#pressticket

Immersive theatre is a really interesting concept. Isn’t all theatre, in a sense, immersive? Aren’t we all immersing ourselves in the lives of the characters, suspending our disbelief to truly be in their world? In a way, yes, but when speaking of a show like “Arcade”, immersion is on a whole different level. “Arcade” is part of the Darkfield series, running three shows across Fringe (“Coma” and “Flight” being the others).

They all happen in shipping containers away from any distractions, so you can be fully immersed in their world. Full disclosure: this was not a show for me, but this review is not about me. This is about the show itself. Now, why wasn’t it for me but still a great show? I am someone who is scared of horror movies, who jumps when a door closes a little hard, let alone slams, and who feels faint at the thought/sight of blood. So, when I go to a show that offers you a long list of violent and dark trigger warnings, I know I need to think of the larger picture of people who might want to see this show and not write specifically about me. The only thing I feel is fair to “spoil” for you is that you are in complete darkness when the show starts. It all happens through voiceovers in a headset.

You make split-second decisions by pressing a button. Every person attending the show will have a different outcome. It is incredibly dark; it has effects using water and air that feel so realistic that in one scenario, my character was walking outside and I genuinely felt like I stepped outside on a brisk autumn evening. If you are a fan of horror or you are a bit of a thrill seeker, this is the show for you. It is incredibly well written, the voice acting is top notch, and the special effects are phenomenal. However, I would check with the trigger warnings they supply to make sure this is a show for you.

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