Immersive Audio: Double
Tonight, finally managed to squeeze in a trip to Darkfield..! They're in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall, now until the 17th, due to public demand - "Darkfield at the Ditch". They have a bar n all - and wow, are letting people experience the shows live that were previously only available on "Darkfield Radio" (online). So I booked for Double - they advise that if you book on your own, you might be paired with another audience member, as it's meant to be done in pairs. Fine by me! Sadly, the only other show in this that I hadn't already experienced is Visitors, and as well as participants having to book in pairs for that, it was actually sold out. Tickets available for next week now - but think I can find someone to partner up with? Huh!
The guy was coming to replace the internet - happily, he came early, and as it was a complete replacement, he didn't need me, or the router in my room, at all! So I headed off early - and with no sign of the #47, which would have taken me straight there, I took the #381 and changed to another bus on London Bridge. Which was just as good. What's more, as we were stopped at the lights turning onto Old Street - where I'd be getting off - the driver let us off, rather than have us waiting for ages; it's a notoriously busy junction! The pedestrian light was green, and once I crossed, I was in exactly the right place! Saved me a few minutes attempting to cross the road, for sure.
The Town Hall helpfully sent me instructions, in advance, of how to find the entrance I needed - which was handy, as a huge crowd had gathered on the steps, trying to get a peep at whoever was due to come out of the Courthouse Hotel, across the road! So, just to the left of those oh-so-busy steps, there's a wrought-iron arch, which, if you look carefully, reads "Darkfield". A sign outside advertises the shows, and a bouncer just at the arch keeps out undesirables. Through there, take the steps down - and keep going until you find an openable door.
Honestly, it didn't look like the way in, it was so dark inside - but I guess that's appropriate. There's a desk where you can check in, and a small bar, offering full bottles of wine, or cans of wine, beer, or soft drinks. You can't take drinks in with you to the shows, though, and it would've been a bit rushed to drink it beforehand, so I didn't bother - and although I was actually starving, to the point where I was afraid my rumbling tummy would disturb other participants, all they had to eat were Fairfields Farm crisps, which are tasteless. So I just waited where the sign said to - there are designated meeting points for the different shows. Seating is limited, but after a while, some seats came available and I took an armchair - just as well, because we were late starting. Watched some people playing the arcade games - probably there as advertising for their new, Arcade show, but they are actually playable.
Each show is prefaced by a short briefing, in which you're given the basics, told there'll be an initial period of darkness, then the lights will come on briefly, which is your last chance to leave if you're uncomfortable. Under no circumstances are you to attempt to leave in the dark - take off your headphones if you're feeling anxious. Turn off your phones, or anything that glows in the dark. And you can leave your stuff on the rail in the hall, if you'd prefer. (We didn't.) And there's a trigger list if you want. (We didn't.) This was all droned at us in an unrelieved monotone - honestly, she couldn't have sounded more bored. To be fair, there are multiple instances of each show per day, so she's probably had to say this a lot..
It's a big basement, this, and all the shows take place in different rooms. For Double, four tables are set up, a chair and a pair of headphones on each side - I was the only one without a partner, and nobody got me one, although I got the impression they were keeping an eye out beforehand, in case any other singles appeared for it. The headphones went on, the room went dark, then light again - the lighting is red, by the way - then dark..
Ah man, this was creepy. The creepiest Darkfield show I've experienced since Eternal. Which has a lot in common with it, actually. I know exactly why it works, but I can't tell you - too much of a spoiler. I can say that it's based on the idea that the person across from you, whom you know well, isn't themselves, but has been replaced by a malign entity.. I can also say that the thing wasn't half over when I was having to remind myself that it's not real, that it'll be over soon..
Disturbing stuff. Now, if only I could get a partner for Visitors..
Headed to the Blues Kitchen for dinner afterwards, which is only around the corner. Arrived early for my booking of course, but you can only book on the quarter hour. And wow, was that chicken delicious.. died in a good cause, as I like to say. And for once, I had time for a dessert - I love chocolate ganache, so chose that. Mind you, they can't leave it alone, and have drenched it in fruit juice, which I avoided as much as possible, and sprinkled with honeycomb pieces.. Extremely rich, anyway.
On the way home, met a beautiful, but very unhappy, tuxedo cat in a cat carrier, whose human was waiting for a bus, and informed us that someone had been looking after the cat for a few days - the cat was now going home, and wasn't a bit happy about any of it.. I wasn't a happy bunny myself, after it looked like the #47, which I could see hiding behind a #35, was going to wait for that to depart - it didn't, in the end, but was "due" on the departures board for a Very Long Time!
Comments
Post a Comment