He proceeded to tell the story of what happened to him and his friends when they entered Sleep No More, an immersive theatre installation created by British theatre company Punchdrunk and EMURSIVE, which takes place inside the fictional McKittrick Hotel (a reference to the film Vertigo). This morning I caught the beginning of LIVE With Kelly with Neil Patrick Harris co-hosting alongside Kelly Ripa, and he told a story about one of the most incredible theatrical / immersive / bizarro / adventurous experiences he has ever had in his entire life which took place recently in New York City. Until May, 7pm/7.15pm/7.30pm/7.45pm (Wed-Sat) and 3pm/3.15pm/3.30pm/3.45pm (Sat-Sun), RMB550 (RMB650 on Fri-Sat evenings).Ladies and gents, I think I’ve just discovered what I want to do with the rest of my life. As the show’s producer Colin Nightingale told That’s, “A lot of the storytelling comes out of conversations between audience members after the show.” While it’s impossible to unlock all of the show’s secrets in one visit, part of Sleep No More’s appeal comes from each audience member leaving with their own unique experience. Sleep No More is so cleverly designed that it constantly reminds you that you’re more than an observer of a show, but an active participant. One note though: don’t be surprised if any performer attempts to make physical contact and engage you into the story. It’s wise to start your own adventure, let your natural detective instincts take the lead and explore the rich environment for hidden plots scattered around the hotel. A small, non-descript club with cheesy neon lights flickering above its door is home to Macbeth’s famed witches and fascinating lighting show stalls.ĭon’t worry if you lose track of your character or get tired of chasing people around. The third floor might be the most time consuming, with a street full of stores and houses to explore. The second floor, for example, is home to the hotel's check-in desk where audience members may witness a fight or even a murder. However, before we could decipher who the other characters are, the performers suddenly stand up, and scatter in different directions, forcing us to quickly decide who to follow.Įach floor presents a different theme and is composed of different venues. It’s clear that the couple seated at each end of the table is Macbeth and his wife. While there is no verbal communication throughout the show, Sleep No More is able to paint its story through physical movement, eye contact and remarkable sound design. Eight performers, dressed in suits and modern gowns, move in unfathomably controlled motions bewitching the masked audience observing in the dark. With 18 hours of content programmed into the show, Sleep No More promises to provide a show unique to each audience member.įor us, we stumble upon a goosebumps-inducing dining scene at the start. After walking through a pitch-dark tunnel that sets the mood, audience members enter a vintage speakeasy that channels the ambiance of 1930s Shanghai, which also doubles as a safe spot to take a break during the three-hour show.īased on the cards they drew earlier, groups are sent to different floors after each person receives a mask. Sitting quietly on the corner of Beijing Xi Lu, the McKinnon Hotel – an abandoned office space remade to house the show – comes alive each evening with a theatrical experience that engages audiences physically and emotionally.Įntering the show, guests draw from a deck of cards that decide the fate of their journey. Punchdrunk Theater’s much hyped take on Macbeth has become the talk of Shanghai, selling out tickets for the next couple of months since opening in December, with shows recently extended into May. Lauded as a pioneering work of immersive theater, Sleep No More has enjoyed years-long sold-out runs in New York City, London and Brookline, Massachusetts.
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