War of the Worlds Immersive Experience - 56 Leadenhall Street, London

[ncbears]

Any thoughts on the "immersive" Dominion production. A niece was in London and enjoyed it, but more of an "what?" frame of mind.

[thesoberpanda]

Jun 21, 2022 15:41:00 GMT ncbears said:

Any thoughts on the "immersive" Dominion production. A niece was in London and enjoyed it, but more of an "what?" frame of mind.

I didn't even know this was a thing till you just mentioned it. To me from some YouTube videos I've just looked at the stage looks very cramped. I'm assuming this was maybe a test for putting it out as the updated arena tour (the new generation tour) as it seems to incorporate quite a few things from that and I can't even imagine seeing it on a small stage !!

[ncbears]

Oops. I mis-wrote. It's not at the Dominion. It is at its own location. thewaroftheworldsimmersive.com/

[BurlyBeaR]

Doesn’t look like the sort of place you’d see an alien invasion 

[ncbears]

Thanks BurlyBear for creating the new thread!

[thesoberpanda]

We did the immersive experience last year. We both thought it was really good especially if you love the music. It's a bit like an upscaled London Dungeon which probably downsells it a little but in terms of scenery and effects it really is top notch. If you love the music you're well catered for as it's what makes the rooms come alive with the epic score (although I'm pretty sure it's the new generation soundtrack which suits me as I like the extra production effects but I know a lot of people didn't get on with it). The first time you hear The Eve Of War is pretty cool too and the speakers are cranked up too !!

The VR works really well (as long as you don't look down (you'll notice you've got no legs)) Thunderchild was probably my favourite of these sequences (again the music really adding to it)

I don't want to say too much more as I don't want to spoil it too much. I'd say book early as ticket prices go up the closer you are to the date and based on how many tickets have sold. We paid about £40 each and thought it was pretty good value at that (it's more expensive than the usual tourist attractions but if you treat it as a theatrical performance (I think it takes a couple of hours to get through) it's pretty well priced.

[Dr Tom]

Is anything performed live or is it all pre-recorded?

[thesoberpanda]

Jun 21, 2022 19:49:37 GMT Dr Tom said:

Is anything performed live or is it all pre-recorded?

There's quite a few live actors but the singing is left to the soundtrack

[blamerobots]

I went here in April this year and it's maybe the best fun I've had in a while, especially for the price. If you are active enough to speed walk about a bit, crouch down, put VR goggles on and off and maybe even slide down some things(!) you'll have fun whether or not you like the musical or the material.

Singing isn't live and is limited to pre-recorded music, but there are many live actors you will meet and have to talk with. I went with a few friends, all of us drama people, pushing the envelope with what we could get the actors to say or do, god bless them Massive props to the actors who probably have to dart back and forth backstage and keep up with each group. We even managed to carry a running joke throughout!

Many well put together set pieces you will walk through. The VR sections are fairly tame and don't have much movement but look very good; you can adjust the goggles to your head as I wear glasses. The sets aren't cheap and are covered in small details and nods to fans of the album, and there's a few shocks and surprises along the way that made me jump 6 foot in the air. No spoilers, you'd have to see yourself!

Was really surprised by the people who were going, lots of people my age who weren't about for that original album, but in our group was a 50-something wise-looking man with a massive beard who was totally into it and singing along with all the songs.

Tickets go on sale relatively often and group bookings are discounted. I highly encourage people here to give it a try as it really is the best fun I've had in a while.

[happysooz2]

We picked the immersive Gunpowder Plot from the same people. I wish we’d picked this TBH. It was fine, but very much geared to tourists. My ten year old picked it off the back of Fuerza Bruta and Guys and Dolls. It’s not a patch on either 😹😹😹

[khiar]

I went a few years back and it was good fun. If you're shy, go with a group, because they will combine smaller groups together - everyone in my group was perfectly lovely, and it's the performers' job to break the ice of course which they did a great job with, creating a sense of camaraderie. Just a very different experience from being sat for a few hours in silence in a darkened theatre - be prepared to answer questions and make chitchat and play along.

There are some fun and very exciting setpieces. If you are not up to the more physical bits (climbing through a window and the aforementioned slide!) they are good about providing alternative routes without a fuss. The VR elements are pretty hokey and already dated, I much prefered the 'real' sets and actors. I enjoyed it overall, despite not knowing much about the music (the friend I went with is a big fan and he loved picking up on some easter eggs. He says: Don't miss the toilet in the 'interval' bar!).