Punchdrunk Viola’s Room

[ncbears]

If you buy a solo "standard" ticket in a time slot, do they match you up with others?
How difficult to get from Viola to Ambassadors Theatre. TFL says 30-40 minutes. 

[zahidf]

Jun 3, 2024 21:17:57 GMT ncbears said:

If you buy a solo "standard" ticket in a time slot, do they match you up with others?
How difficult to get from Viola to Ambassadors Theatre. TFL says 30-40 minutes. 

Yeah I went with 5 other single ticket holders

If Elizabeth line is working, be easy to get form Woolwich arsenal to Tottenham Court road

[ironsilvermonkey]

I won't be in London until just a few days after the 18th of August when this is supposed to end. But obviously they were very pertinent with ending after about a month and ended up extending far past that. With the eternal "final" extensions of Sleep No More in New York, how likely would you say that it is they extend Viola's Room again?

[mrnutz]

Jun 5, 2024 6:58:20 GMT ironsilvermonkey said:

I won't be in London until just a few days after the 18th of August when this is supposed to end. But obviously they were very pertinent with ending after about a month and ended up extending far past that. With the eternal "final" extensions of Sleep No More in New York, how likely would you say that it is they extend Viola's Room again?

I'd be surprised if it doesn't extend.

[khiar]

Don't let the Woolwich location put you off if you're otherwise interested - the venue is visible from the exit of the Woolwich Elizabeth Line station (turn right and walk straight to the end of the road). Very easy to get to, so long as the Lizzie Line is running.

[ThereWillBeSun]

Have mixed feelings about PD. The Drowned Man was stunning, The Burnt City … saw in previews and didn’t realise there was a secret door - missed the other city - did feedback directly but was palmed off. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing bare feet in this one. Firm no for me.

[firefingers]

I enjoyed this. Not on the same scale as Burnt City but great story telling. If anyone has done one of the Darkfield shipping container shows this is basically one of those but done promenade.

The barefoot thing was fine, you sit down and are given a spray bottle of sanitiser to spray onto your feet, no shared bath.

It did feel a bit rushed, the actual show can only have been 45 minutes and I suspect some bits have been sped up to try and get the throughput on track. This rushing made it feel a bit shallower than it is.One of our party managed to get lost, though I found it quite easy to know when and where to go.


I got the rough impression that the experience is built on the ground floor of the Mycenae section of Burnt City, meaning there is a lot of building not in use that could be prepped for a new experience whilst this runs. Throughput is small, a group of six every five minutes so that'll keep it open a while but it is a linear story, so not one that will require repeat visits.

Worth checking out.

[Steve]

Saw this this early today, and really enjoyed it.

Some spoilers follow. . .

The story is a classic dark fairytale, without too many twists and turns, so its pretty simple really, and wouldn't merit a longer running time.

In the sense that there's a LOT of wandering down dark passages, while stopping off for "adventure" rooms along the way, its like a budget version of "You Me Bum Bum Train," where instead of all the "expensive" (aka volunteer lol) actors playing parts along the way, instead you have a recording of Helen's Bonham Carter in your ear while you follow a trail of lights and stop off to look at exhibits.

Sometimes the exhibits are miniatures directly illustrating the story you are being told, and sometimes the exhibits are suggestive of other things that are similar to the story you are hearing, but regardless, both journey and exhibits make you feel a certain way.

Shoelessness is but one way the show is sensory, first and foremost, with plump surfaces giving way to harder wooden surfaces giving way to other richer tactile sensations. Sometimes soft obstacles touch your face in the darkness.

The dark itself is the overwhelming sensory play, as it allows the imagination to run riot, listening to the story, surveying the exhibits, while the eye follows a trail of lights, like cotton ball fireflies, to get round a maze.

Like "The Red Shoes," the story is about the joys and dangers of giving way to compulsions and obsessions, so Helena Bonham Carter feels like an appropriate narrator lol.

Anyhow, the story could be richer, more twisty, more dramatic, and the props could be more expensive, more dazzling , more surprising, but for a budget show, there is a whole lot of dreamy exhilaration to be had, on a journey of mystery and discovery utilising those primal essential elements of light, dark and the bodily senses.

Great fun to the tune of 4 stars for me, akin to the strangeness of reverting to childhood for an hour.

PS: The Elizabeth Line, which I used for the first time, is a wonder, getting to Woolwich from Tottenham Court Road in 20 minutes. Its also exceptionally fairly priced, as I discovered that changing onto it from the Overground at Farringdon incurred no extra charge (ie my whole journey was charged as Overground only, without an Underground Surcharge) yet on my return journey, leaving it to go via Underground to Finsbury Park via Tottenham Court Road incurred no Overground Surcharge (with the whole journey constituting one Underground journey). I'm as impressed by the Elizabeth Line as the show lol.

[midge]

http://instagram.com/p/C8t-iIEgPPz

Saw they announced they’ve extended until 15 September, and is now on TodayTix (was it always?). I really enjoyed my first visit, with one slight hiccup due to my group’s hesitation in the final scene, though I feel that is also PD’s fault, as I found the ending a tiny bit flat.

Think I’ll give it another go, just to experience that sound design again, which I thought was impeccable.

[midge]

Jun 5, 2024 15:44:18 GMT ThereWillBeSun said:

Have mixed feelings about PD. The Drowned Man was stunning, The Burnt City … saw in previews and didn’t realise there was a secret door - missed the other city - did feedback directly but was palmed off. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing bare feet in this one. Firm no for me.

Definitely no secret door between the cities, though they did update it to make it more obvious how to get between them as the show went on. That being said, I think the new building being long with 2 levels meant it was harder to navigate, rather than just each floor being a different place.

[n1david]

Distinctly underwhelmed by this today, I found it diverting without being enthralling. The storytelling was good but I thought there was too much wandering down sheet-lined corridors before getting to a dimly-lit bit where we'd stand and wait before we could progress into a fully designed room.

The logistics of being the only man in a group with four women was also poor for me as I always went last into spaces and the other group members (strangers to me) were not great at getting fully into the space so I ended up standing waiting in the corridor. At one point I couldn't tell that they had moved on as I couldn't see the next light to move towards and a steward appeared to hurry me along.

Finally, at the end I was chatting to one of the other audience members who had gone round with me (and was a real Punchdrunk aficionado) who asked me what I thought of it. I said that I thought it had been mildly diverting, but as a whole I found it disappointing. I was informed that actually it was all about awakening female sexuality, and as a male it was inevitable that I wouldn't understand it, and really the whole show was aimed at women and women should be free to attend it in women-only groups.

So there you go. Don't go if you're a man.

[cavocado]

Jul 17, 2024 17:15:46 GMT n1david said:

Distinctly underwhelmed by this today, I found it diverting without being enthralling. The storytelling was good but I thought there was too much wandering down sheet-lined corridors before getting to a dimly-lit bit where we'd stand and wait before we could progress into a fully designed room.

The logistics of being the only man in a group with four women was also poor for me as I always went last into spaces and the other group members (strangers to me) were not great at getting fully into the space so I ended up standing waiting in the corridor. At one point I couldn't tell that they had moved on as I couldn't see the next light to move towards and a steward appeared to hurry me along.

Finally, at the end I was chatting to one of the other audience members who had gone round with me (and was a real Punchdrunk aficionado) who asked me what I thought of it. I said that I thought it had been mildly diverting, but as a whole I found it disappointing. I was informed that actually it was all about awakening female sexuality, and as a male it was inevitable that I wouldn't understand it, and really the whole show was aimed at women and women should be free to attend it in women-only groups.

So there you go. Don't go if you're a man.

I'm female and I only found it mildly entertaining too. 

[alessia]

I just realised that I didn't leave a review for this- thought I did. I really enjoyed it. I don't know if it was just me, but as a woman who was a teen in the 90s, this really resonated and I actually found it moving on a personal level. The music for one, and the fairytale which reminded me of childhood and then as a teen, reading or being exposed to the nonsense stuff about princes and happy ever after. I felt that you listen to the story but experience it through the life of Viola from childhood - the prince, the princess, the dance, the wedding...and then how as she gets older she outgrows all of this and moves on. Now and again I probably missed a few detail of the story being narrated but I don't think it mattered, or at least not in the way I perceived it. I loved it but I wish it was longer. it lasts 45 minutes.

[Adalea]

I don't think it has anything to do with female sexuality. It's about a girl dealing with some heavy stuff while growing up.

[mkb]

Well, that's very naughty. I thought I might take Punchdrunk up on their email offer of £28.50 tickets, with small print indicating only availability restrictions. When I click through however, the price is actually £31.00 each due to an unavoidable £2.50 supplementary charge per ticket.

I thought the law required any compulsory fees to be disclosed in marketing material?

At £28.50, I was tempted, but £31 for just 45 minutes in what I presume will be unbearably hot conditions, and while showing complete contempt for theatregoers with their bait-and-switch marketing, I think I'm out.

[n1david]

Jul 23, 2024 17:40:34 GMT mkb said:

just 45 minutes in what I presume will be unbearably hot conditions.

Despite the things I didn't like about it, I was there on one of the hottest days of the year and the whole venue was nicely air conditioned

[Nelly]

Now extending to the 3rd Nov. When they first announced this, they really did make this sound like it would be a very limited engagement.

I have only seen two Punchdrunk shows, The Drowned Man and The Burnt City. I really enjoyed both but preferred the Drowned Man more. I suppose I should get around to seeing this one now that it keeps extending.

[khiar]

Aug 1, 2024 9:39:37 GMT Nelly said:

Now extending to the 3rd Nov. When they first announced this, they really did make this sound like it would be a very limited engagement.

I have only seen two Punchdrunk shows, The Drowned Man and The Burnt City. I really enjoyed both but preferred the Drowned Man more. I suppose I should get around to seeing this one now that it keeps extending.

It's a good time, but it's a very different beast from their masked shows, so set your expectations accordingly. There are some beautiful sets and striking images but you don't get the time to properly explore them, you're on a tight schedule based on the audio and lights. It's a more focused, but less free, experience. Feels very much like a theme park ride that you're walking through on a set path and pace.

[Nelly]

Aug 1, 2024 10:22:08 GMT khiar said:

Aug 1, 2024 9:39:37 GMT Nelly said:

Now extending to the 3rd Nov. When they first announced this, they really did make this sound like it would be a very limited engagement.

I have only seen two Punchdrunk shows, The Drowned Man and The Burnt City. I really enjoyed both but preferred the Drowned Man more. I suppose I should get around to seeing this one now that it keeps extending.

It's a good time, but it's a very different beast from their masked shows, so set your expectations accordingly. There are some beautiful sets and striking images but you don't get the time to properly explore them, you're on a tight schedule based on the audio and lights. It's a more focused, but less free, experience. Feels very much like a theme park ride that you're walking through on a set path and pace.

Thanks for that helpful explanation, that actually does make me want to see it more! I found the double mask (covid and punchdrunk) a bit of a slog for The Burnt City being a glasses wearer too.

It was also BAKING when I saw The Burnt City so it's good to read that it's a lot cooler for this one.

[amyja89]

My first Punchdrunk experience with this today. Echo many of the thoughts already shared. Extremely cool set piece rooms, but a little bit too much walking in sheets for my liking. The first bedroom sequence, where you position yourself and how you leave it was so cool, much of what came after felt a little underwhelming.

As for the feet issue, it’s probably one of the most crucial elements of the piece and I didn’t feel icky without shoes/socks at all. The transition in surface textures was the most arresting sensory experience outside of the weight of the darkness.

I must admit, some of the narration got away from me at times, but that’s probably more my attention span that anything.

Would definitely be interested interested in more Punchdrunk experiences in the future.

[rumbledoll]

Even though it's technically a rather exciting venture I found it underwhelming for the number of reasons. First, I could not find the connection between the 90s and the princess/moon story that was unfolding. Secondly, some of the spaces are too tiny to fit 6 people comfortably, so someone stays behind and doesn't get the full impact of the surroundings. I know it's a money aspect for them as well, but 2-3 people going in at once would make for much better experience. The design is clever, being barefoot really adds for the tactile person like me, HBC is a perfect narrator, but you know, I think I might have enjoyed it more if I just stayed in the first room lying in bed in the dark and would listen to the entire story staying still, let my imagination run wild (I used to listen to audio books and radio plays and prefer to do it alone in the dark and in dead silence). But maybe it was just me wanting to lie down for a nit on Sunday morning day after dacing ilike crazy in the Wembley pit at Bruce Springsteen concert.

[kit66]

Just announced - for the festive season Viola’s Room will be rechristened and adapted into Viola’s Room: A Christmas Tale – with a festive, and different, spin on the experience - will run from Wednesday 20 November – Monday 23 December when the run of Viola's Room (in both versions) concludes.
*The original version finishes on Saturday 17 November.

[nash16]

Sept 15, 2024 11:20:15 GMT kit66 said:

Just announced - for the festive season Viola’s Room will be rechristened and adapted into Viola’s Room: A Christmas Tale – with a festive, and different, spin on the experience - will run from Wednesday 20 November – Monday 23 December when the run of Viola's Room (in both versions) concludes.
*The original version finishes on Saturday 17 November.

Ya gotta get a gimmick, I suppose. 😂

[theatrefan2018]

Does anyone know what sort of ticket game Punchdrunk plays with their inventory? For a particular date/timeslot, I can't buy a single ticket but I CAN buy the entire 6-person slot for £239. I think earlier I could have bought a single but it's no longer an option. Is there a time where they will relent and allow singles to be purchased again (perhaps as Rush)?

[Adalea]

It's a different type of ticket - you buy an entire time slot of 6 tickets. So you could go with only 2 people for example and not be grouped with others.

If you buy a single ticket, you'll go with up to 5 strangers.