enter the world of Temple Studios

Photo by Pari via NT

There is darkness...

A nervous excitement...

The labyrinth of the studios swallows my friends...

I am alone.

Or am I?

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