Tom Spindler's Black Cat
After the shocking assault on our senses from Tom Spindler’s last production, Asylum Hill, we weren’t quite sure what to expect as we lined up for the Black Cat in the basement space under Shoreditch Town Hall.
Based around a classic Edgar Allan Poe story of guilt, insanity and pet cruelty, the attraction allowed visitors through in pairs to freely explore the underground rooms and try to discover the secrets lurking beneath.
The most striking thing was the beautifully atmospheric setting and the set design throughout. The abandoned run down buildings and walls were enhanced with all manner of items hanging from the ceiling. Amongst the book pages and shrouds, could be found a body on a noose, the remains of the poor cat itself and subtle oblique references to the story which created a sense of uneasiness and other worldliness.
One of the highlights of the tour was the “bottle room” a stunningly impressive piece of set design. Utilising a simple and effective technique, the room was a talking point for everyone afterwards. Scattered throughout the installation were a number of actors who through their actions and movements, created the impression of black cats filling the space. Some of these were more dynamic than others but everyone reported at least a few jumps or startles throughout their tour.
Aside form the cats jumping out from hiding places, the nearest the attraction got to a “normal” scare was a corridor lined with slumped hooded figures that needed to be negotiated past. Not surprisingly, at least one was still alive and the sudden reveal made most people jump!
Due to the free flowing nature of the attraction, and the need to keep the queue moving, several groups would be in the attraction at the same time and this actually worked really well. Sometimes the sounds ahead or the sudden appearance of another group were just as startling as one of the cats jumping from the darkness!
Compared to Asylum Hill, Black Cat was a much deeper and more atmospheric experience that, if anything, was more unsettling and psychological as opposed to scary. It showed a dramatic maturity on the designer’s part and just cements Tom’s reputation as a talent to watch in the future.
Based around a classic Edgar Allan Poe story of guilt, insanity and pet cruelty, the attraction allowed visitors through in pairs to freely explore the underground rooms and try to discover the secrets lurking beneath.
The most striking thing was the beautifully atmospheric setting and the set design throughout. The abandoned run down buildings and walls were enhanced with all manner of items hanging from the ceiling. Amongst the book pages and shrouds, could be found a body on a noose, the remains of the poor cat itself and subtle oblique references to the story which created a sense of uneasiness and other worldliness.
One of the highlights of the tour was the “bottle room” a stunningly impressive piece of set design. Utilising a simple and effective technique, the room was a talking point for everyone afterwards. Scattered throughout the installation were a number of actors who through their actions and movements, created the impression of black cats filling the space. Some of these were more dynamic than others but everyone reported at least a few jumps or startles throughout their tour.
Aside form the cats jumping out from hiding places, the nearest the attraction got to a “normal” scare was a corridor lined with slumped hooded figures that needed to be negotiated past. Not surprisingly, at least one was still alive and the sudden reveal made most people jump!
Due to the free flowing nature of the attraction, and the need to keep the queue moving, several groups would be in the attraction at the same time and this actually worked really well. Sometimes the sounds ahead or the sudden appearance of another group were just as startling as one of the cats jumping from the darkness!
Compared to Asylum Hill, Black Cat was a much deeper and more atmospheric experience that, if anything, was more unsettling and psychological as opposed to scary. It showed a dramatic maturity on the designer’s part and just cements Tom’s reputation as a talent to watch in the future.
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