Review by Daz Gale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pioneers of immersive theatre Punchdrunk have transformed their home in Woolwich for their latest adventure, and this one couldn’t be more different to their last offering. After being turned into the sprawling world that was The Burnt City last year, this one encourages you to follow the light in a far more intimate setting as it takes back in a young girl’s bedroom. Would Viola’s Room prove to be illuminating or would I get lost in the darkness of it all?
In a distinctly different offering from Punchdrunk, Viola’s Room is a sensory experience which requires you to look, hear and feel (with moments to smell dotted throughout as well – look out for the fish). In intimate groups of up to six people, you are guided barefoot, allowing for the variety of surfaces to truly immerse you into the world, through a labyrinth. You are always told to follow the lights which appears in relative darkness, with a pair of headphones playing music, sounds and a narration by Helena Bonham Carter. When we talk about immersive theatre, this can be interpreted in a multitude of ways but the efforts to control multiple senses throughout Viola’s Room is immersion at its very finest, making it impossible to not escape into the strange yet familiar world you find yourself in.
In regards to the story, there’s not too much I can share without giving the game away. Reimagining Barry Pain’s gothic mystery ‘The Moon-Slave’, Daisy Johnson crafts a captivating adventure which starts in Viola’s bedroom and charts the story of lost innocence, heading in a perhaps unexpected direction leading to a surprising payoff. Unlike previous Punchdrunk shows, this linear approach lets you follow the story from start to finish without any choices of which door to open and the fear of missing out on something. On a personal note, after getting stuck in a loop when I made some bad choices on their last production, I was thankful to be guided in this adventure, bonding with the strangers in my group as we navigated Viola’s room and the world beyond her four walls.
This is all done through a whistle stop tour taking under one hour – in some respects, it feels like we have been there for an eternity, in others it is like no time has passed at all, with time essentially grinding to a halt the moment you set foot in Punchdrunk’s world. Conceived, directed and designed by their Artistic Director Felix Barrett, the level of detail and execution in realising the intricacies of this story are second to none with each room of the maze delighting with slow-reveals and versatile settings so you never know where you are heading next. The focus on senses this time around and how best to utilise this creates an effective experience that stimulates throughout.
The design is what you take away from Viola’s Room, particularly when it comes to the use of lighting. Absolutely integral to the story, this vital element is executed to precision with versatility and flair from Simon Wilkinson. With sound equally important, Gareth Fry’s flawless design gives you a personal experience that at times had me forgetting it was coming from my headphones. In terms of physical design, the elements that are dotted around each room, akin to easter eggs, make the experience wholly satisfying and showcase the significant detail that has gone into creating every aspect.
A special mention should go to the care that has been taken for safety throughout with advisory on how dark it will get and reassuring there are no jump scares. This assurance helps to put visitors at ease as they step into unknown territories. I also had a personal fear I’d get lost there, but the linear way this has been crafted makes that extremely difficult to do (though not impossible). The result is the perfect balance of an otherworldly experience allowing for pure escapism while still ensuring a sense of comfort.
In terms of design, storytelling and attention to detail, Punchdrunk are at the top of their game and Viola’s Room is the perfect example of this. Showcasing the elements they have become known for while bringing something distinctly different, the result is a mesmerising and truly immersive experience unlike no other I have been a part of before. Full of beauty amongst the darkness, Viola’s Room is another triumph for Punchdrunk. I may not have been quite as sold on their shows with last year’s effort (though I blame myself in part for that) but with the bold approach to bringing something unique to life in Viola’s Room, I have well and truly seen the light.
Viola’s Room is booking at Punchdrunk’s home in Woolwich until 15th September. Tickets from http://punchdrunk.com/work/violas-room
Photos by Julian Abrams depict an audience member.