The Palais Garnier might be the most iconic opera house on the planet. This landmark stands shoulder to shoulder with the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Sacré-Cœur as one of Paris’s most enduring architectural symbols. Yet, as I wandered through its glittering halls, I was struck by how little information was available to self-guided visitors who didn’t opt to buy the more expensive digital guide.

So, being the Creative Adventurer, I made it my duty to create this detailed guide I wish I’d had. So join me now on a self-led journey through one of Paris’s most iconic buildings, filled with stories of its architecture, hidden details, and the many legends it has inspired.

Table Of Contents

1. History of the Palais Garnier
2. The Facade
3. Rotonde des Abonnés
4. Grand Staircase
5. The Amphitheatre Entrance
6. The Auditorium
7. The Phantom’s Box
8. The Avant-Foyer
9. The Grand Foyer
10. Library Museum
11. Hallways
12. The Salons of the Sun and Moon

Why Buy a Self-Guided Ticket?

Expert-led guided tours of the Palais Garnier are in high demand, but unless you’ve booked well in advance, you’ll be out of luck, cause these tours fill up FAST! Every guided tour was sold out when I visited, leaving the self-guided option as the only way in. But personally, I love a self-guided tour. You can go at your own pace and stay in rooms that awe you for as long as you want. But often, the incredible gilded halls leave me asking more questions than there are answers in those little brochures. Hence, why you should bring this guide along with you on your self-guided tour.

Setting the Mood

Although many bloggers and TikTokers claim the Palais Garnier is a “hidden gem”, this place is not a quiet or empty place where you’ll be the only one there. Lines are out the door even for advanced tickets, and unless you get fortunate on a calm day, the building will be brimming with people! Wearing headphones and playing music while exploring the Palais Garnier can be a subtle way to mentally escape in such a crowded space.

The building is undeniably majestic, but it’s easy to feel pulled out of the moment when surrounded by noise and chatter. Music helps carve out a private world within the crowd; it focuses your senses, softens the distractions, and allows you to experience the space more intimately, almost as if you’re walking through your opera scene. It’s my secret weapon for centring myself in the experience inside any busy museum or tourist sight.

Here are some of my favourite songs, which really fit the theme of the Palais Garnier, to add to your playlist.

• Camille Saint-Saëns – Danse Macabre
• Gounod – The Jewel Song from Faust
• Mozart – Lacrimosa from the Requiem
• Offenbach – Barcarolle from Les Contes d’Hoffmann
• Bizet – Carmen Suite No. 1
• Wagner – Prelude to Lohengrin
• Andrew Lloyd Webber – The Phantom of the Opera overture

History of the Palais Garnier

In 1860, under Napoleon III’s Second Empire, a competition was launched to design a new opera house in Paris. Out of roughly 170 submissions (!), Charles Garnier’s design stood out. His proposal, bearing the motto “Hope for much, expect little,” was praised for its clarity, monumental façades, and logical layout that separated public areas, the auditorium, and the stage. Despite being a relatively unknown architect, Garnier won the commission in 1861.

Legend has it that when Empress Eugénie questioned the building’s eclectic style, Garnier cheekily replied, “It’s Napoleon Trois, Ma’am, and you’re complaining?” His design would go on to define the lavish aesthetic of the era, blending technical innovation with theatrical opulence and standing as a symbol of the Second Empire’s ambition and artistic ideals.

Beaux-Arts Style

Garnier built the opera house masterpiece in the popular Beaux-Arts style, which was all the rage in France during the 19th century. Drawing from classical Greek and Roman traditions and Renaissance and Baroque flourishes, this style emphasized drama, proportion, and the integration of sculpture, painting, and design.

The Facade

Before stepping inside, pause to take in the Palais Garnier’s grand southern façade, facing the Place de l’Opéra. It’s a performance crafted by a small army of artisans, 14 painters, dozens of sculptors, and mosaicists, each adding their flourish to this monumental overture of stone and gold. From this spot, you can admire its symmetrical layout, towering columns, and domed elements, emblematic of the Beaux-Arts style.

High above, you’ll spot two gilded copper figures by Charles Gumery: Harmony and Poetry, gleaming from the rooftop like muses watching over the arts. Below them, stone reliefs personify architecture, industry, painting, and sculpture, each symbolized by allegorical women, winged figures, and tools of their trades.

Crowning the grand dome of the Palais Garnier is a striking bronze sculpture by Aimé Millet titled Apollo, Poetry and Music. This dramatic ensemble features the Greek god Apollo, symbol of the arts, holding a golden lyre aloft as he strides forward with radiant confidence. Flanking him are allegorical figures representing Poetry and Music, reinforcing the opera house’s dedication to artistic expression. Gilded and gleaming in the sunlight, the sculpture not only enhances the building’s architectural grandeur but also pays homage to the classical ideals that inspired its creation.

Flanking the entrance, you’ll find busts of legendary composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Rossini nestled between the columns, and even librettists (Opera composers_ like Scribe and Quinault honoured on either side. On the attic level, Napoleon III’s monogram “N” appears amid swirling garlands and musical motifs, all crowned by a frieze of gilded antique masks—fifty-three laughing and weeping in cast iron.

Emperor’s Pavilion

If you booked a ticket in advance, you’ll enter the building via the eastern side, on Rue Scribe, called the Emperor’s Pavilion. Long before cars, this space once offered privileged subscribers a private, sheltered entryway, letting them step directly from their carriages into the warmth and splendour of the opera house.

Topped by a 13.5-metre dome, the pavilion is marked by twin obelisks at its north and south entrances, adding an air of ceremonial grandeur to what was, essentially, the VIP entrance of its day. And today, you are one of those VIPs!

Rotonde des Abonnés

Upon entering the Palais Garnier, visitors step into the Rotonde des Abonnés, just after the security check. The rotunda is adorned with intricate mosaics, gilded details, and classical motifs, all in the Beaux-Arts style, emphasizing symmetry, grandeur, and elaborate ornamentation.

Cave of the Pythia

Tucked at the foot of the Grand Staircase is a little alcove known as the Cave of the Pythia. In ancient Greece, the Pythia was a vessel through which the divine spoke, a mystic figure who transformed questions into revelations. In many ways, theatre and opera share a similar approach: they take human stories, emotions, and dreams and elevate them into something transcendent through music, performance, and spectacle. Rather than the serene, ethereal oracle of myth, this Pythia is wild and fierce, illuminated from below as if touched by divine fire. I love to think this is how the artist saw opera, as a fierce creature, full of energy and power.

Grand Staircase

As you move beyond the Cave of Pythia, you walk out into the awe-inspiring grandeur of the Grand Staircase. Nowhere is Beaux-Arts grandeur more on display than in the grand staircase. Crafted from white, green, and red marble, its curving form is meant to impress and elevate physically and emotionally.

Twin flights of stairs sweep upward like a procession route, surrounded by polished balustrades, ornate lamp-holding caryatids, and balconies where 19th-century opera-goers would pause to observe (and be observed). The bases of the staircase are adorned with sculpted female figures holding torch-like lamps, known as torchères.

Ascending the Grand Staircase you feel like a prince or princess, ascending a grand staircase as beautiful as some inside the most elegant palaces around the world.

Ceiling

Look up as you ascend the Grand Staircase, and you’ll find the ceiling transformed into a celestial theatre. The soaring panels were painted by Isidore Pils and depict a series of allegorical scenes: The Triumph of Apollo, The Enchantment of Music Deploying its Charms, Minerva Battling Brutality under the Gaze of the Olympian Gods, and The City of Paris Receiving the Plans for the New Opera House.

When the canvases were first mounted just two months before the grand opening in 1875, Garnier was dismayed. They were too dark and too heavy for the luminous grandeur of the staircase below. At 61, Pils climbed the scaffolding to rework them on-site, aided by two of Garnier’s architecture students. The strain proved too much; Pils fell ill and was unable to finish the work.

His students completed the final touches, and the scaffolding came down just in time, one day before the grand unveiling. Today, the ceiling remains a visual triumph and a testament to the relentless dedication behind every brushstroke and beam of this opulent space.

The Amphitheatre Entrance

As you approach the entrance to the amphitheatre, you’re greeted by two imposing caryatids sculpted by Jules Thomas. On the left stands Tragedy, her gaze stern and focused, gripping a sword as if guarding dramatic art’s emotional depth and seriousness. On the right is Comedy, gentler in posture, holding a harp, an emblem of lightness, music, and joy. Together, they represent the eternal balance of the stage: sorrow and laughter, conflict and harmony.

Pass through this entrance and into the lobby reserved for the orchestra boxes, where you’ll have the chance to peek inside one of these exclusive spaces and glimpse the auditorium beyond. The entire orchestra level is adorned with stunning mosaics inspired by ancient Greek design. Greek mythology is a recurring motif throughout the opera house, reflecting the timeless bond between myth and opera, both steeped in powerful storytelling, heightened emotion, and epic, larger-than-life figures.

The Auditorium

Step through the velvet-draped entrance into the Palais Garnier’s auditorium, and you’ll find yourself in the breathtaking core of this architectural masterpiece. Designed in the classic Italian horseshoe, the hall seats 1,979 spectators and wraps around the stage in a rich embrace of red velvet, gold leaf, and intricate ornamentation.

The stage itself is a behemoth, the largest in Europe, capable of simultaneously accommodating up to 450 performers. Even the main curtain is a work of art; its canvas is painted to resemble a luxurious drape, and it is complete with trompe-l’oeil tassels and braiding that add an extra touch of theatrical illusion.

Marc Chagall’s Fresco

In 1964, a bold new layer was added: a modern ceiling mural by famed artist Marc Chagall. Chagall’s vivid, dreamlike ceiling is a whirl of colour and emotion, depicting scenes from 14 operas by composers such as Mozart, Wagner, Debussy, Verdi, and Bizet. His brush brings a lyrical, almost whimsical spirit to the dome, contrasting sharply with the classical opulence of Garnier’s design.

The Chandelier

Suspended like a radiant sun at the heart of the Palais Garnier’s auditorium is its famous chandelier, an enormous, seven-ton creation of bronze and crystal, personally envisioned by Charles Garnier himself. Brought to life through a model by Jules Corboz and crafted by Lacarière, Delatour & Cie, it cost a staggering 30,000 gold francs, a sum befitting its dramatic presence.

The Phantom’s Box

Back in the orchestra lobby, make your way over to Box No. 5, still famously reserved for the one and only Phantom of the Opera. You’ll know it’s his by the discreet plaque that reads “Phantom of the Opera,” a subtle tribute to the legend that haunts these halls.

Gaston Leroux, a journalist-turned-novelist, drew inspiration for his 1910 Gothic tale from real events and features within the opera house. One such event was the infamous 1896 incident when a counterweight from the central chandelier fell during a performance, tragically killing an audience member. This morbid real life tragedy became a cornerstone of the Phantom’s fictional story.

Leroux was fascinated by the Palais Garnier’s mysterious architecture, especially its hidden corridors, underground lake, and abandoned cellars. And yes, there is said to be a subterranean reservoir beneath the opera house, built to manage the high groundwater levels beneath Paris. This subterranean reservoir serves as the Phantom’s lair in the book, this shadowy underworld sparked the idea of the Phantom’s lair.

Phantom of the Opera Musical

Today, most people know the Phantom of the Opera for the musical more than the original book. The iconic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, has become inseparable from the mystique of the Palais Garnier. Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel, the story unfolds in the shadowy depths of this opulent opera house, where a mysterious, masked figure haunts the theatre and becomes obsessed with a young soprano. With its sweeping score, gothic romance, and dramatic setting, the musical brought global fame to the Palais Garnier, turning it into a real-world backdrop for one of Broadway’s longest-running shows.

The Avant-Foyer

Exiting back out to the Grand Staircase, take a walk around the second layer where you find the elegant Avant-Foyer, often called the Foyer of Mosaics. Spanning twenty metres in length, this space is lined with richly adorned surfaces, where shimmering mosaics catch the light like scattered jewels. It serves as a kind of prologue to the splendour of the Grand Foyer beyond.

At either end of the Avant-Foyer are arched doorways leading to the Salon du Soleil (Sun Salon) on the east and the Salon de la Lune (Moon Salon) on the west, two symbolic rooms representing celestial dualities, day and night, illumination and mystery. To the north, the space opens dramatically to the Grand Staircase, while to the south, three towering doors lead into the Grand Foyer itself.

The ceiling is richly adorned with two inscriptions in 8th-century Byzantine Greek uncial script. One inscription commemorates the innovative use of decorative mosaic in France, while the other credits the artists involved: Curzon for the figures, Salviati for their execution, Facchina for the ornamentation, and Garnier for the architecture.

Surrounding the ceiling are four mosaic panels depicting mythological couples: Hermes and Psyche, Orpheus and Eurydice, Artemis and Endymion, and Eos and Cephalus. The scenes alternate between themes of love and death, two couples are shown departing the underworld, while the others convey more sensual, romantic encounters. Each pair is labelled in Greek, and the mosaics are framed by elaborate decorations featuring theatre masks, musical instruments, birds, flowers, and golden accents.

Additionally, four bronze-gilt medallions represent musical instruments from different cultures: a sistrum for Egypt, lyre for Greece, tambourine and pan flute for Italy, and an ivory horn for France. Each is surrounded by foliage typical of the region, with the country names inscribed in Greek.

The Grand Foyer

From the Avant-Foyer, you finally have a chance to step into the most beautiful room in the entire opera house, the Grand Foyer! Walking into this room you feel as though you’re no longer just in an opera house, you’re in a temple of art and light. Towering 18 metres high, stretching 54 metres long and 13 metres wide, this opulent hall was designed as a drawing room for 19th-century Parisian high society as well as the famed Hall of Mirrors in Versaille.

Restored in 2004 to its full glory, the ceiling is a masterpiece by Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry, with sweeping allegorical scenes that chart the journey of music through myth and time, Apollo, Comedy, and lyrical muses float overhead in gold-framed panels that glow with dramatic energy.

The chandeliers, enormous, cascading tiers of crystal and bronze, cast a warm, theatrical glow, their flickering flames reflected infinitely in the oversized mirrors lining the walls. Those mirrors, opposite tall arched windows, double the space in every direction, creating a kaleidoscope of light and motion.

At either end of the Foyer are octagonal salons that further amplify the celestial theme. The eastern salon features a ceiling by Jules-Élie Delaunay, including The Zodiac and Apollo Receiving the Lyre, while the western salon boasts work by Félix-Joseph Barrias.

Look closely along the Grand Foyer’s walls and you’ll find a cast of characters drawn straight from Greek mythology. Eight of the nine Muses appear here, goddesses of the arts, their names inscribed in Greek. The missing muse, Polyhymnia (of sacred poetry), was famously “sacrificed” due to lack of space, though she still makes a quiet cameo in a statue among the Qualities, and again in the Parnassus mural tucked into a corner. Alongside the muses, personifications like Epithumia (desire), Sophrosyne (soundness of mind), and Charis (grace) enrich the symbolism, each embodying virtues that mirror the spirit of opera itself.

What sets this room apart from Versailles is its sense of theatricality. While Versailles was designed to glorify the monarchy, the Grand Foyer glorifies the arts. It feels more intimate despite its scale, less like a throne room and more like a stage where history, architecture, and imagination converge. It’s a space where you can almost hear the rustling silk of 19th-century opera-goers, their laughter and gossip drifting beneath the chandeliers. This is Paris at its most dramatic and dazzling, and for a moment, it’s yours.

Library Museum

If the Grand Foyer is busy with a large guided tour and you’re looking to sneak away from the crowds for a few minutes, take a peak inside the Library-Museum of the Opera (Bibliothèque-Musée de l’Opéra), located just off of the Grand Foyer. Originally established to house the archives of the Paris Opera, this intimate space now holds a fascinating collection of set models, costumes, drawings, and rare manuscripts that trace the rich history of French opera and ballet.

At the back of the gallery space, you can also step into the library itself. Lined with dark wood bookshelves and bathed in golden light, the library itself feels like a 19th-century time capsule. Managed by the National Library of France, it offers a quieter, scholarly contrast to the theatrical splendour of the rest of the building.

Hallways

Take some time to wander the elegant corridors that line the outer walls of the Opera House. These long hallways are adorned with towering mirrors, richly painted columns, and yet more glittering chandeliers, offering a quieter, equally enchanting extension of the building’s opulent interior.

The Salons of the Sun and Moon

Don’t miss out exploring the outer Salon du Soleil (Salon of the Sun) to the east, and the Salon de la Lune (Salon of the Moon) to the west. These twin spaces were originally conceived as themed entryways, vestibules leading to the smoking lounge and the Galerie du Glacier, a refreshment area. Their decorative themes were meant to evoke heat and cold, respectively: the fiery energy of the sun for the smoking room, and the icy elegance of the moon for the Glacier.

However, in the final frenzied weeks before the grand inauguration in 1875, an amusing error occurred. In the rush to complete construction, the thematic decorations were inadvertently reversed. The sun now leads to the cooler refreshment gallery, and the moon to the once smoke-filled lounge. Despite this mix-up, the salons remain enchanting. The Salon du Soleil is bathed in warm tones and gilded accents, echoing radiance and vitality, while the Salon de la Lune glows with cooler hues, silvery details, and a dreamlike calm.

Visiting the Palais Garnier is like stepping into a dream woven from music, myth, and marble. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of phantom legends, marvelling at golden mosaics, or soaking in the rich symbolism etched into every sculpture and ceiling, the opera house offers far more than just architectural beauty. I hope this self-guided tour has given you some insights into the secret embedded in the gold leaf, but of course, a few mysteries are bound to be left behind, to ensure the dark secrets of the opera house endure…

The post The Ultimate Self-Guided Tour of Paris’ Palais Garnier, a Golden Treasure first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

“They sent forth men to battle, But no such men return; And home, to claim their welcome, Come ashes in an urn.”

As an avid fan and spectator of New York‘s preeminent immersive theatre experience, Sleep No More, when I heard Punchdrunk had a new show in London, I leapt at the opportunity to see the show. The Burnt City is a story of dazzling and haunting story gods and mortals set in a mythical underworld. The overall story takes inspiration from Greek mythology and is set during the Fall of Troy. But this isn’t the fall of Troy you remember, but another take on the classic tale. It is an experience that sends you through dreams and nightmares and suspends, if just for a few hours, your sense of reality and opens your mind wide. So dive in because this is going to be an intense ride…

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I’ve read many articles that tell you not to get bogged down in decoding the plot or trying to understand what is happening in The Burnt City. Most of the story’s plotlines are told through interpretive dance scenes. But let’s face it; humans look for meaning in what we see. And I truly believe that by knowing a little more about the characters and overall themes, we can better develop different interpretations of the show as audience members.

My Sleep No More guide has proven extremely helpful for viewers before and after the show. And I wanted to ensure I gave the Burnt City the same treatment! If you’re curious and want clues about how to make the most of your experience, read on. This is the spoiler-free guide, but if you want to know all the secrets and spoilers, you can also check out our complete guide! Choose your fate!

Table Of Contents

1. What is the Burnt City?
2. What is Immersive Theatre?
3. How Much Are Tickets to See the Burnt City
   • Discounted Tickets
4. How to Get to the Burnt City?
5. Arrival
   • Covid Regulations
   • Coat Check
6. About the Theatre Masks
7. Accessibility
   • Content Warnings
8. What to Wear
9. How to Experience the Show?
10. 1:1s
11. The Setting of the Burnt City
12. Entering the World of the Burnt City
13. The Story of the Burnt City
    • Aeschylus' Agamemnon
    • Euripides' Hecuba
    • Hades and Persephone
    • Additional Characters
14. Peep Bar
15. Who to Follow?

What is the Burnt City?

The Burnt City is the newest production from the award-winning theatre company Punchdrunk. The show is an immersive theatre performance that blends contemporary dance and dramatic performances with classical texts. The production occurs inside One Cartridge Place; two enormous warehouses in Woolwich, outside central London. Set inside these warehouses, the company has transformed these once-abandoned buildings into a state-of-the-art theatrical venue. One that uses new technologies to create a cinematic walkthrough of their site-specific sets where you can explore to your heart’s content the world of the Burnt City.

The show has little to know spoken dialogue, and instead, the story is told through modern dance and the powerful yet silent performances of the actors in the show. The lack of words makes the show more of a work of art than a play, allowing viewers to come away with their own interpretation of some scenes and events.

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What is Immersive Theatre?

Immersive theatre is a form of performance art that places the audience at the center of the performance. Blurring the boundaries between performer and spectator. In an immersive theatre experience, the audience is not just a passive observer but an active participant in the performance. Unlike traditional theatre, where the action occurs on a stage, and the audience watches from their seats, Punchdrunk demands their viewers to follow the story. You can explore the over 100,00 square feet inside the theatre, discovering secrets and various characters as you go. Pursue whatever grabs your attention. Somewhat of a “chose your own adventure” model of performance art. 

The show itself is three hours long, but the story repeats three times throughout the night. Resulting in 3 hour long “loops”. Each actor follows a distinct loop, with multiple storylines happening simultaneously. This means you can see an entire loop following one character. Then choose another to follow for the next hour, seeing how the characters interact or intersect between the various loops. 

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How Much Are Tickets to See the Burnt City

You can buy three different types of tickets directly from the Punchdrunk website; Standard, Premium and VIP. A key piece of information to understand when buying these tickets is they each come with a different “entry time slot.” As mentioned above, there are three loops to view the show; the later you arrive, the less of the first loop you will be privy to. The show starts at 7 pm (or 2 pm when they have matinees.)

Ticket Levels & Distinctions

Standard tickets starts at £45. The earliest time slots tend to be priced slightly higher, and the tickets get cheaper later in the evening. The latest timed entry ticket is 40 minutes after the first loop begins. No matter which ticket you buy, you will always still get to see at least two full loops (aka 2+ hours) of the show no matter when you arrive.

Premium tickets start at £95. These tickets have more availability for early time slots. You also get inside faster with priority entry, which enables you to jump the queue on arrival. With these tickets, you can arrive at 6:30 pm (30 minutes before the start of the show) to go inside and enjoy time at the Peep Bar. The Peep Bar is a part of the show itself, but more on that later. With a premium ticket, you’ll also receive a complimentary coat check and a glass of Da Luca Prosecco.

The last ticket level is the VIP Tickets which start at £135. You get all the same advantages as the premium tickets but receive a secret prelude scene which is exclusive to VIPs. You also get a cocktail included at the bar and get a collectible VIP gift. Truly, I think these tickets are only for die-hard fans looking for that exclusive scene. If you’re a first-timer (and are mega-rich) I think you can give it a skip.

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Discounted Tickets

If even the standard tickets sound expensive, well, they are. But there are some discount options available. The Ticket Lottery opens weekly every Thursday, with the draws taking place the following Wednesdays. Tickets are bookable for the week ahead and available in pairs. These tickets are £25 per person. But the arrival times are subject to availability.

Today Tix also offers daily discounted tickets through their app. These tickets are between £35-55, but they are set at the 7:20 pm entry time. Honestly, this is the best option available. Twenty minutes is worth the savings. These were the tickets I bought for the shows when I was in London and I never found I missed anything I couldn’t see again during another loop.

How to Get to the Burnt City?

The Burnt City is located in the neighbourhood of Woolwich, in One Cartridge Place, a two-minute walk from Woolwich station. The new Elizabeth Line stops at Woolwich station, making the journey on the tube all the easier from central London. It only takes about 30 minutes using the Elizabeth line. You can also access the theatre by taking the Thameslink train to Woolwich Arsenal Station, a six-minute walk to One Cartridge Place. From central London, this journey option takes around 50 minutes. But all will depend on where you’re departing from. Be sure to plan your journey in advance to avoid delays since timing at the show is key.

If you are driving, you can use the Woolwich Arsenal Train Station parking lot. From there, it is only an eight-minute walk to the theatre.

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Arrival

Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your scheduled time slot. They are getting pretty strict about this. But I’d arrive exactly 15 minutes before so you can ensure you get in as soon as possible And be advised they cannot guarantee access to latecomers. Once inside, you’ll need to go through security, get your ticket scanned, coat check and phone lock up. That’s where you are going to spend those extra 15 minutes.

Covid Regulations

As of March 2023, all audiences are still required to wear a Covid mask. If you do not have a mask with you, they will provide one to you upon entry. These are separate from the theatre masks you also need to wear. More on that below.

Coat Check

Since you want unencumbered throughout the show, you must check any bags or large purses before entering the theatre. Although you aren’t required to check your coat, it is HIGHLY recommended.

Coat check is complimentary for VIP and Premium ticket holders and but for the rest, it costs £2 per item. I brought a large, reusable bag with me that I stuffed my coat and purse into to save paying £2 on each of the two items. Small savings, but easy enough to do.

You are also not allowed to bring your phone into the theatre. They are very strict about this. If you don’t want to leave your phone in your checked bag, you have the option of placing your phone into a special lockable pouch. This pouch comes with a strap so you can carry it around with you. The pouch was very comfortable, and I loved being able to explore hands-free with ease.

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About the Theatre Masks

In addition to the covid medical mask, all guests are required to wear a theatrical mask throughout the entire experience. The main reason for this is to distinguish the audience from the actors. This mask design is a replica of old Venetian Bauta masks. These Venetian Carnival masks hid the wearer’s identity during the tawdry events of carnival. With secret identities, rich aristocrats could partake in some otherwise frowned-upon activities. While wearing a mask might seem odd, the show aims to make you feel like a voyeur peeking in on the actors. Sporting a disguise allows you to feel braver and perhaps let your guard down. You might feel less inhibited and even step out of your comfort zone…

If you wear glasses, the mask may not fit over the top of them. I know the newer masks in London have additional padding that helps glasses wearers, but it may still prove difficult. If you can get or wear contacts, this might be the best way to fully enjoy the experience.

Accessibility

I was surprised to find upon researching that Burnt City is indeed wheelchair accessible, with only some areas inaccessible with electric chairs. If you have access requirements, including using a wheelchair, you must book an Access Ticket via Punchdrunk directly. You will also be able to book a complimentary Essential Companion ticket. You will need to use the lifts to access the two levels of the show. But there are lifts available.

Content Warnings

The show is restricted 16+, with anyone under 18 required to be accompanied by a responsible guardian. The Box Office will issue a lanyard which they must wear during their visit to be identified to performers and staff. There is a bar that features as part of the performance, which those under 18s can only visit in the company of their parent or guardian.

The reason for this age restriction? Not only is there plenty of distressing scenes with blood, murder, suicide and sex, but also PLENTY of nudity. Also, be aware there are many dark spaces, loud noises, strobe light, and smoke effects throughout the show.

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What to Wear

What you wear to see the show is super important. The most critical of which is your choice of footwear! Since the night can be as long as three hours, you want to wear comfortable shoes. I saw so many people there wearing high heels, and by the end of the evening, they were leaning on walls and looked more exhausted than excited. If you are interested in following one character’s storyline, sometimes this requires you literally sprint after them to ensure they don’t get away and you miss their next scene. Without good shoes, you can’t chase after them.

The warehouse of the Burnt City is VERY HOT. So even in the colder months, I would advise wearing a light, breathable outfit. Since you have to coat check anyways, you can always wear something warmer there and leave those extra layers at the coat check. Also, be warned you might get some fake blood on your clothes. This will only happen if you interact with the characters, but it can happen. Don’t worry, though; it washes right out. But some people might not want to change it and choose not to wear their best shoes.

Another thing that is strange but is a MUST is a wristwatch! Since you won’t have your phone to tell the time, a watch will help you gauge how long you have been inside. Or when the first or second loop of the show might end. While getting lost is part of the experience, if you want to get the most out of it, having a watch to tell the time might help you.

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How to Experience the Show?

There is no wrong or right way to experience the Burnt City. In a way, the show commands that you leave your inhibitions behind and lose yourself in the performance. But, if you want to create a more cohesive experience, you might follow one character for a whole loop. To learn their story and see how it fits into the overall narrative.

Other viewers will want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and simply explore the environment, sets and details to uncover hidden clues about the storyline. In the Burnt City there are clues everywhere revealing your presence in the underworld, so you can absolutely hunt for those!

The choices are unless and that makes the experience completely unique every time you go! The biggest piece of advice I have is to leave anyone you come with behind. Leaver them in the literal dirt. Explore the world on your own. It’s a choose your own adventure, after all, not choose someone elses. Plus, talking with your friends about what they saw and experienced after the show is one of my favourite parts. Nothing like a good debrief!

1:1s

If you’ve done even a little bit of reading on Punchdrunk’s productions, you’ll hear over and over again the mention of something called a 1:1. So what is it? The 1:1s are when an actor pulls a random audience member aside and brings them into a private room for a VERY intimate scene that only those two people share. This often involves removing your theatre mask so the performer can get up close and personal and connect with you.

Often the 1:1s are the only part of the play where you might hear the actor’s voice! They are few and far between, so if you get selected, consider yourself very lucky indeed. If you don’t want to interact that closely with them, the actors are very good at respecting if you pull away. But if you are super shy, stay in the back of the groups that follow the actors around so you won’t get picked.

On the other hand, if you want a more intimate experience, go to the front and get close up. But remember always to give the actors their personal space. You can’t touch them unless invited. And some scenes explode with intense movements, and you’ll want to stand back to observe these performances. It’s important to respect everyone’s boundaries, that includes other audience members. Don’t push someone out of the way just to get ahead, the actors will notice, and that isn’t the kind of attitude that will get you a 1:1. And, of course, don’t be a creep.

The Black Masks

Various employees wear black masks during the show. These black masks as security guards protecting the actors, securing the sets and keeping the audience from entering any off-limit areas. If you are using your phone or talking too loudly, they will step in to warn or remove you from the show. They are also there to give you directions if you are lost or need to find a washroom. But they won’t give away any secrets…

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The Setting of the Burnt City

The Burnt City is a true tale of two cities, an apt comparison since the show was written just to be performed here in Charles Dicken’s London. And the city where Punchdrunk first originated and put on its first show. When you enter One Cartridge Place, you are stepping into an underworld representing the imagined ancient city of Mycenae (modern-day Greece) and Troy‘s pulsating neon back streets. The two cities occupy one of the two connecting warehouses converted for the Burnt City. Despite being inspired by Greek tragedies, the show is set in a dystopian future, inspired by films like Blade Runner and Metropolis. 

Entering the World of the Burnt City

Once you are through the coat check, you are given a playing card upon entering the Peep Bar. You wait here until your card number is called. Only then can you enter the world of the Burnt City. After your number is called, you’ll be led through a series of museum galleries containing glass cases preserving various artifacts from a fictional 19th-century excavation of Trojan ruins. Each one contains a small excerpt of the story we are about to see performed and the main characters therein.

Reading all the little details can be overwhelming when you just want to get into the show, but not to worry. This guide covers all that information (and MORE), so you’ll have come prepared. The last glass case of the exhibit is smashed. And the object inside is missing. As if something has been stolen or unleashed… And it is at this moment that you are given the choice of two doors to enter through, one leading to Mycenea, the other to Troy.

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Mycenae is the smaller of the two buildings, but many of the biggest scenes occur here. Mycenae is a post-war abandoned city. Aged and tattered. While Mycenea feels like an ancient war zone, Troy feels like a throbbing Berlin nightclub. Or a night out on the streets of neon-laden Tokyo.

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The Story of the Burnt City

Two main Greek tragedies inspired the intertwining storylines inside the Burnt City. The first is Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, and the second is Euripides’ Hecuba. The main plot points from Agamemnon primarily occur in Mycenae, and the characters from Hecuba centre around Troy. But elements from either story intertwine and connect each city’s fate to each other. But more than just a connection between location and character, these stories revolve around the theme of grief and the tragedies that befall both the victor and victim after war.

I’ve outlined a short summary of these classic Greek Tragedies, as I think knowing the source texts is important in interpreting the show. And unlike the Shakespearean inspiration for Sleep No More, Greek Tragedies are much less common knowledge. But I’ve done my best only to discuss the source and not give away any spoilers particular to the Burnt City.

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Aeschylus’ Agamemnon

Aeschylus’s Agamemnon is a tragedy that tells the story of the Greek king Agamemnon. Agamemnon’s army was facing a devastating end. On their way to Troy, his entire fleet of ships was met with fierce winds on the seas and were stuck in a purgatorial loop. Agamemnon prayed to the God Artemis, needing a miracle to save his men and his fleet. Artemis told Agamemnon that if he sacrificed his young daughter Iphigenia, the gods would let the fleet cross the seas. Iphigenia was set to wed Agamemnon’s second-in-command, Neoptolemus, but the wedding was only a ruse. Right after the ceremony, Iphigenia is killed by her father. Right before the eyes of her beloved mother, Clytemnestra.

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Clytemnestra’s Revenge

After the death of her daughter, Clytemnestra is overwhelmed with grief. With her husband at war in Troy, Clytemnestra takes a lover, Aegisthus and together, they plot revenge. When Agamemnon returns from Troy, he is stabbed by Clytemnestra in the bath and killed for murdering her daughter.

This story explores themes of justice and revenge. But moreover, the power of grief and the ceaseless love of a mother.

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Euripides’ Hecuba

The second storyline, which is happening simultaneously, is Euripides’ Hecuba. Euripides’ Hecuba is a tragedy that follows the titular character, Hecuba, after the fall of Troy. Hecuba, once the queen of Troy, has been taken captive by the Greeks and is now a slave. Her daughter is killed by the invading army and Hecuba entrusts her youngest son to her neighbour and supposed ally, Polymestor. But Polymestor has no intention of saving Polydorus. Once Troy falls, Polymestor kills Polydorus and steals their family jewels.

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Hecuba’s Revenge

Hecuba finds out her son has been murdered and flies into a murderous rage. Hecuba tricks Polymestor into meeting with her under the guise of telling him where the rest of the jewels of Troy reside. But along with the help from other enslaved people from Troy, they kill Polymestor’s sons and stab out his eyes. In revenge for her lost children.

Hecuba explores themes of revenge and justice. But primarily studies the horrors that befall women after the war. And the sacrifices a mother must make to seek vengeance for her family.

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Hades and Persephone

Watching all of this take place are the gods Hades and Persephone, King and Queen of the Underworld. The myth of Hades and Persephone is one of the most well-known stories from Greek mythology. It tells the tale of how Hades abducted Persephone, the daughter of the goddess Demeter. He stole her away and took her down to the underworld to be his wife. Hades offered Persophone a blood-red pomegranate; unknowingly, she ate six seeds from the forbidden fruit.

Demeter, Persephone’s mother, was devastated by her daughter’s disappearance. She asked Zeus to intervene and had him broker a deal. Because Persephone had eaten six seeds, Zeus decreed that Persephone would six months of the year with Hades in the underworld and the rest of the year with Demeter on earth. This is where we get the changing of the seasons. The barren winter months represent when Persephone is in the underworld, and the fertile spring and summer months represent her joyous reunion on earth with her mother.

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Additional Characters

While these two central storylines cover the main characters, a dozen or so side characters make up the rich tapestry of the story of the Burnt City. This includes lovers, other gods, tricksters and more, all with unique and rich narratives. All worth exploring and learning more about for yourself. Since these characters’ stories aren’t based on a pre-existing narrative, they can be a little looser and require more interpretation from the viewer.

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Peep Bar

The Peep Bar is where you wait upon entering the theatre, but it also can be reentered through a doorway in the backstreets of Troy. The Peep Bar remains open after the performance (except during matinees.) Often, bands play here, so it’s a lively spot to continue the night with your friends and talk about the show!

Unlike the bar in Sleep no More, which is primarily a place to come, take off your mask, and unwind if you find the show a bit overwhelming, the Peep Bar is also a part of the show itself! Various characters come into the bar to perform a series of dances, and some even might treat you to a song or two! While I wouldn’t recommend spending an entire loop in the bar, if you follow a character and end up here, it’s worth seeing what happens.

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Who to Follow?

The question of who to follow is difficult, and I think people will often simply tell you to follow what sparks your curiosity. And while that is good advice, if you’re reading this blog and came in search of guidance, you might be looking for something more informative than that.

My personal and admittedly biased advice? Follow a key/main character from Mycenea for the first loop. Someone like Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Iphegina. They will help you piece together the more concrete aspects of that story. For the second loop, follow someone who will take you through the neon streets of Troy, like Polymestor (who has an especially heartbreaking storyline) or Hecuba. And finally, follow a God or other interesting side character for the last loop.

But honestly, if someone interests you or if you want to know more about anything you see, follow that path without question or hesitation. Exploring is all the fun, and with the knowledge from this post, you’ll already be set to discover the meaning behind so many discoveries inside.

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If you had the pleasure of seeing the Burnt City and came here looking for answers, I hope you found this guide helpful! If you are seeing it for the first time, I hope you use this as a companion to the show itself. There is so much more to discover by uncovering the layers of this incredibly immersive experience.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post What do I need to know before seeing the Burnt City? A Spoiler-Free Guide first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

“They sent forth men to battle, But no such men return; And home, to claim their welcome, Come ashes in an urn.”

As an avid fan and spectator of New York‘s preeminent immersive theatre experience, Sleep No More, when I heard Punchdrunk had a new show in London, I leapt at the opportunity to see the show. The Burnt City is a story of dazzling and haunting story gods and mortals set in a mythical underworld. The overall story takes inspiration from Greek mythology and is set during the Fall of Troy. But this isn’t the fall of Troy you remember, but another take on the classic tale. It is an experience that sends you through dreams and nightmares and suspends, if just for a few hours, your sense of reality and opens your mind wide. So dive in because this is going to be an intense ride…

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I’ve read many articles that tell you not to get bogged down in decoding the plot or trying to understand what is happening in The Burnt City. Most of the story’s plotlines are told through interpretive dance scenes. But let’s face it; humans look for meaning in what we see. And I truly believe that by knowing a little more about the characters and overall themes, we can better develop different interpretations of the show as audience members.

My Sleep No More guide has proven extremely helpful for viewers before and after the show. And I wanted to ensure I gave the Burnt City the same treatment! If you’re curious and want clues about how to make the most of your experience, read on. But be warned, this guide contains spoilers! There is also a spoiler-free version of this guide if you want to be prepared but want the show’s details left a secret to uncover. Choose your fate!

Table Of Contents

1. What is the Burnt City?
2. What is Immersive Theatre?
3. How Much Are Tickets to See the Burnt City
   • Discounted Tickets
4. How to Get to the Burnt City?
5. Arrival
   • Covid Regulations
   • Coat Check
6. About the Theatre Masks
7. Accessibility
   • Content Warnings
8. What to Wear
9. How to Experience the Show?
10. 1:1s
11. The Setting of the Burnt City
12. Entering the World of the Burnt City
    • Mycenae
    • Troy
13. The Story of the Burnt City & its Characters
    • Aeschylus' Agamemnon
    • Euripides' Hecuba
    • Hades and Persephone
    • The Grand Finale
    • Additional Characters
14. Peep Bar
15. Who to Follow?

What is the Burnt City?

The Burnt City is the newest production from the award-winning theatre company Punchdrunk. The show is an immersive theatre performance that blends contemporary dance and dramatic performances with classical texts. The production occurs inside One Cartridge Place; two enormous warehouses in Woolwich, outside central London. Set inside these warehouses, the company has transformed these once-abandoned buildings into a state-of-the-art theatrical venue. One that uses new technologies to create a cinematic walkthrough of their site-specific sets where you can explore to your heart’s content the world of the Burnt City.

The show has little to know spoken dialogue, and instead, the story is told through modern dance and the powerful yet silent performances of the actors in the show. The lack of words makes the show more of a work of art than a play, allowing viewers to come away with their own interpretation of some scenes and events.

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What is Immersive Theatre?

Immersive theatre is a form of performance art that places the audience at the center of the performance. Blurring the boundaries between performer and spectator. In an immersive theatre experience, the audience is not just a passive observer but an active participant in the performance. Unlike traditional theatre, where the action occurs on a stage, and the audience watches from their seats, Punchdrunk demands their viewers to follow the story. You can explore the over 100,00 square feet inside the theatre, discovering secrets and various characters as you go. Pursue whatever grabs your attention. Somewhat of a “chose your own adventure” model of performance art. 

The show itself is three hours long, but the story repeats three times throughout the night. Resulting in 3 hour long “loops”. Each actor follows a distinct loop, with multiple storylines happening simultaneously. This means you can see an entire loop following one character. Then choose another to follow for the next hour, seeing how the characters interact or intersect between the various loops. 

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How Much Are Tickets to See the Burnt City

You can buy three different types of tickets directly from the Punchdrunk website; Standard, Premium and VIP. A key piece of information to understand when buying these tickets is they each come with a different “entry time slot.” As mentioned above, there are three loops to view the show; the later you arrive, the less of the first loop you will be privy to. The show starts at 7 pm (or 2 pm when they have matinees.)

Ticket Levels & Distinctions

Standard tickets starts at £45. The earliest time slots tend to be priced slightly higher, and the tickets get cheaper later in the evening. The latest timed entry ticket is 40 minutes after the first loop begins. No matter which ticket you buy, you will always still get to see at least two full loops (aka 2+ hours) of the show no matter when you arrive.

Premium tickets start at £95. These tickets have more availability for early time slots. You also get inside faster with priority entry, which enables you to jump the queue on arrival. With these tickets, you can arrive at 6:30 pm (30 minutes before the start of the show) to go inside and enjoy time at the Peep Bar. The Peep Bar is a part of the show itself, but more on that later. With a premium ticket, you’ll also receive a complimentary coat check and a glass of Da Luca Prosecco.

The last ticket level is the VIP Tickets which start at £135. You get all the same advantages as the premium tickets but receive a secret prelude scene which is exclusive to VIPs. You also get a cocktail included at the bar and get a collectible VIP gift. Truly, I think these tickets are only for die-hard fans looking for that exclusive scene. If you’re a first-timer (and are mega-rich) I think you can give it a skip.

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Discounted Tickets

If even the standard tickets sound expensive, well, they are. But there are some discount options available. The Ticket Lottery opens weekly every Thursday, with the draws taking place the following Wednesdays. Tickets are bookable for the week ahead and available in pairs. These tickets are £25 per person. But the arrival times are subject to availability.

Today Tix also offers daily discounted tickets through their app. These tickets are between £35-55, but they are set at the 7:20 pm entry time. Honestly, this is the best option available. Twenty minutes is worth the savings. These were the tickets I bought for the shows when I was in London and I never found I missed anything I couldn’t see again during another loop.

How to Get to the Burnt City?

The Burnt City is located in the neighbourhood of Woolwich, in One Cartridge Place, a two-minute walk from Woolwich station. The new Elizabeth Line stops at Woolwich station, making the journey on the tube all the easier from central London. It only takes about 30 minutes using the Elizabeth line. You can also access the theatre by taking the Thameslink train to Woolwich Arsenal Station, a six-minute walk to One Cartridge Place. From central London, this journey option takes around 50 minutes. But all will depend on where you’re departing from. Be sure to plan your journey in advance to avoid delays since timing at the show is key.

If you are driving, you can use the Woolwich Arsenal Train Station parking lot. From there, it is only an eight-minute walk to the theatre.

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Arrival

Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your scheduled time slot. They are getting pretty strict about this. But I’d arrive exactly 15 minutes before so you can ensure you get in as soon as possible And be advised they cannot guarantee access to latecomers. Once inside, you’ll need to go through security, get your ticket scanned, coat check and phone lock up. That’s where you are going to spend those extra 15 minutes.

Covid Regulations

As of March 2023, all audiences are still required to wear a Covid mask. If you do not have a mask with you, they will provide one to you upon entry. These are separate from the theatre masks you also need to wear. More on that below.

Coat Check

Since you want unencumbered throughout the show, you must check any bags or large purses before entering the theatre. Although you aren’t required to check your coat, it is HIGHLY recommended.

Coat check is complimentary for VIP and Premium ticket holders and but for the rest, it costs £2 per item. I brought a large, reusable bag with me that I stuffed my coat and purse into to save paying £2 on each of the two items. Small savings, but easy enough to do.

You are also not allowed to bring your phone into the theatre. They are very strict about this. If you don’t want to leave your phone in your checked bag, you have the option of placing your phone into a special lockable pouch. This pouch comes with a strap so you can carry it around with you. The pouch was very comfortable, and I loved being able to explore hands-free with ease.

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About the Theatre Masks

In addition to the covid medical mask, all guests are required to wear a theatrical mask throughout the entire experience. The main reason for this is to distinguish the audience from the actors. This mask design is a replica of old Venetian Bauta masks. These Venetian Carnival masks hid the wearer’s identity during the tawdry events of carnival. With secret identities, rich aristocrats could partake in some otherwise frowned-upon activities. While wearing a mask might seem odd, the show aims to make you feel like a voyeur peeking in on the actors. Sporting a disguise allows you to feel braver and perhaps let your guard down. You might feel less inhibited and even step out of your comfort zone…

If you wear glasses, the mask may not fit over the top of them. I know the newer masks in London have additional padding that helps glasses wearers, but it may still prove difficult. If you can get or wear contacts, this might be the best way to fully enjoy the experience.

Accessibility

I was surprised to find upon researching that Burnt City is indeed wheelchair accessible, with only some areas inaccessible with electric chairs. If you have access requirements, including using a wheelchair, you must book an Access Ticket via Punchdrunk directly. You will also be able to book a complimentary Essential Companion ticket. You will need to use the lifts to access the two levels of the show. But there are lifts available.

Content Warnings

The show is restricted 16+, with anyone under 18 required to be accompanied by a responsible guardian. The Box Office will issue a lanyard which they must wear during their visit to be identified to performers and staff. There is a bar that features as part of the performance, which those under 18s can only visit in the company of their parent or guardian.

The reason for this age restriction? Not only is there plenty of distressing scenes with blood, murder, suicide and sex, but also PLENTY of nudity. Also, be aware there are many dark spaces, loud noises, strobe light, and smoke effects throughout the show.

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What to Wear

What you wear to see the show is super important. The most critical of which is your choice of footwear! Since the night can be as long as three hours, you want to wear comfortable shoes. I saw so many people there wearing high heels, and by the end of the evening, they were leaning on walls and looked more exhausted than excited. If you are interested in following one character’s storyline, sometimes this requires you literally sprint after them to ensure they don’t get away and you miss their next scene. Without good shoes, you can’t chase after them.

The warehouse of the Burnt City is VERY HOT. So even in the colder months, I would advise wearing a light, breathable outfit. Since you have to coat check anyways, you can always wear something warmer there and leave those extra layers at the coat check. Also, be warned you might get some fake blood on your clothes. This will only happen if you interact with the characters, but it can happen. Don’t worry, though; it washes right out. But some people might not want to change it and choose not to wear their best shoes.

Another thing that is strange but is a MUST is a wristwatch! Since you won’t have your phone to tell the time, a watch will help you gauge how long you have been inside. Or when the first or second loop of the show might end. While getting lost is part of the experience, if you want to get the most out of it, having a watch to tell the time might help you.

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How to Experience the Show?

There is no wrong or right way to experience the Burnt City. In a way, the show commands that you leave your inhibitions behind and lose yourself in the performance. But, if you want to create a more cohesive experience, you might follow one character for a whole loop. To learn their story and see how it fits into the overall narrative.

Other viewers will want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and simply explore the environment, sets and details to uncover hidden clues about the storyline. In the Burnt City there are clues everywhere revealing your presence in the underworld, so you can absolutely hunt for those!

The choices are unless and that makes the experience completely unique every time you go! The biggest piece of advice I have is to leave anyone you come with behind. Leaver them in the literal dirt. Explore the world on your own. It’s a choose your own adventure, after all, not choose someone elses. Plus, talking with your friends about what they saw and experienced after the show is one of my favourite parts. Nothing like a good debrief!

1:1s

If you’ve done even a little bit of reading on Punchdrunk’s productions, you’ll hear over and over again the mention of something called a 1:1. So what is it? The 1:1s are when an actor pulls a random audience member aside and brings them into a private room for a VERY intimate scene that only those two people share. This often involves removing your theatre mask so the performer can get up close and personal and connect with you.

Often the 1:1s are the only part of the play where you might hear the actor’s voice! They are few and far between, so if you get selected, consider yourself very lucky indeed. If you don’t want to interact that closely with them, the actors are very good at respecting if you pull away. But if you are super shy, stay in the back of the groups that follow the actors around so you won’t get picked.

On the other hand, if you want a more intimate experience, go to the front and get close up. But remember always to give the actors their personal space. You can’t touch them unless invited. And some scenes explode with intense movements, and you’ll want to stand back to observe these performances. It’s important to respect everyone’s boundaries, that includes other audience members. Don’t push someone out of the way just to get ahead, the actors will notice, and that isn’t the kind of attitude that will get you a 1:1. And, of course, don’t be a creep.

The Black Masks

Various employees wear black masks during the show. These black masks as security guards protecting the actors, securing the sets and keeping the audience from entering any off-limit areas. If you are using your phone or talking too loudly, they will step in to warn or remove you from the show. They are also there to give you directions if you are lost or need to find a washroom. But they won’t give away any secrets…

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The Setting of the Burnt City

The Burnt City is a true tale of two cities, an apt comparison since the show was written just to be performed here in Charles Dicken’s London. And the city where Punchdrunk first originated and put on its first show. When you enter One Cartridge Place, you are stepping into an underworld representing the imagined ancient city of Mycenae (modern-day Greece) and Troy‘s pulsating neon back streets. The two cities occupy one of the two connecting warehouses converted for the Burnt City. Despite being inspired by Greek tragedies, the show is set in a dystopian future, inspired by films like Blade Runner and Metropolis. 

Entering the World of the Burnt City

Once you are through the coat check, you are given a playing card upon entering the Peep Bar. You wait here until your card number is called. Only then can you enter the world of the Burnt City. After your number is called, you’ll be led through a series of museum galleries containing glass cases preserving various artifacts from a fictional 19th-century excavation of Trojan ruins. Each one contains a small excerpt of the story we are about to see performed and the main characters therein.

Reading all the little details can be overwhelming when you just want to get into the show, but not to worry. This guide covers all that information (and MORE), so you’ll have come prepared. The last glass case of the exhibit is smashed. And the object inside is missing. As if something has been stolen or unleashed… And it is at this moment that you are given the choice of two doors to enter through, one leading to Mycenea, the other to Troy.

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Mycenae

Mycenae is the smaller of the two buildings, but many of the biggest scenes occur here, including the grand finale. Entering Mycenae is like walking into a post-war abandoned city. Aged and tattered army tents lead your way into the city. Once through the tents, you walk into an enormous room. In the center is a burnt-out anti-tank hedgehog made of rusty steel beams. A memory of wars long past, whose violent history still scars the land. Not only does this make for a dramatic set piece, but it also provides a piece of gorgeous equipment for the actors to dance on. 

Behind the old warzone is the Hinterland. A small, wooded area covered in sand, with antlers spread across the floor and a giant shrine to the god Artemis looming in the darkness. On the far side of the lower level is a caged checkpoint, often occupied by guards and soldiers in green coats. Through this checkpoint is a large set of double doors, which will take you to Troy…

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But also dominating the central portion of Mycenae is a large staircase leading up to a gallery that allows actors and audience alike to look down on the room below. This upper level is the old Greecian palace. It serves as the banquet hall and includes a small bedroom and shower stall. There is no way to get from Mycenae to Troy on the second floor, so keep that in mind.

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Troy

While Mycenea feels like an ancient war zone, Troy feels like a throbbing Berlin nightclub. Or a night out on the streets of neon-laden Tokyo. Glowing signs dominate the town square, and retro arcade games are found in hidden alleys ways. Somewhere in the distance, the thumping beats of a techno club echo. The town square is surrounded by a cafe, a pottery studio, a department store, Hades’ office and an old well. If you are in the town square during the start of the second loop, you’re in for a pleasant surprise around this well…

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From the town square, dimly lit alleyways spread off in all different directions. Leading you to the Bistro, Sake Bar, a seedy hotel, a series of tenement rooms and a secondary, smaller town square home to a neon-lit catholic shrine. There are several staircases around the lower level of Troy which will take up upstairs, where you’ll find the nightclub, a grandiose office inspired by the Godfather, a series of Love Hotel bedrooms, a greenhouse and more tenement apartments.

If you’re a classics nerd, you’ll love some of the hidden details found in the tenement apartments. Each one was inspired by a different character or story from Greek mythology. There are references to the Danaides, Sisyphus, Cronos, Salmoneus, and even the myth of the Cyclops. Many people come to see the Burtn City to simply explore the hidden clues in the sets, and despite these rooms being reasonably devoid of the main action, they are a great place to investigate quietly.

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The Story of the Burnt City & its Characters

Two main Greek tragedies inspired the intertwining storylines inside the Burnt City. The first is Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, and the second is Euripides’ Hecuba. The main plot points from Agamemnon primarily occur in Mycenae, and the characters from Hecuba centre around Troy. But elements from either story intertwine and connect each city’s fate to each other. But more than just a connection between location and character, these stories revolve around the theme of grief and the tragedies that befall both the victor and victim after war.

Also connecting both stories together is the presence of the Gods. The Greeks and Trojans believed that their fate lay in the hands of the Gods, who also controlled their destiny. The gods wear these dramatically sculpted breastplates. As if they are marble statues come to life. The gods also work with various citizens of Troy as intermediaries between the gods and the main characters. These characters blur the lines between the realm of the gods and the mortal plane. Delivering messages, conveying prophecies, and dreaming of metamorphosis. 

The outline, as detailed below, combines the original Greek tragedies and the interpretations you see of them in the Burnt City. Major spoiler warnings ahead! 

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Aeschylus’ Agamemnon

Aeschylus’s Agamemnon is a tragedy that tells the story of the Greek king Agamemnon. Agamemnon’s army was facing a devastating end. On their way to Troy, his entire fleet of ships was met with fierce winds on the seas and were stuck in a purgatorial loop. The ships attempt to push ahead but always move nowhere. As the show’s loop begins, we find these soldiers slowly being driven mad by that eternal waiting.

The Slaughter of Iphigenia

Agamemnon prayed to the God Artemis, needing a miracle to save his men and his fleet. Artemis told Agamemnon that if he sacrificed his young daughter Iphigenia, the gods would let the fleet cross the seas. Iphigenia was set to wed Agamemnon’s second-in-command, Neoptolemus, but the wedding was only a ruse. Right after the ceremony, still in her wedding dress, Iphigenia is killed by her father in the centre of Mycenea for all to see. Right before the eyes of her beloved mother, Clytemnestra, who watches helplessly from above.

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Artemis’ Transformation

In disbelief that Agamemnon could commit such a heinous act, Artemis is devastated by this bloodbath. But Artemis must keep the pack she made with Agamemnon and sends the good winds to help his army take the city of Troy. But Artemis is shamed by her actions, and trying to do right, takes Iphigenia into the Hinterlands. There, Artemis surrounds Iphigenia in antlers (a symbol of the goddess of the hunt and wild animals) and transforms her into an immortal priestess in the form of a great bear. In ancient Greece, a ritual service known as the arkteia (“arktos” = bear) is usually interpreted as a rite of passage preparing the girls for puberty and marriage. 

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Clytemnestra’s Revenge

After the death of her daughter, Clytemnestra is overwhelmed with grief. With her husband at war in Troy, Clytemnestra takes a lover, Aegisthus. Aegisthus comforts Clytemnestra, and they horrifically devour a platter of bloody entrails together. In the ancient world, eating entrails meant seeing into the future. They see the king’s death through this prophetic meal and plot revenge. Aegisthus disguises himself as a masseuse wearing a haunting androgynous mask to fool Agamemnon when he returns.

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When Agamemnon returns from Troy, he is initially met by his loving wife, who pretends to welcome her adoring husband. Only to lure him back into an intimate love scene with the disguised Aegisthus in their palace throne room. They begin by poisoning him with a lotus flower tincture, and he begins his descent into madness. But poison isn’t violent enough for Clytemnestra, who seeks vengeance for their daughter Iphigenia’s sacrifice. She stabs and kills Agamemnon at his most vulnerable. As he lies dying, his daughter Iphigenia greets Agamemnon as he enters immortality, and they start the loop over once more.

This story explores themes of justice and revenge. But moreover, the power of grief and the ceaseless love of a mother.

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Euripides’ Hecuba

The second storyline, which is happening simultaneously, is Euripides’ Hecuba. Euripides’ Hecuba is a tragedy that follows the titular character, Hecuba, after the fall of Troy. Hecuba, once the queen of Troy, has been taken captive by the Greeks and is now a slave. 

When we enter the world of the Burnt City, Troy has yet to fall. Agamemnon is still on his way. Hecuba has a prophetic vision about the death of her youngest son Polydorus. She entrusts her youngest son to her neighbour and supposed ally, Polymestor, to keep him safe. She also intrusts Polydorus with the family jewels. As they do so, the army of Myceneans arrives.

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The Fall of Troy & the death of Polyxen

As Agamemnon, alongside his men, enter the city, Troy has fallen to the Greeks. Since it took the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia to take Troy, Agamemnon requires a similar sacrifice of Hecuba and the death of her youngest daughter Polyxen. But Polyxen will not become a victim of this war and opts to kill herself rather than be taken prisoner and murdered by the enemy. She slits her throat and is hung up in the town square for all to see. Including her lover, Macaria. After Polyxena’s death is propelled into a grief-stricken ritual before gathering the strength for revenge.

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Polydorus & Polymestor

Grief-stricken at witnessing her daughter’s death, Hecuba staggers through the streets of Troy in search of Polydorus. Polydorus was supposed to be in the care of Polymestor, the club owner and somewhat kingpin of Troy. But Polymestor has no intention of saving Polydorus. Once Troy falls, Polymestor lures Polydorus into his menacing office, where they play fight, and Polymestor feeds the young boy some drugs to weaken and kill him.

A golden icon of a half man half bull is always looking over the office. This is the god Moloch, who is associated with child sacrifice. And that is precisely what Polymestor does; he kills young Polydorus as a sacrifice to the gods. He is rewarded by taking the precious jewels once belonging to Polydorus. Then he stuffs the body of Poludorus into a trunk and has it carted away. But Polydorus awakes in this underworld of living death and is transformed into a fury who stalks the city in search of revenge.

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Apollo and Cassandra

Cassandra is Hecuba’s only living daughter, and she is possessed by the power of prophecy. The “gift” was given to her by the God Apollo, who was entranced by her beauty. He gave her this gift to win her love but was subsequently rejected. Apollo was furious and turned the gift into a curse, as no one would ever believe her prophesies. After her sister’s death, Cassandra is given to Agamemnon as a gift from Troy. Cassandra can see the fate of Agamemnon; if he returns home, he will be murdered. She tells him this prophecy, knowing she will not be believed. She lures Agamemnon back to Greece, where he meets his death at the hands of Clytemnestra.

Hecuba’s Revenge

Hecuba finds her son’s dead body and slowly begins to lose her mind. All her children were dying and lost all around her. Being betrayed by almost everyone, Hecuba turns to the gods for revenge. She stalks Polymestor, and with the help of the spirits, Polymestor is lured into a ritualistic dance. Hecuba has tricked him into this trap and blinds him when the dance reaches its feverish peak. Hecuba has finally succeeded in getting the revenge she so desired. But she stands hopeless, and even revenge cannot soothe the pain of grief. She wanders off to pray, and the loop starts once more.

Hecuba explores themes of revenge and justice. But primarily studies the horrors that befall women after the war. And the sacrifices a mother must make to seek vengeance for her family.

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Hades and Persephone

Watching all of this take place are the gods Hades and Persephone, King and Queen of the Underworld. The myth of Hades and Persephone is one of the most well-known stories from Greek mythology. It tells the tale of how Hades abducted Persephone, the daughter of the goddess Demeter. He stole her away and took her down to the underworld to be his wife. Hades offered Persophone a blood-red pomegranate; unknowingly, she ate six seeds from the forbidden fruit.

Demeter, Persephone’s mother, was devastated by her daughter’s disappearance. She asked Zeus to intervene and had him broker a deal. Because Persephone had eaten six seeds, Zeus decreed that Persephone would six months of the year with Hades in the underworld and the rest of the year with Demeter on earth. This is where we get the changing of the seasons. The barren winter months represent when Persephone is in the underworld, and the fertile spring and summer months represent her joyous reunion on earth with her mother.

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The cycle of life and death

The myth of Hades and Persephone has been interpreted in many different ways, but it is often seen as a metaphor for the cycle of life and death. The entire show is a continuous loop of life and death, neverending.

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The Grand Finale

The final scene takes place in Mycenea and is a living embodiment of the Flemish painting, the Fall of the Damned, by Dirk Bouts, painted in 1470. A copy of this painting can be found on the wall of Hades’ office, cementing the idea that Hades himself has trapped us and the characters here. The loops we are watching are a form of purgatory. And the characters perform for us as we weigh in on the guilty and the innocent watching this last judgment.

Additional Characters

While these two central storylines cover the main characters, a dozen or so side characters make up the rich tapestry of the story of the Burnt City. This includes lovers, other gods, tricksters and more, all with unique and rich narratives. All worth exploring and learning more about for yourself. Since these characters’ stories aren’t based on a pre-existing narrative, they can be a little looser and require more interpretation from the viewer.

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Peep Bar

The Peep Bar is where you wait upon entering the theatre, but it also can be reentered through a doorway in the backstreets of Troy. The Peep Bar remains open after the performance (except during matinees.) Often, bands play here, so it’s a lively spot to continue the night with your friends and talk about the show!

Unlike the bar in Sleep no More, which is primarily a place to come, take off your mask, and unwind if you find the show a bit overwhelming, the Peep Bar is also a part of the show itself! Various characters come into the bar to perform a series of dances, and some even might treat you to a song or two! While I wouldn’t recommend spending an entire loop in the bar, if you follow a character and end up here, it’s worth seeing what happens.

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Who to Follow?

The question of who to follow is difficult, and I think people will often simply tell you to follow what sparks your curiosity. And while that is good advice, if you’re reading this blog and came in search of guidance, you might be looking for something more informative than that.

My personal and admittedly biased advice? Follow a key/main character from Mycenea for the first loop. Someone like Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Iphegina. They will help you piece together the more concrete aspects of that story. For the second loop, follow someone who will take you through the neon streets of Troy, like Polymestor (who has an especially heartbreaking storyline) or Hecuba. And finally, follow a God or other interesting side character for the last loop. Characters like Hades, Kronos and Ascalaphus are all immensely fascinating.

But honestly, if someone interests you or if you want to know more about anything you see, follow that path without question or hesitation. Exploring is all the fun, and with the knowledge from this post, you’ll already be set to discover the meaning behind so many discoveries inside.

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If you had the pleasure of seeing the Burnt City and came here looking for answers, I hope you found this guide helpful! If you are seeing it for the first time, I hope you use this as a companion to the show itself. There is so much more to discover by uncovering the layers of this incredibly immersive experience.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Punchdrunk’s the Burnt City, a Tale of Two Dystopian Cities first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

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But be warned, there are some SPOILERS BELOW! While this post isn’t super detailed involving the show’s plot, there are some spoilers, so if you want to come in 100% free of any info, don’t read on! I have a spoiler-free guide as well so head on over there if you want a little introduction without the spoilers. But if you want to know a little bit more about the layout of the hotel and maybe where you want to spend your time, this is the post for you!

Guide to the McKittrick Hotel

1. Arriving at Reception
2. Manderley Bar
3. The Elevator
4. Becoming the Spirits
5. The Layout of the Hotel
   • Basement: The Ballroom & Cemetery
   • 1st Floor: Duncan's Residence
   • 2nd Floor: The McKittrick Hotel Lobby
   • 3rd Floor: The Residences and Graveyard
   • 4th Floor: Village of Gallow Green
   • 5th Floor: King James Sanitorium & Birch Forest
   • 6th Floor: The Secret Floor

Arriving at Reception

After entering the hotel and dropping off all your worldly possessions at the coat check, you head to the reception desk. There you will get checked in with your ID to match the name on the reservation. The show really starts here as the actor at the reception desk is really pulling out all the strings to imitate a 1930s front desk clerk. They will give you and your group members a playing card. This is the only ticket you will receive for the show so keep it close. Once inside, different card numbers will be called to indicate it’s your time to enter the hotel and the show.

Then a quiet valet, dressed in all black, will guide you inside. You walk up a set of stairs and through a series of narrow hallways that are almost pitch black. I honestly thought for a moment I was going to get lost as I could barely see what was in front of me. Finally, you see a red glowing light ahead of you, as you enter the Manderley Bar.

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Manderley Bar

The Manderley Bar is a loud and happening place to be, not at all like the quiet and creepy hallways we just passed through. The room looks like a speakeasy from the 1930s, and the art deco jazz-themed stage is quite dazzling. The stage is set for a three-piece band, and a singer will walk on stage every now and then to entertain the guests waiting to enter the show.

There is a bar where you can get yourself a drink, but unless you entered late, you probably won’t have time to drink the whole thing. There are other guests milling around the bar, and every so often, you will spot someone dressed in 1930s attire, with a fringed dress or slick-backed hair. These actors interact with each other and are there to set the mood and adjust your internal clocks back in time, to the 1930s. Hearing their voices is so strange considering that once you enter the elevator and head further into the hotel, there is little to no speaking at all. Perhaps the juxtaposition of these two environments is meant to shock your system even more.

The Elevator

When your card number is called, you head over to the doors to the elevator. Before going inside, you will be given your Bauta masks and read the rules of the game. No talking, no cellphone use, keep your mask on the entire time and follow the crew’s guidance (they will be wearing black masks). The bellhop guides the group into the extra-large elevator, and it begins to squeak up the shaft. As you travel, the bellhop gives you an excellent piece of advice, “fortune favours the bold.“

When the elevator first stops, the very first person at the back will be let out. Everyone else is held back by the bellhop, and the doors of the elevator close behind them. The rest of us left on the elevator are told that this experience is indeed a solo one, as so brashly demonstrated to us. It is best experienced alone, follow your desires and you will get the most from the experience. The rest of the group is let out on the next floor, and everyone is left to explore the hotel on their own.

Becoming the Spirits

In the film ‘Rebecca‘, from which the name “Manderley” and some of the Hitchcockian influences come from, one of the characters says, “Like all dreamers, I was possessed all of a sudden with supernatural powers and passed like a spirit through the barrier before me.” For our journey, the elevator is our entry into the dream realm, where we become the spirits and the barriers between time, life and death all seem to fade away.

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The Layout of the Hotel

There are over 100 different rooms spread across the old warehouse, which has been converted into the McKittrick Hotel. Two sets of stairs are located on the east and west sides of the buildings. These are your access points to explore the other floors. There are bathrooms available on the 5th-floor and in the Manderley Bar (on the 2nd level), and trust me, you more than likely will need to use one, even just to splash a bit of cold water on your face to wake you up from what seems like a dream.

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Basement: The Ballroom & Cemetery

The ballroom in the basement is where the largest gathering of the characters will take place. They gather there as a large group twice during their loops. Any character you follow throughout the performance will lead you here at the end of the show as well. At the beginning of the show, we come here to see a ball in celebration of King Duncan‘s battle, and at the end of the show, a banquet takes place where the dark truth is revealed. Off the ballroom, you’ll find a small changing room, a chapel and a little crypt. 

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1st Floor: Duncan’s Residence

The 1st floor is where you will find King Duncan‘s study, chapel and bedroom. King Duncan isn’t with us for very long, so this floor is pretty small. The mezzanine is also located up here, where you can look out onto the Ballroom below. 

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2nd Floor: The McKittrick Hotel Lobby

The 2nd Floor is where you’ll find the McKittrick Hotel lobby. Dominating the room is a large 1930s-style check-in desk. In front of the desk is a lush sitting room with a piano set against the far wall. Go into the telephone booths and pick up the phones as there is sometimes a surprise on the other end. You can find the lobby’s porter in here sitting occasionally with the three witches.

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Throughout the entire floor, you’ll start to take notice of the spiritual talismans which seem to pop up all over the place. There are also markers of time, which are a constant in the set dressing, but they never move, as if to insinuate we are trapped in a loop (which we are).

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The Altar

On the other side of the lobby is a small dining room. Against the back wall is a huge pile of salt with a giant taxidermied goat sitting atop it. On the wall is a cabinet filled with a series of smaller salt piles with crossed forks and knives resembling a crucifix. Salt is a symbol of protection against evil and many characters come here in the hopes of escaping the evil which infects the hotel.

3rd Floor: The Residences and Graveyard

The 3rd Floor is where we find a series of residences of various characters from the Macbeth storyline. The Macduff family residence is located on the 3rd Floor. Their rooms are small and cozy, filled to the brim with spiritual trinkets and talismans. In their quarters, you will also find a baby nursery. Walking inside, you’ll see right away it is one of the creepiest rooms in the building, filled with floating headless baby dolls. Take a closer look in the mirror. In the reflection, in the mirror, you’ll see not the room you are standing in, but a completely different set of horrors. This is a bit of theatrical trickery and just one of the ways in which the McKittrick hotel is always trying to fool you.

Lady and Lord Macbeth’s Apartment

On the other side of the floor, we find a supersized room occupied by Lady and Lord Macbeth. Stacked from floor to ceiling on one side are rows and rows of dressers and drawers. The dancers use these stacks of furniture to prance on top of like they are cats, dancing on a hot tin roof. At one end is a grandiose bed and in the center of the room is a claw-foot porcelain bathtub. The bathtub is where one of the most powerful scenes takes place so if you notice one of the actors encircling it chances are you’ll want to stay.

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Opposite the dresser wall, are a series of windows looking out onto the small orangerie and walled garden on the other side. Walking out there you will stumble upon a large graveyard. The room is lit with pale, blue moonlight and filled with ruins and statues. The floor is covered in dirt which crunches are you walk through it, echoing as you go through the silence. Only the fearless are brave enough to explore this as it is one of the darkest parts of the hotel. I loved the scene Macbeth performed in here so the brave are truly rewarded for exploring around this place.

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4th Floor: Village of Gallow Green

This was my favourite floor, and I probably spent the most time here. This floor is laid out like an entire village, called Gallow Green. The name “Gallow Green” comes from the Paisley Witch Trails, which were another thematic inspiration woven into the threads of ‘Sleep No More’. The Gallow Green was the place where the accused witches were executed. A very haunting name to give to an entire village.

The main street is dark and cobblestoned with shop fronts and houses all along either side. Most of the doors and shopfront can be entered at some point throughout the show. If you find something locked, look a little closer or come back later, and you might find it open.

In Gallow Green, you can find the taxidermist’s shop, Malcolm’s detective agency, a hidden funeral parlour, a speakeasy, a candy shop, an apothecary, and a tailor’s shop. Also, in Gallow Green are several apartments that belong to the residences. Some of them hiding secret passageways to other parts of the street. 

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Paisley Sweets

The Paisley candy shop is a favourite for any of those who stop in on it. Inside the backlit shelves filled with glass jars are many traditional British candies. Everything from pear drops, aniseed balls, toffee and humbugs can be found here. The room is even scented with caramel perfume to lure in the audience. Feel free to open the jars and munch on the treats but again, be respectful and don’t just take them all. I remember throughout the show hearing people munching on sweets, and wondering where these were coming from. When I finally found the sweets shop, it was closed, so if you find it open, definitely head inside for a quick pick-me-up. The name “Paisley Sweets” comes once more from the Paisley witch trials.

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Hecate’s Bar

The 4th floor is also the place where you will find Hecate’s replica of the Manderley Bar. Hecate is the supreme witch controlling the residences of Gallow Green. This red lit room is a haunting and ruined replica of the Manderley Bar on the 2nd floor. This room is so large, almost suspiciously large. Here is where one of the most shocking scenes takes place with many cast members, drawing a massive group in with them. If you hear techno music blaring from any other part of the 4th floor, head on over here as quick as you can!

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Nearby to Hecate‘s bar is her apothecary. This is where the great witch stores all her herbs and medicinal goods. You can really smell the aroma of the dried herbs calling your name from even a few doors down. The woodsy scent of moss and freshly turned earth, drawing you into her lair. 

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Taxidermy Office

One of the creepiest rooms on the floor has got to be the Taxidermy Office. This room is filled with stuffed animals peering out almost menacingly at you. In the dim light, their eyes seem to follow you. The drawers in this room are an endless treasure trove you can really get lost in. The stuffed birds found all over the hotel are perhaps a reference to this line in Macbeth, “all my pretty chickens and their dam / At one fell swoop,“. The quote is spoken by Macduff regarding the tragic murder of his family. Taxidermied birds are also a vital piece of set decoration and metaphor seen in the Hitchcock film Vertigo.

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The Speakeasy

Taking up the majority of the right side of the street is a ramshackle speakeasy and pool room. The bar is covered floor to ceiling in cardboard boxes and old bloody playing cards are pinned to the walls. A few of the most fantastic dance sequences between the boys take place in this space and well worth exploring when you come across it.

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5th Floor: King James Sanitorium & Birch Forest

This floor, which some people call the “hospital,” is in actuality the King James Sanitorium. A lunatic asylum filled with some of the creepiest elements of the show. There is a waiting room, a padded cell, a large ward, a bathroom (for the audience members) and a small office. The largest room is called the “ghost infirmary,” where you find eight wrought iron beds placed against the walls. Although no one stays in these beds for very long the nurses tend to them like they are filled with residences.

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Above each of the beds is a crucifix mounted on the peeling white bricks. Every bed is paired with patient charts which you can flip through to discover hidden clues and secrets. The office across the hall is filled with hair samples and hundreds of additional charts. Although this floor is typically not very active, that almost makes it all the more spooky since walking around the silent hospital feels like entering an abandoned building.

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The Birch Forest

The other side of the floor contains a maze-like a birch forest. Wandering through it, you will find a large wrought-iron gate that is padlocked throughout different parts of the show. Towards the back of the maze, there is a wooden hut where one of the characters hides.

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6th Floor: The Secret Floor

Only those very lucky will be allowed up to the 6th floor. I was lucky enough to be taken up there on my very first visit! By closely following and interacting with one of the nurses towards the later part of the show I was guided up there to an unbelievable experience! I won’t give away what goes on up here since it’s one of the most elusive parts of the show but if you want to read my account of what happened, you can head over to this post.

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I hope this post gave you a little introduction and guide to what you will see at the McKittrick Hotel. Maybe it gave you some insights into what you missed when you saw the show or if you are planning a trip, perhaps it will give you some hints on where you might be drawn to exploring.

Happy Travels, Adventurers.

The post An In-Depth Guide to the Layout of the McKittrick Hotel, Inside ‘Sleep No More’ New York City [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Sleep No More Guide

1. Character Inspirations
2. Scene-by-Scene Guide
3. The Elusive 6th Floor
4. Gallows Green Rooftop Bar
5. TIPS:

Character Inspirations

In the show program, it lists a relationship diagram between each of the characters. They are separated into various categories; the Court (which includes all the Macbeth characters), the King James Sanitorium (which are Nurse Shaw, Matron Long, and the Orderly), the Townspeople of Gallows Green (which include Mr. Bargarran and Mr. Futon) and finally the members of the McKittrick Hotel (Catherine Campbell, The Porter and the Bell Hop)

Macbeth Characters

All the Macbeth characters are a little easier to put together. If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

Malcome and Lady Macbeth

King Duncan announces that his elder son Malcolm will become the new King after his death. Until that time he instructs Macbeth to care and guide him. When King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth’s manors, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the prophecy and kill Duncan. Macbeth carries out the deed even though he is pained to do so. Malcolm flees in fear of his own life, only to be suspected of the killing, therefore allowing Macbeth to inherit the throne.

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Banquo & MacDuff

Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend and a general in King’s army, was privy to the meeting with the witches and suspects Macbeth. Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but his sons escape. Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who haunts him. He meets with the witches once more who warn him that MacDuff, another nobleman in the army, is a danger to Macbeth. And he is convinced he must kill MacDuff. Macbeth has MacDuff’s family murdered and his property sized, but MacDuff himself escapes. The heir to the throne, Malcolm, returns to take back the kingdom against the murderer Macbeth.

Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane, haunted by the ghosts of her actions. The doctors tell Macbeth she cannot be cured. MacDuff confronts Macbeth and kills him, bringing his head to Malcolm, who hails himself King of Scotland.

Rebecca Characters

When the show first started, there were various characters named after characters from the Hitchcock film ‘Rebecca‘. Perhaps for legal reasons, these names had to be changed when the show moved to New York. The second Mrs. De Winter is now Agnes Naismith, and her storyline is a bit different. Mrs. Danvers is now called Catherine Campbell. These names were chosen from the real people who were accused of being witches in the Paisley Witch trials of 1697. Nurse Christian Shaw shares the same name as the eleven-year-old Christian Shaw, the daughter of the Laird of Bargarran, who was the accuser and responsible for seven people’s deaths during the trials.

Mr. Bargarran can also be found in the show, he works as the taxidermist in Gallow Green. We also meet Mr. Fulton. Margaret Fulton was one of the accused and murdered women from the Paisley witch trials and Mr. Fulton is her husband. In the Show, Mr. Fulton is the resident tailor and the cunning man of Gallow Green. A cunning man was a traditional name for the original practitioners of folk medicine. They were thought to be good witches, and Mr. Fulton is working actively against the evil witch Hecate.

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Scene-by-Scene Guide

I had done my best to list the scenes in chronological order, although some of them happen at the same time, although on different levels of the building. Seeing the entire show in order is practically impossible without visiting multiple times so reading this little play-by-play is a great way to put together anything you missed. Remember, even if you saw it all, the show isn’t meant to be a linear narrative with a perfectly easy to comprehend plot. It’s more like art, open for interpretation and personal reflection. That being said, a little context never hurt anything!

Banquo Praying

To being the show, Banquo can be found praying at the chapel on the 1st floor, where he sits near a large statue of the Madonna. Banquo, along with Macbeth, have just returned from a successful war for King Duncan. Banquo is thanking the gods for his safe return as he is a pious man. Eventually, Macbeth comes to greet Banquo inside the chapel. The two embrace as best friends (which makes Macbeth’s eventual betrayal and murder of Banquo all the more powerful). The two leave together for the lobby, where they enjoy a few drinks. 

The Three Witches

The three witches enter the lobby to give Macbeth the all-powerful prophecy. The three witches go by the names; the sexy witch, the boy witch and the bald witch. The sexy witch wears a low-cut, teal dress. The boy witch can be found wearing a smart-fitting 1930s-style suit and heavy eyeliner—finally, the bald witch actually won’t appear bald until later in the show, she is pretty clearly wearing a wig. The “bald witch” is another reference to the 1697 Paisley witch trials. One accused witch, Agnes Sampson, was brought before the King for her supposed crimes. He had her entire body shaved as punishment before she was tortured and finally burned at the stake.

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The three witches have to chase Macbeth around the lobby for a bit until he finally resigns to reading the prophecy. Banquo sees this all occur, and when Macbeth is finished reading the prophecy, Macbeth runs upstairs to find his wife. Banquo on the other hand seems a bit disturbed by what he saw and hides away inside a luggage storage room where he performs a dance across the scaffolding.

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Lady and Lord Macbeth Discuss the Prophecy

At the start of the show, you can find Lady Macbeth up in her bedroom, undressed, sitting on the rim of the bathtub. All over the floor are scattered notes from Macbeth. Feel free to go and pick them up to read. The letters detail the witches’ prophecy. As Lady Macbeth sits on the tub, she seems to contemplate the idea that the prophecy details. The idea of Macbeth killing King Duncan to become King himself.

One of the most beautiful parts of this scene is when Lady Macbeth climbs into the nearby dresser, where she disappears and then reappears inside a glass box on the other side. In there, she performs a hauntingly beautiful dance for the onlookers outside. Eventually, Lady Macbeth gets out of the glass box, now dressed in a silk black nightgown. She dances furiously across the room, on top of the furniture, throwing herself around as if possessed. It is impressive to watch as it feels as dangerous as it is sensual. 

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Macbeth’s Dance

Macbeth eventually enters as well as the two dance together. As they dance, she begins to press him on Duncan’s murder, and the once romantic dance becomes an aggressive battle. By the end of the dance, it seems as if Lady Macbeth has convinced Macbeth to do the deed, and he walks out of the room in a daze.

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Agnes Naismith Checks into the Hotel Lobby

The second-floor lobby is occupied by Agnes Naismith (previously the Mrs. De Winters) and Catherine Campbell (previously Mrs. Danvers) at the beginning of the show. The two of them don’t get along, so lookout for a confrontation. Agnes Naismith will sign into the hotel’s registry with her full name so keep an eye out for that to recognize her. She has come to town in search of her missing sister. Although she might have been named Mrs. De Winters from the film ‘Rebecca‘ her storyline is much more similar to that of Lila in the film ‘Psycho‘ who is also on a search for her sister. The Porter will reveal a secret key to Agnes Naismith. This key opens a locked door on the 4th floor of Gallow Green. Follow her to see what she finds up there. 

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Malcolm’s Detective Office

Malcolm, who is King Duncan‘s son, is mainly held up in his Detective’s office on the 4th floor in Gallow Green. The office is called “Mac Crinain & Reid Agency.” Mac Crinain was the King of Scotland in 1034 and was the King who served as the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The name “Reid” comes from the Paisley witch trials as John Reid was one of the accused.

Malcolm’s Detective agency office is a frenzied room covered floor to ceiling in papers and evidence. There are filing cabinets on every wall, piled up with documents as well as an abundance of stuffed birds. Malcolm is seemingly obsessed with studying dead birds. In the play Macbeth, Macbeth is compared to the “evil bird, the owl, the creepy evil animal that always stares at you”. Perhaps Malcolm’s obsession with birds is his desire to discover the true nature of Macbeth. 

Agnes Naismith

In the back of the agency is a dark room filled with photographs of murder victims hanging on a line. Malcolm is not only trying to solve the plot of who murdered his father but he is also obsessed with the mystery of Agnes Naismith‘s missing sister Grace. Being located on the 4th floor, Malcolm is in the presence of the sorceress Hecate. Throughout the performance he is manically trying to solve the question of why these mysterious things are happening in Gallow Green.

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Hecate’s Spell

Hecate is the all-powerful witch who manipulates Macbeth into his crimes and is perhaps the catalyst for the show’s entire events. She is one of the only characters to wear a bright piece of clothing, a long blood-red silk dress sometimes covered in feathers (another nod to the birds’ theme). Her only goal is to see that Macbeth fulfills his destiny and kills King Duncan. But she also responsible for the darkness which haunts the 4th floor and the town of Gallow Green. At the start of the loop, Hecate struts through the streets of Gallow Green, seemingly resetting each of the characters to the beginning of their loop, under her complete control.

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The Jealousy Dance

Before the ball, Lord and Lady Macduff return to their apartments. Their velvet-laced apartments on the 3rd floor are covered in talismans, charms and objects of devotion. Lady Macduff is an extremely superstitious person and is fearful of impending doom to her family. It seems to prevent her greatest fears from coming true she has placed these objects all over, almost in an obsessive fashion.

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Lady Macduff’s Jealousy

Lady Macduff is furious with her husband for his wandering eye and feels less than wanted in her pregnant state. The two of them dance on top of the stacked shelves and dressers inside their room. They dance all over the rooms, jumping over couches and tumbling on the ground. Fighting, making up, arguing and in the end, proving how much they adore each other (although Macduff continues to love others just the same.)

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The Ballroom Banquet

Lady Macbeth decides to host a ball in honour of King Duncan’s success war. Almost the entire cast gathers in the basement ballroom for this event. Lady Macbeth steps out onto the dance floor, where she is greeted by three menacing-looking people. These are the three witches. Macbeth, dressed in a smart-looking suit, stands on the mezzanine above the dancefloor, looking down at the guests below. The guests dance and mingle with each other. Jazz music from the 1930s plays throughout the room, featuring songs like ‘Tuxedo Junction‘ by Glenn Miller and ‘Sandman‘ by Benny Goodman. 

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Catherine Campbell

If you find Lord Macduff, you may notice him flirting with various women on the dance floor, save for his heavily pregnant wife, Lady Macduff, who looks on in abject dishonour. His favourite dalliance is surely the sexy witch. Lady Macduff watches from the sidelines and is served a glass of milk by one of the attendants. This is Catherine Campbell, the cruel head housekeeper at McKittrick Hotel. Unbeknownst to Lady Macduff, the drink was poisoned, but she pushes it away. Catherine Campbell is under the thrall of Hecate, and she does her bidding. Tampering with milk was a common practice that many people thought witches would undertake to poison the faithful. So it is not surprising to hear how much-poisoned milk is used by Catherine throughout the show considering her name is taken from an accused witch in the Paisley witch trials.

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The Bald Witch Transformation

After the banquet is over and the dancers begin to retire and leave the room, but one person stays behind – the bald witch. Although right now, she still has her wig on. During this hauntingly beautiful scene, the witch dances alone in the spotlight, almost as if by the light of the moon. She is one of the show’s best dancers, doing a plier and dancing almost on point. At the end of the dance, she reveals her bald head. She tosses the wig off to the side, perhaps as a gesture to indicate the beginning of the real evil of the show about to begin. True selves will be revealed…

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Graveyard

After Macbeth returns from the ball, he heads to his room to change his clothes and then heads to the nearby graveyard. There, he prays in front of a large statue, resembling the Virgin Mary. He seems to plead with it as if trying to make up his mind whether to kill Duncan or not.

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Hecate’s Cabaret

If you are standing in the street in Gallow’s Green, you might catch Hecate running full tilt around the corner. If you follow Hecate from the road, she will lead you to the ruins of the Manderley bar, her personal cabaret. When she arrives, she sits down at the small table off to the side of the room. In the film Rebecca, the Manderley mansion’s first appearance is in its current, burned formed. Only when we flash to the past do we see it as it once was, in its full glory. In the McKittrick hotel, Hecate’s ruined Manderley Bar is perhaps a foreshadowing of her impending doom that she will bring to the Manderley, the McKittrick and all those within should her plan of murder come to fruition.

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Is that all there is

Sitting on the table is a large silver dinner tray, which she opens to reveal what appears to be a raw human heart inside. She begins to eat the pieces of the heart as uneasy music plays throughout the room. As she puts the last piece in her mouth, she chews it and spits out a plain gold wedding band hidden inside the heart. She will gesture toward someone from the audience and put the ring in their hands. Then she proceeds to walk onto the stage.

The music changes, and the song “Is that all there is” plays on the loudspeaker. A male’s voice half recites, half sings the song as Hecate mouths along to the words. When she steps off the stage, tears are flowing down her cheeks. She slowly walks towards the door where we entered but stops and turns just before leaving. This is when she will reach out to an audience member and take their hand.

Hecate’s 1:1

I was lucky enough to be blessed with this 1:1 experience. As quickly as I touched her hand, she whisked me off into the darkness, spinning around from corner to corner until we reached a locked door. It was honestly a full-speed sprint! Before entering, she whispered to me, “Do you trust me?” I nodded, and we were thrust inside. She drew a key from her pocket and locked the door behind us, away from the rest of the audience and suddenly it was just her and me. And then, most unexpectedly, she tore off my mask! 

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The room we were now sitting in was dimly light with candles, but I could still make up most of what was around me. It looked like a fortune teller’s den. The ceiling was covered in antique umbrellas, teacups and ancient herbs. She came towards me and whispered in my ear: “I’ve been waiting for you to come. I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to get here.” She led me over to a plush velvet couch and sat me down. She sat down opposite me in a large armchair, which felt more than just lived in. Like she had been sitting in the same spot for hundreds of years.

The Storm…

On the table between us was a tea set and with two china cups. She grabbed my hands in her and began tracing her fingers over my palms like she would read my fortune. Then she started recounting to me a story of a couple who took a voyage across the sea. As she spoke, she took the teacup from the table and placed it in my hands. She began to pour the water into my cup.

It was a terrible storm,” she said. “They say that devils were seen swarming on the mast, and that’s why the ship sank.” As she spoke she dropped a little paper boat into the water. She spoke of demons that dragged the ship down to the depth. As soon as the boat touched the liquid, the water turned red. She began shaking my hands with the cup still clutched around my fingers. The water spilled all over me. The music was swelling all around the room to match the urgency and danger of the story. “But we know that’s not what happened.” And then, all of a sudden, the room went pitch black.

The Rain

She pulled me from my seat and, even in the utter darkness, lead me over to another part of the room, she was yelling something, but I couldn’t hear her as wind and rain were pouring down on me. REAL RAIN! She whispered one last thing in my ear, although I could not make it out, and placed my mask back on my face. Then, in a second, she pushed me out a door into another room and slammed the door behind me. In my hand, I was still holding the soggy boat. I tried to reopen the door I had just come through, but it was locked.

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Hecate’s Apothecary

I was standing in what appeared to be an apothecary with hundreds of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling and little vials all over the room. There was a couple of audience members in the room already staring at me in utter disbelief as they had no idea where I had come from. Once I left the show and took off my mask, I noticed a kiss mark on my mask, which she had left me with, perhaps marking me for the rest of the evening.

In case you’re curious, the story of the shipwreck is a historical one that left a dark mark on the world and inspired parts of Shakespear’s work. King James VI was engaged to Anne of Denmark, and when he sailed to bring her back home with him, their royal fleet was battered by storms, almost causing the couple to be lost at sea. And one of their vessels was lost to the great seas. It was most likely the impatient newlyweds who were responsible for sailing during such turbulent seas but King James laid all the blame of this storm on witches. His accusations lead to the beginning of the first Scottish witch trials, and over the years the different witch trials in Scotland lead to the deaths of over 400 people.

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The Witch Rave

One of the most talked-about scenes from the production has got to be the Witches Rave. If you are on the 4th floor and hear techno music, head towards it as you won’t want to miss it. I was off doing something else while this was going on, so sadly, I missed it, but my friend’s account definitely was so entertaining to listen to even after the fact. That’s part of the fun of Sleep No More, piecing together the story.

In the same run-down Manderley Bar on the 4th floor, Hecate walks in and begins to laugh as coloured lights and deep bass music begin to erupt throughout the room. The other witches join her in the room, and they all start to dance with abandon. The two female witches tear the clothes of the one male witch and he retreats behind the bar as strobe lights flash above. Suddenly a demon with a goat head and a human body emerge from behind the bar. He is completely naked and covered in blood.

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The Sacrifice

Macbeth suddenly walks in and begins to kiss the demon. The demon brings forth a baby (a toy baby, don’t worry) covered in blood and brings it towards Macbeth. This is a reference to the line in the play, where a bloody child appears to Macbeth and says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.” Overcome with emotion, Macbeth flees the room while the deranged orgy continues without him.

The witch who had placed the goat head on their face removes it and flees from the room shortly after Macbeth. He will lead you throughout the halls into the bathroom, where the shower runs if you follow him. There he changes out of his clothes and collapses in the shower in a fit of tears as he tries to scrub the blood from himself. He will look to you, if you have followed, for help. Those kind enough to offer him some sympathy will get to help him on his continued journey to the final banquet scene.

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Lady Macduff’s Warning

Back downstairs in the Macduff apartments, Lady Macduff is becoming more and more afraid. She is panicking for the life of her unborn child as if this dark omen is about to come true. Lady Macduff climbs up a tall bookshelf onto an altar near the ceiling. She walks into her child’s bedroom to comfort herself with a small teddy bear. Inside it, she finds a bone that has been sewn into the fabric. She looks horrified to find this. She grabs her suitcase and runs up to the 4th floor to find Mr. Bargarran, the taxidermist. As he is one who studies bones, perhaps he has a clue into what this means? He gives her a note, indicating that she is in danger. At this moment, a bell sounds; elsewhere in the hotel, King Duncan has been murdered.

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Poisoned Milk

Lady Macduff heads downstairs with her suitcase and pleads with the Porter. Perhaps she trying to escape Macbeth, but the Porter cannot help her. Distraught, she sits down in the hotel dining room. The tables are flanked by a wall covered in piled salt with a fork and knife crossed floating above them. At the back of the room is one of Mr. Barragan’s taxidermied goats standing on top of an additional pile of salt. Salt is known to be a protective device against evil so perhaps Lady Macduff feels safe here.

Lady Macduff sits at a table as Catherine Campbell approaches and pours her a glass of her poisoned milk. Just as Macduff brings the glass to her mouth Campbell grabs it from her. The two begin to dance to ‘Temptation‘ from the ‘Psycho‘ soundtrack. At the song’s finale, Mrs. Campbell finally gives the milk to Lady Macduff by letting it drip down her arm into her mouth. As Lady Macduff writhes in pain, Mrs. Campbell goes up to their apartment and dances around gleefully at their impending misfortune.

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The Murder of King Duncan

Banquo heads to King Duncan‘s bedroom to find Duncan murdered hidden under a pile of ripped pillows. Banquo screams and picks up a nearby bell to ring to call people to arms. Malcolm and Lord Macduff come to the sound of his screams, and they all grieve at the sight of his body. They each help pick up Duncan’s body and carry him through the crowd and over to Duncan’s chapel. They lay him to rest and wrap in him a funeral cloth. After laying King Duncan to rest, Banquo, Malcolm and MacDuff begin to argue, accusing each other of killing Duncan. Malcolm flees the scene, and Banquo and Macduff head upstairs to the Speakeasy.

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Speakeasy Card Game

Following the boys upstairs to the 4th floor we find them heading inside a cardboard-covered speakeasy. A card game is in progress with Malcolm, Banquo and Macduff all playing against each other. They continue to play the strange game on a loop until Macbeth enters. After Malcolm leaves the card game, he heads back to his Detective agency.

Malcolm and MacDuff flee at the sight of the blood-soaked Macbeth. Banquo stands to face his once loyal friend. The two begin a great physical fight and interpretive dance along the walls and onto the nearby pool table. Finally, Macbeth tosses Banquo over the bar where he is out of sight and picks up a brick. Macbeth proceeds to bludgeon him to death behind the bar, the horrific sounds of the murder being pipped through the room. If you go to find Banquo’s body, you will find he has disappeared. Banquo’s ghost can be found walking out in the street of Gallow’s Green and, for the first time, he will recognize the audience members, as Banquo is now a ghost, just like us.

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Grace’s Room

With her newly discovered key, Agnes Naismith heads upstairs and opens a locked bedroom in Gallow Green. Inside are various things monogrammed with the letter “G” as this is her sister Grace’s old room. Agnes Naismith will mourn inside this room as well as search it for clues. If you find her in here, she might take you for a one-on-one through the Narnia-like closet in the bedroom, which leads you into a secret passageway.

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Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking Dance

When Macbeth leaves the apartment to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth appears to go into a fit. She dances like a spider up and over the bedroom furniture like she is possessed by some supernatural being. ‘The Window‘ and ‘The Package‘ from ‘Psycho’ play in the background all throughout the scene.

Macbeth returns from killing Duncan covered in blood. Lady Macbeth baths him like a child in the bathtub in the center of the room. Once he is clean, they head to the bed together and cuddle like children until Macbeth rises once more. Almost robotically, he gets up and walks into the garden. Lady Macbeth is left alone and tries manically to wash the blood from her hands. This is their interpretation of the famous sleepwalking scene where she cries, “Out, damned spot! out, I say!” But instead of words, modern interpretive dance conveys the sheer terror she feels as the waves of guilt crash over her for what they have done.

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The Chase in Gallows Green

She then leaves the room and wanders the 4th floor, ranting and raving as she slowly goes mad. Macbeth exits the Speakeasy as she walks the street, after murdering Banquo. He sees his wife in the street. He kisses her passionately, and they take turns laughing and crying in a deranged fashion.

The two retreat back to their bedroom where Macbeth helps Lady Macbeth into her ballgown and the two of them head downstairs to the Ballroom for the finale scene.

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The Last Banquet

This final visit to the Ballroom features most of the characters from the ball at the start of the show but everyone seems decidedly changed. Instead of the joyous dancing, we saw earlier, the atmosphere is a hauntingly bleak affair. A long banqueting table sits on the raised platform and each of the characters enters to sit in their designated seat. As they gather, they moved in slow motions, gesturing to each other in a vignette that resembles the last supper.

Birnam Woods

The dance floor across from the table, which was previous filled with people, is now filled with trees. Each of the trees seem to move on their own, almost dancing. In the play, Macbeth sees Malcolm’s soldiers approaching through Birnam Woods. Each soldier holds a branch in front of their body, which makes it appear to Macbeth as though the forest is moving, as if possessed. This drives him even further into his madness.

The murdered Banquo enters the room, covered in blood and points accusingly towards Macbeth. Lady and Macbeth sit on either end of the table. They blow, what feels like one final kiss to one and the other. Suddenly the blue lights in the room turns green, and all eyes turn accusatorily towards Macbeth. 

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The banquet ends with each of the guests dispersing in different directions on the first and second loop. But in the finale, we see a very different ending. More on that later…

The Murder of Lady Macduff

After the final banquet, Lady Macduff retreats in fear to the hotel’s lobby, pleading with the Porter, arms full of suitcases and belongings. This is the moment when she is set to flee in fear of Macbeth. The Porter one last time refuses her. She slinks away to the corner of the room near the telephones where she rifles through some drawers until Lady Macduff finds a baby blanket that she cradles in her arms, almost as if she knows Macbeth has already reached her family and killed them.

When she looks in the mirror, see for the first time see the reflection of the masked audience reflected back at her. She acknowledges our presence and in this moment goes into a fit of madness. As she scream, she doesn’t notice Macbeth entering the room. He comes up behind her, and proceeds to beat her to death in front of us. She cries out for help, but the dead is done, and her body is left lifeless in the lobby.

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Death Rattle

Many people at this point chased after Macbeth but I stayed with her. Her death scene was so shockingly brutal that I was left in total horror, even if a part of me knew what I had seen wasn’t real. I didn’t even know what I was doing when I knelt down beside her to see if there were any signs of life. I had followed her throughout many points of the show and really grown fond of her. At this point, her husband, Lord Macduff, ran in to find his dead wife on the ground. He screamed and knelt down to cradle her body in his arm and sobbed without abandon.

After a moment, he turned to look at me, and the two of us helped move her to the couch. He placed her head on my lap as he wept on the floor. This was the most intimate and moving moment of the show, and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears myself.

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St. James Sanitorium

After the banquet (on the 1st and 2nd loop) Nurse Shaw will lead the now almost catatonic Lady Macbeth to the 5th floor and place her back inside St. James Sanitorium. She brings her into the rooms with all the tubs and removes Lady Macbeth’s blood-soaked ball gown. Nurse Shaw tries to wash off all the blood in the bath but Lady Macbeth still seems horrified to see the blood still on her hands. She thrashes around in the tub, splashing water all over the place, onto your feet if you are too close and all over the floor. If you want to console her, Lady Macbeth will take your hand as a gesture of kindness. After calming down, Lady Macbeth gets up to wander back down to her bedroom on the third floor, where her loop will begin once more.

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The Finale

Macbeth stands on the table as a noose is lowered down and placed on his head, almost like a crown. Macbeth seems to have one moment of clarity as the noose is tightened around his neck and cries out “No!” before Malcolm pushes the chair out from beneath him. The lights go dark, and the only sound is the deafening crack of the noose crushing his neck. When the lights return, Macbeth’s lifeless body is seen hanging from the rafters, unmoving, bringing an end to his terror.

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The Elusive 6th Floor

I was fortunate during my performance to visit the elusive 6th floor. I didn’t know until after the show what an amazingly lucky experience this was. Wandering around the 5th floor during the show’s final half-hour (although I didn’t know that at the time) I noticed one of the nurses sitting on the floor, beside a suitcase, close to the corner of the staircase. She looked like she had been crying, so I went right up to her and knelt down to look at her right at eye level as if to get a hint to what was making her so sad.

As soon as she noticed me, we locked eyes, and it was the most intense eye contact. In a flash, she grabbed my hand and started to run towards the stairs. A few other people saw what was going on and began to run with us. When we got to the stairs to the 6th floor, the black mask (one of the show’s ushers) who had been blocking the entrance the entire time moved aside and let us by. When the group of audience members running behind us tried to get by as well, he stopped them. So it was just the nurse and myself walking up the stairs. We got up to the top floor, and she closed the door behind us. And in a moment my heart just stopped.

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I dreamt I went to Manderley again

We were standing in this HUGE empty room. She took off my mask and got so close to my face. I thought she might kiss me. She whispered gently in my ear, “I can’t believe you’re here. You look like you always did.” The lights all went out, and when they came back on, the nurse was standing on the very opposite end of the room in a different outfit, standing in front of an antique wicker wheelchair. She pushed it towards me and gestured to me to sit down. I was literally shaking but didn’t want to disobey. I sat down in the chair, and she began to push me into another room. Suddenly I heard a loud voice above me, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”

The Wheelchair Diorama

The thin hallway she was pushing me through was illuminated with red lights. I thought I felt funny, but then I realized that the wheelchair was lowering down into a flatbed. Just as soon as I was being pushed in a wheelchair I was being pushed in a rolling bed! My eyes were now staring right up at the ceiling. I started to panic a bit, but the nurse gently put her arm on my shoulder to tell me I would be ok. Instinctively I trusted her and didn’t fight anymore. I honestly thought I was on drugs. It was so surreal.

The ceiling was covered in an upside-down diorama. The first part was a thicket of trees, and then we approached this gorgeous mansion on fire. I would smell and hear the crackle of the fire. As we approached the end of the hallways, the nurse whispered in my ear, “You can never return to Manderley again, but sometimes, in my dreams, I return to those strange days.” And then the lights went black.

The Slow Decent back to Reality

When the lights came back on I was alone in a small room, with an open door. When it went through and closed it behind me, it was locked, and I had no other choice but to walk back down the stairs where a black mask ushered me back onto the 5th floor. I was utterly shocked. It honestly took me a minute to stop feeling lightheaded. The 5th floor was empty, so I wandered back downstairs to see everyone gathered in the Ballroom for what was the very last scene (which again, I had no idea was the final scene).

Instead of watching from the balcony, I took a seat in the hotel lobby to catch my breath. I listened to the music playing in the other room. When the crescendo finished, the entire group of audience members filtered out and were lead back into the Manderley Bar by a few of the actors. It was only then that the realization that the show was done washed over me. And I had missed the finale! But I had gained such a fantastic and unique experience. I found my friend who I had attended the show with and she was shocked and in disbelief of what had happened. We glamoured to get out and grab a drink so we could discuss everything that had just happened to each other.

Gallows Green Rooftop Bar

We headed up to the Gallows Green rooftop bar for a few drinks. She told me all about the final preformance in the Ballroom and regaled me with stories of what she had experienced (which I had never even caught a glimpse of!) It was honestly just as a fun talking to each other about our experiences as it was to have really experienced them! I think that is one of the real joys of the show. We honestly wanted to go back right away, but alas, that will have to wait for another trip. Until we can one day return to Manderley, it will live in my dreams, like a haunted memory that floats to the surface. I feel so lucky to have experienced it and cannot wait to return.

TIPS:

Who to Follow?

Many people might think they want to follow Macbeth the entire time for their first visit. I would actually argue he is one of the least exciting storylines. If you follow any of the other Macbeth characters, you will run into him from time to time anyway.

If you don’t feel like running after any actors and prefer to explore the different levels but still want to see the show, stick to floors two (the Hotel Lobby) and 4 (Gallow’s Green), so much action happens there.

How do you get a 1:1

Don’t be pushy and crowd the actor’s space. This will come off as super obvious. The goal of the show shouldn’t be to get a 1:1. The goal should be to be so invested in what is happening and connected to the characters, you earn the 1:1. People who just seek the 1:1 but don’t care about the story won’t get as much from the experience as they won’t have as much context as to the meaning behind it. Wear something bright or easily identifiable even in the dark. This will help the actors pick you out of the crowd if you have been following them for a few scenes. I wore some really shining and eye-catching makeup as well which I think really helped convey my emotions through my eyes to the actors.

I hope this guide helps you make the most of your trip to the McKittrick Hotel! Please share your experiences or other tips in the comments to help the next set of adventurers follow the breadcrumbs toward Manderley.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ Explained: A Complete Guide to the Story, Characters & Plotlines [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” – the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast. – Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Sitting here in the dead of winter, during the pandemic, I have time and time again closed my eyes and “dreamt I went to Manderley again…” I am dreaming of the time when I can return to New York and see ‘Sleep No More‘ again.

I had heard about ‘Sleep No More’ from various friends who had gone to see it and just raved about it. But the price tag always made me hesitate. Anyone who has gone to see it is oddly secretive about the experience. Therefore, I found it hard to validate spending $100+ per ticket when no one would tell me anything about it! But finally, after much back and forth and some encouragement from my friend, we bought our tickets. And I can safely say it was the best money I ever spent!

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While I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone, there are a few things I wish I’d known before walking into the doors. So if you’re curious and want a few clues as to how to make the most of your experience, then read on. This post is spoiler-free but I do have an additional guide with some spoilers. This is for those who want a more in-depth review of my experience.

Guide to Sleep no More

1. What is 'Sleep No More'?
2. Buying Tickets & When to Arrive
   • Ticket Options
   • When to Arrive
   • Covid Protocols
   • Coat Check
3. About the McKittrick Hotel
   • How to get there
4. What's with the Masks?
5. What to Wear
6. Accessibility
7. Be Warned…
8. Strategies for 'Sleep No More'
   • Follow an Actor
   • Search and Explore
9. More Tips
   • Leave Your Friends Behind
   • Follow the Music
   • It's 18+ for a Reason
10. Arriving at the Hotel
11. A Brief Summary of the Story
    • About Macbeth 
    • About Rebecca
    • About the Paisley Witch Trials

What is ‘Sleep No More’?

‘Sleep No More’ is an interactive and immersive stage production. It is loosely based on William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth but set in a 1930’s film noir aesthetic. The show contains almost no dialogue but is filled with interpretive dancing to convey the scenes or stories. Unlike typical theatre, where you sit in one seat for the entire show and watch the plot unfold in front of you, ‘Sleep No More’ acts more like a choose your own adventure. The show takes place in the fictional “McKittrick Hotel,” which has many different levels to explore. There are over 100 rooms where you can follow the action and discover hidden secrets.

The three-hour performance is actually a one-hour loop performed three times. This way you can study the entire show from multiple angles, sometimes literally. You can see what might have been going on in a different part of the hotel while something else totally different is taking place down below.

The entire show doesn’t unfold in a perfectly linear fashion. While some storylines have a beginning, middle and end, others are tougher to put together. It is more like a piece of artwork to be interpreted and discussed. All that being said, it is absolutely one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. All the guests have the option to do whatever they want while they are inside the hotel. You can follow one actor/character throughout the entire hotel discovering their plotline or simple study and interact with the props found throughout the hotel. 

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Buying Tickets & When to Arrive

Sleep No More is back in 2022 after being shut down for more than two years due to the global pandemic. There are different options when it comes to buying a ticket; Maximilian’s Guest, Oz’s Guest or a Standard Ticket. All tickets are cheaper during the week rather than on the weekend so if you’re looking to save money definitely go for the weekday tickets. I also find weekdays to have a less boisterous crowd and the space is generally less crowded.

Ticket Options

Maximilian’s Guest tickets cost $314-360 per person! Your ticket includes a glass of fine champagne, a complimentary coat check and a reserved seat inside the Manderley Bar. Oz’s Guest tickets are $160-195 per person and include everything except for the champagne. I don’t know about you but I don’t think any champagne is worth that price! The last option is the standard ticket which costs $114-149 per person. There is nothing included in this ticket except for the entry. But since coat check only costs $4 there really is no reason not to get the cheapest ticket. The reserved table is only a benefit for those who don’t wanna go right into the hotel upon entering. Save your money and opt to go to a bar after the fact.

When to Arrive

Choose the earliest admission when booking your ticket. This means you’ll have the longest amount of time inside the hotel. Even with the earliest admission, go to the hotel to line up 30 minutes before that time. We purchased the standard tickets, arrived about 20 mins early and still got to spend around two and a half hours inside.

Covid Protocols

After booking your tickets, guests will receive an advisement email 24 -48 hours prior to their visit with the latest guidelines and requirements. As of March 7th, 2022, all guests must present a valid photo ID along with proof of full vaccination in the form of a physical or digital COVID-19 Vaccination Card. Guests are required to have received their final COVID-19 vaccine dose at least fourteen days prior to their reservation.

All guests will be provided with a KN95 mask upon entry which is required to be worn the entire time inside. This is worn under your Sleep No More theatrical mask that has been modified to fit on top of the KN95 masks. The sought-after 1-1’s have been altered to follow covid more strict protocols and generally, guests are asked to give each other some space. But since everyone often crowds into certain small areas this often is something that isn’t strictly followed.

Coat Check

You cannot bring anything inside the hotel with you—no phones allowed, no bags, and no coats. Everything MUST be left at the coat check, which is compulsory. If you didn’t get the coat check included in your ticket it costs $4.00 per person. Remember to bring some cash for the coat check as it speeds the check-in process along.

About the McKittrick Hotel

The location of ‘Sleep No More’ takes place inside the doors of the old McKittrick Hotel. The McKittrick Hotel was built in 1939 and was intended to be one of New York’s finest luxury hotels. But before it could open the hotel’s investors lost their capital to the war efforts. The hotel was left abandoned and condemned for over 50 years….or at least that’s the fictional story of the hotel. Ok, in reality, the buildings which are now used for the production were various old warehouses in Chelsea combined and converted just for the show. Over 100,000-square-feet (9,300 m2) were transformed by the Punchdown theatre company to create the great McKittrick Hotel. You can explore five floors throughout the show and a secret sixth floor, which only a few lucky visitors will experience.

How to get there

The hotel is located at 530 West 27th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue. The nearest subway stop on the C or E train is either 23rd Street or 34th Street. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the hotel. If you are trying to get there by taxi or uber, be aware that 27th street is not a thru-street, so it’s best to get picked up or dropped off a few streets over.

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What’s with the Masks?

All guests are required to wear a mask throughout the entire experience. One of the reasons for this is that all the guests wear masks, but the actors do not. Therefore you can tell who is a guest and who is an actor. This design is a replica of the old Venetian Bauta masks, which were designed to hide the wearer’s identity. In ancient Venice, this allowed rich aristocrats to partake in some otherwise frowned-upon activities. While wearing a mask might seem odd, the show aims to make you feel like a voyeur peeking in on the actors. Sporting a disguise allows you to feel braver and perhaps let your guard down. You might feel less inhibited and even step out of your comfort zone.

If you wear glasses, the mask will not fit over the top of them. If you can get contacts, this might be the only way to enjoy the experience (which admittedly feels a little ableist). We’ve tried to figure out how to fit glasses over top of the mask, and it’s virtually impossible or at the very least uncomfortable.

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What to Wear

What you wear to see the show is super important. The most critical of which is your choice of footwear! Since the night can be as long as three hours, you want to wear comfortable shoes. I saw so many people there wearing high heels, and by the end of the evening, they were leaning on walls and looked more exhausted than excited. If you are interested in following one character’s storyline, sometimes this requires you literally run after them to ensure they don’t get away and you miss their next scene. Without good shoes, you can’t chase after them.

I also think wearing something breathable and not too warm is helpful. It can get hot inside, and if you’re running around, you don’t want to be wearing a wool cardigan. Since you have to coat check anyways, you can always wear something warmer there and leave those extra layers at the coat check.

Another thing which is a strange one but is a MUST is a wristwatch! Since you won’t have your phone to tell the time, a watch will help you gauge how long you have been inside. Or when the first or second loop of the show might end. While getting lost is part of the experience, if you’re someone who wants to get the most out of it, having a watch to tell the time might help you out.

Accessibility

Sadly, while you ride an elevator up when entering the hotel for the first time, the experience is not wheelchair or walking aid friendly as the elevator is not for public use after that point. So much of the show involves moving around dark, narrow passageways, sometimes very quickly. Accessing the various floors is done by using the steep wrought-iron staircases. If you have a hard time standing for an extended period or need a mobility aid, this might be a challenging outing for you. I really hope they change it over time to make it more accessible, but it seems unlikely since the show has been running for so long. The entire production is also very, very dark, so if you have low vision or claustrophobia, you might also want to give it a miss.

Be Warned…

The show is not just an immersive experience. It is an interactive experience. Actors approach you very closely and may even touch you. They might even pull you with them to another room for the elusive 1:1s. If you don’t want to interact that closely with them the actors are very good at respecting if you pull away. But if you are super shy, just stay in the back or in a group of people. If you are interested in a more intimate experience, go to the front and don’t be afraid of getting close to the actors. But please respect everyone’s boundaries and only touch the actors if they interact with you first and of course don’t be a creep.

There are various employees who wear black masks located throughout the show, these are essentially security guards there to protect the actors and keep the audience from entering any off-limit areas. If you are using your phone or talking too loudly they will step in to warn or remove you from the show. They are also there to give you directions if you to find a washroom.

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Strategies for ‘Sleep No More’

Follow an Actor

Personally, I think there are two main strategies you can use to experience the show. The first is to follow one character as soon as you get inside. This allows you to see their storyline from start to finish. This definitely is an excellent choice for first-timers, as it feels like you are following a more linear storyline.

If you are the first to get inside the hotel, all the main characters will be gathered in the basement where King Duncan is hosting a ball. There you can choose an actor who piques your interest and follow them from there. But remember, they move quickly, so be ready to run. If you don’t arrive right at the start of the first loop, make it a point once you enter to find a scene or group of actors and follow whoever interests you. If you don’t see anyone right away, just keep moving, and you will find them soon enough.

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Search and Explore

The second way is to investigate. This means more or less ignoring the actors but going off on your own and exploring the entirety of the building. You are allowed to look inside drawers, pull books off shelves and read them. Open doors, find keys to locked rooms. Even crawl through hidden access points. There is so much to explore in the hotel. Every little thing is a clue to the story you are literally living in. It’s not very often you are given carte blanche to be a voyeur, to go through other people’s belongings or snoop inside medical records. So use this change to your advantage. And of course, you can blend a little bit of either strategy together to experience everything the hotel has to offer.

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More Tips

Leave Your Friends Behind

While you might feel like you want to stay close with the group you came with, the experience is intended to be your own. Everyone finds their own interests in the show. It’s essential to allow yourself to explore what you are drawn to and your own personal desires. Talking is absolutely banned, so it’s not like you can chat with your friends anyway. If you feel really scared and apprehensive make a plan with whoever you’re with to head inside the first few rooms together and then break away separately for the rest of the evening. This allows you to slowly get used to the atmosphere but then break out on your own.

Follow the Music

Music is a vital part of the show. In fact, it is the only way in which the actors are given any cues. There is no central control room. At only three points in the show, the same music plays in all the different parts of the building. If you feel lost or like you might want to rejoin a large scene, keep an ear to the ground for loud music, and you will surely be lead towards the actors. On the other hand, if you want to get away from the crowds, stick to the more quiet parts of the building.

It’s 18+ for a Reason

All guests attending Sleep No More must be over the age of 18 years with valid ID. Any guest under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied at all times by a ticketed parent or legal guardian. A signed Under-18 waiver must be submitted by the ticketed guardian at time of entry to the house manager on duty. This is because not only does the show depict violence and has a lot of blood and gore there is full frontal-nudity in various portions of the show so you might want to re-thinking bringing the whole family.

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Arriving at the Hotel

After arriving at the hotel, your name will be on the guest list. Present your ID and give all your worldly possessions over to the coat check. You will then proceed over to the reception desk, where you’ll receive a playing card. You have no printed tickets. This playing card is the only “ticket” you’ll receive. Depending on your arrival time will determine the number on your card. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you will be let inside, so try to arrive as early as you can. This is as far as I will go in terms of discussing what happens when you enter as this is a spoiler-free post. But if you are interested in reading about the stories which influenced the plot of “Sleep No More’ read on!

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A Brief Summary of the Story

I know EVERYONE seems to say its best not to know anything about the show before you go, but I really disagree. While having your own experience and interpretation of what happened is great, just like in appreciating art, sometimes a bit of context goes a long way to helping you on your journey.

About Macbeth 

If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

King Duncan announces that his elder son Malcolm will become the new King after his death. Until that time he instructs Macbeth to care and guide him. When King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth’s manors, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the prophecy and kill Duncan. Macbeth carries out the deed even though he is pained to do so. Malcolm flees in fear of his own life, only to be suspected of the killing, therefore allowing Macbeth to inherit the throne.

Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend and a general in King’s army, was privy to the meeting with the witches and suspects Macbeth. Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but his sons escape. Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who haunts him. He meets with the witches once more who warn him that MacDuff, another nobleman in the army, is a danger to Macbeth. And he is convinced he must kill MacDuff. Macbeth has MacDuff’s family murdered and his property sized, but MacDuff himself escapes. The heir to the throne, Malcolm, returns to take back the kingdom against the murderer Macbeth.

Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane, haunted by the ghosts of her actions. The doctors tell Macbeth she cannot be cured. MacDuff confronts Macbeth and kills him, bringing his head to Malcolm, who hails himself King of Scotland.

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About Rebecca

Woven into the Skaespearan plot are elements of Hitchcock‘s haunting gothic romance film ‘Rebecca‘ (which was just made into a modern Netflix film!). The plot of Rebecca concerns a young woman who marries a widow, Maxim de Winter. They return to live at Maxim de Winter‘s mansion called “Manderley“. There she meets the unkind Mrs. Danvers, who dislikes the new bride as Mrs. Danvers she was so close to his previous wife, Rebecca. The new Mrs. de Winter discovers that the previous marriage had been a shame. During a confrontation between the couple, Rebecca fell and struck her head. It might have looked like Mr. De Winters had killed her, so he took the body out in a boat and capsized it to make it look like she drowned. Mrs. Danvers, enraged by the discovery, sets Manderley on fire and kills herself in the blaze.

The story’s central theme is all about guilt and anxiety, as well as love, obsession and power. Throughout the show, keep an eye out for these themes and characters as they appear throughout. The Hitchcockian influences can be seen not only in the plot but in the set decorations and also the music that plays throughout the building. You will hear from time to timepieces from Bernard Herrmann‘s score from the movie ‘Vertigo’. Even the name, the McKittrick Hotel, comes from Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’.

About the Paisley Witch Trials

The third and final reference woven into the fabric of the show is the Paisley Witch Trials. These were the last European witch trials, which took place in Scotland in 1697. The witch trials involved accusations from an eleven-year-old aristocratic girl, Christian Shaw, who accused several of her family’s servants of being witches. In the end, seven people were found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to death by her words. The five who were hung were executed in Gallow Green. The town of Gallow Green can be found on the 4th floor of the hotel. Several of the accused men and women who died in the trails can be found wandering those streets. It is rumoured that before Agnes Naismith (one of the accused witches) died, she cursed everyone present at her trial and their descendants. Perhaps that curse still infects the grounds of Gallow Green today…

After the show, you can head up to the Gallow Green rooftop bar to enjoy a few themed drinks. Or you can also choose to stay in the Manderley Bar to enjoy some evening entertainment.

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Click here to see more about the experience as a whole and my personal account of the evening!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to do a bunch of psychedelic drugs in the year 2200? Well, wonder no more because the Robot Restaurant here in Tokyo is here to show you! The “restaurant” isn’t really a restaurant at all. What it is, is a futuristic, energetic, vibrant, exciting, surprising and overall insane display modern, Japanese cabaret.

Tickets and Prices

The show has become immensely popular over the years, and although you can sometimes get discounted tickets last minute outside the theatre, we opted to buy our tickets online in advance. This is the best way to ensure you don’t miss out! There are usually four shows a day. The first performance is at 4:00pm (doors open 3:00pm), the second performance is at 5:55pm (doors open 5:00pm), the third performance is at 7:50pm (doors open 7:00pm) and the fourth performance is at 9:45pm (doors open 9:00pm). The early performance is the cheapest option, the rest are all the same price. Although the early show might not be a raucous as the later ones, I would argue that it’s still the same show and if you’re looking to save a bit of money and free up your evening this is the one to pick!

There are several ways to buy your tickets from the show. One is through the official website, the other is through a myriad of discounted ticket sights. The most reliable I’ve found is govoyagin.com! They off 20%-30% off the listed ticket price on the official website depending when you book. And Voyagin customers receive a free souvenir bottle-opener! Prices are 5,248 yen ($48 USD) for the early show and 6,300 yen ($58 USD) for the other showtimes. Children under the age of 3 can enter free of charge. Children over the age of 3 must purchase a general admission ticket (same price as adults). Along with your general admission, you have the option of purchasing a seat upgrade for 1000 yen. This guarantees you a seat in the 2nd and 3rd row right in the centre. There are only three rows in the theatre and honestly, everything moves around throughout the show so I wouldn’t be concerned at all about where you’re seated. There is also a discount off popcorn and the bento box dinner. The food in the Robot Restaurant is far from anything I’d want to spend my money on so I would pass on this and save your yen for a drink at the bar before the show begins (more on that later!)

Access

The Robot Restaurant is a five minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station East Exit. To get to the JR Station East take the Chuo Line direct to Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku station is one of the busiest stations in the city, if not the world, so take your time to study the exit signs and find te East Exit. Taking the wrong exit might mean 30-minute detour to find your way to where you wanted to go. From the exit, head north along Kabukichō and you can’t miss the restaurant as it’s glowing neon lights and outdoor display robots attract a crowd 24 hours a day.

Arrival

If you didn’t purchase your ticket at the ticket counter in Shinjuku you need to bring your ticket confirmation, either from the official website or voyagin to the ticket counter across from the Roboto Restaurant entrance. Here you’ll exchange your voucher for an actual printed ticket with your seat number assignment. Once you have your ticket, you can head across the street and enter the theatre. The lounge opens an hour before showtime where you can sit, have a drink and relax while you wait for your show to begin. GET HERE EARLY! The bar area is one of the best parts of the experience! You are lead into the lounge through a giant set of golden doors and walk thru a light-encrusted hallway. It’s like entering a psychedelic dreamland and truly begins the adventure of being transported into another world.

The Lounge

As soon as you walk in the door, your brain may feel like it can’t even consume all the information being fed to it. There are patterns, colours, sparkles, jewels, gold and more covering the space from floor to ceilings. The building itself is reported to have cost over $10-million, and you can see why in this spectacle of a room. Gold shell swivel chairs surrounding the bar and stage area, crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and the wall-to-wall mirrors, make it feel like the chamber is infinite.

Even the bathroom is adorned with the most intricate paintings set behind glass, backlight with rainbow LED lights. The carpet is a floral oriental rug design but is made from plexiglass and light from below to give it a brighter effect. There is a small bar towards the back of the room where you can order fancy alcoholic drinks and even non-alcoholic beers. Their sparkling sake is one of my favourite choices.

The Lounge Act

About a half and hour before you have to head into the theatre, you are treated to a musical lounge act by a man dressed in a silver robot costume. He alone comes out on stage to play one of a few instruments waiting for him. You’d expect him to play some loud, thumping dance music based on his look, but instead, he serenades you with 80’s pop ballads and Japan’s favourite – Michael Jackson. I loved this part and could have listened to this emotionless robot play us memorable songs all evenings.

Tips Before the Show

When it’s finally time to descend into the basement to watch the show you are allowed to gather up any drinks you’d purchased and bring them down with you. This is also the best time to use the bathroom since the one in the lounge is much better than the one in the basement. Which yes, is where you’re going.

You descend floor and after floor, feeling like you’re never going to get to the bottom. Luckily, each staircase is decorated with the same fanciful (and sometimes scary) decor as the rest of the place and makes even this walk a gallery tour in itself.

Being Seating

Once you get to the bottom, you find search to find your assigned spots and take a seat in the tiny, desk-like seats. You also have a few minutes to purchase some more refreshments or light snacks from the giant robotic snack cart. They had a variety of exotic popcorn flavours to try and were the best treats on offer.

The Show Experience

Once everyone is seated the show begins….with a literal bang! Taiko drummers are wheeled out on stage, atop a moving robotic platform to perform a traditional Japanese drum song in unison with some modern music which played the background. The power these drummers made with their movements was so intense, and the room felt like it was shaking with their energy.

As they moved around the stage, their drum bases would periodically light up with neon lights. The robotic platform was covered in bright Japanese shapes and figures, which all also lit up from within and moved to the time of the music.

In addition to the drummers, a few lone guitarists on separate robotic platforms running around the stage. Each of them is playing along on their guitars, all the while wearing Japanese Oni masks, which are meant to be representations of demons or ogres. It’s quite the site to see, a terrifying monster, playing (very well at that) some killer guitar riffs.

After their performance, a set of ribbon dancers came onstage. Swirling their brightly coloured sheets of satin in mesmerizing motions, all the while light up by the bright stage lights.  After the dancers finish (they are just there to entertain you while the next set of robots gets ready to come onstage) large bars with chains were set up in front of the audience…this is when the battle was about to being.

This second act was something out of a sci-fi movie. The concept was a Jungle-like world was invaded by robotic monsters, and the animals had to fight back to survive. Honestly, the plot doesn’t matter very much, but it’s entertaining to see them trying to make sense of what really is a nonsensical show.

Two sets of monsters vs. animals would face off, being controlled by their bikini clad female commanders. They shot fire, where hit with explosions and it was all finished when the giant shark came onstage and each one of the robots leaders.

It sounds insane, and that’s most likely because it is. There really is no use explaining these scenes, but take a look at the video to see for yourself.

Because it was Halloween the last act was appropriately called Happy Halloween. This act started out with scary, monster-costumed dancers coming on stage to scare the audience. But, soon enough, the monsters transformed into Kawaii clad attractive women dressed as cupcakes, mermaids and other “happy” Halloween costumes. It was a very cute take on the subject matter which felt entirely appropriate in this atmosphere.

Dancers ran about the stage in the most fanciful and psychedelic costumes.

This part of the show didn’t really contain too many “robots”, but it was so much fun no one seemed to mind very much.

Although, the Halloween dance looked like the finale we were in for one last surprise. Glowsticks! We were each handed a glowing stick which changed colour by staff members which we would way and move to the music and as for as cheer on your favourite robot during their last hurrah!

During the last scenes, more and more robots come on stage mixed with dancers, drummers and musicians. There was no rhyme or reason to these machines, they each seemed stranger than the last. Like a line up of discarded creations made by a mad scientist. There was drum playing robo-cats, live women sitting inside giant robotic fembots which tramped around the stage, a robot with a massive armature which flung around a girl playing the guitar and robots who looked like old prototypes for an episode of Doctor Who! They shot smoke from their eyes, hands and feet as lasers danced all over the floor. My favourite robot had to be the toy horses covered in light ropes. They would rise up on their back legs and almost hurl their riders off in their quick, jerky moments. 

We had been in Japan for a few days, but it wasn’t until the end of this show, when we looked at each other, that we said: “now, I feel like I’m in Japan!” There is no question in my mind if you should come and see this show. You NEED to see this show. And if you do, please tell me about it. The whole thing was so crazy sometimes I think I dreamed it all up….

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