Whitechapel: Suspects, Lunatics and a Leather Apron
With interactive theatre attractions on the rise, Apocalypse Events has returned to the site of last year’s supernatural themed event, Arcane. The new show - Suspects, Lunatics and a Leather Apron, is based around the events of Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror. Guests are thrown into London after dark, and tasked with investigating and piecing together a series of events, to unmask one of the world’s most famous serial killers.
The experience is built within a warehouse in Whitechapel, with an entire East End community, including houses, shops, pubs, a church and a burnt-out newspaper office. Many of the building are multi level and we were left free to search at our leisure. The audience is split into three groups and given roles within the community, one group as police recruits, one the Whitechapel neighbourhood watch/vigilante group and one helping the local Doctor.
We started on a few tasks but it was not long before we found ourselves diverting off and tracking down our own leads (which is positively encouraged!) Murders, fights, betrayal, all culminated in each group putting forward their suspect and a chosen magistrate making the final choice as to who would eventually be hanged. Yes, they did actually hang someone!
The event was nicely created that those audience members who may feel a bit self-conscious are not forced to do
anything they don’t want to, and those that wish to throw themselves into it can really have fun. As always the more you put into things, the more you got out of it, and we spent ages exploring the very atmospheric set trying to discover new clues.
Story wise it was maybe just a little too complex. Characters were discussed and then never spoken of again, and we had no real introductory moment where we met all the suspects, beyond seeing their picture and a short blurb outside the venue. It got a little confusing to follow who was who, and who was being pursued and for what reason. And we should be good at this as we read a lot of whodunits!
We are sure the plans for the show and the logistics are incredible but maybe they do need a slight simplification or pulling together of all the facts at key moments. Saying that, the actors were very good at the improvisational elements, and all did a splendid job. The fight scenes were very well choreographed and the misdirection and herding of the audience to get us where they wanted us, for certain elements, was skillfully done.
We especially liked the end twist and wonder if they have a different scenario depending on the chosen outcome. We had a great time exploring the whole experience and we hope they continue to build on it going forward, as there is clearly a demand for high quality interactive productions.
Finally - just for the record - yes, we convicted and hanged the wrong man! Oops - sorry about that !
The experience is built within a warehouse in Whitechapel, with an entire East End community, including houses, shops, pubs, a church and a burnt-out newspaper office. Many of the building are multi level and we were left free to search at our leisure. The audience is split into three groups and given roles within the community, one group as police recruits, one the Whitechapel neighbourhood watch/vigilante group and one helping the local Doctor.
We started on a few tasks but it was not long before we found ourselves diverting off and tracking down our own leads (which is positively encouraged!) Murders, fights, betrayal, all culminated in each group putting forward their suspect and a chosen magistrate making the final choice as to who would eventually be hanged. Yes, they did actually hang someone!
The event was nicely created that those audience members who may feel a bit self-conscious are not forced to do
anything they don’t want to, and those that wish to throw themselves into it can really have fun. As always the more you put into things, the more you got out of it, and we spent ages exploring the very atmospheric set trying to discover new clues.
Story wise it was maybe just a little too complex. Characters were discussed and then never spoken of again, and we had no real introductory moment where we met all the suspects, beyond seeing their picture and a short blurb outside the venue. It got a little confusing to follow who was who, and who was being pursued and for what reason. And we should be good at this as we read a lot of whodunits!
We are sure the plans for the show and the logistics are incredible but maybe they do need a slight simplification or pulling together of all the facts at key moments. Saying that, the actors were very good at the improvisational elements, and all did a splendid job. The fight scenes were very well choreographed and the misdirection and herding of the audience to get us where they wanted us, for certain elements, was skillfully done.
We especially liked the end twist and wonder if they have a different scenario depending on the chosen outcome. We had a great time exploring the whole experience and we hope they continue to build on it going forward, as there is clearly a demand for high quality interactive productions.
Finally - just for the record - yes, we convicted and hanged the wrong man! Oops - sorry about that !
Links:
Official Website: www.apocalypse-events.com
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