At the very least, Punchdrunk's latest offering, The Burnt City, is a perfectly choreographed assault on the senses. As soon as you arrive, you have to lock your phone into a bag you cannot open during the performance. You select a generic mask to wear on top of a Covid mask and are asked not to speak, advised not to stay with your friends, and to explore the space alone, feeling free to touch any items of the set on display (not to take them home) and to go wherever your heart so pleases.
So the setup - 'The story of The Burnt City is inspired by the mythical world of Gods and mortals and set against the smouldering fall of Troy, The Burnt City invites audiences to embark on their theatrical adventure.'
You step, curiously, into the show, set in a vast space, 'a detailed dystopian landscape from the majesty of royal palaces to the pulsating neon backstreets of Troy', 100,000 sq ft of the purpose-built warehouse in Woolwich, where the designers have recreated the ancient city of Troy, with the sense of it falling around you.
The set design is impressive, with many things to look at and investigate. The sound and lighting are equally spectacular, and I loved the attention to detail in the costumes. The choreography was compelling, performed by a brilliant cast who brought their characters to life with grit and gumption.
Given the above, it should have been a fantastic show. However, it didn't work in parts for me, which was slightly disappointing. At times I felt I was stumbling around in the dark, concentrating more on getting out of the way of some of the audience members who took the immersive element very much to heart, to the point of running after the performers with little thought for their fellow audience members.
Punch Drunk is definitely immersive theatre on an epic scale, and as Punch Drunk so delicately put it - this is and did feel like a colossal playground 'where furies watch on as mortals play out their fate, and, as night falls, the city comes alive.'
The narrative for me needed to be more straightforward and I needed to figure out how many elements were linked together. I was in the show for over two and a half hours, and I still have no idea whether I saw it all. I finally emerged feeling overwhelmed, relieved, and slightly frustrated.
Punchdrunk is now open for performances until 24 September 2023, housed in its new home in Woolwich, just 15 minutes from central London, on the Elizabeth Line.
Tickets start from £25, with show entry slots now running from 7 pm (2 pm matinees). Visit www.theburntcity.com for more details.
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