I was hooked in the appeal of the glamorous 1930’s world, in a way that I’ve never felt watching a show behind a proscenium arch. When we emerged from the corridor, we were in an entirely new world we had stepped back in time into a 1930’s jazz lounge, complete with sultry red curtains, art deco furnishings, and filled with smoke. I now realize the show actually started here for me, half an hour before any sign of a Macbeth narrative began. Looking back on it now, this use of long dark corridors were completely effective in making me forget the street I just left and immersing me into the world of the McKittrick Hotel. Upon presenting our tickets, we were given our “room keys”- playing cards- one for each “guest.” We were then directed toward a dark, winding corridor, with various sharp turns (which already had my friend and I sufficiently scared and holding onto each other for support). My journey inside began with a long dark tunnel, which led to a vaguely 1930’s-inspired lobby, coat check, and check-in counter. In actuality the “Hotel” was made up of three neighbouring, deserted warehouses. It takes place in the fictional McKittrick Hotel, its namesake being inspired by the hotel in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo- just one of many nods given to early psychological thrillers and film noir references made throughout the performance. Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More is based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and is one-part immersive theatre piece, one-part art installation – it all depends on your point of view as an individual and on your unique experience in the space. As such this post may contain spoilers for those who have not yet experienced Sleep No More. Created by Punchdrunk, presented by Punchdrunk and Emursive Theatre, in New York CityĪ note before reading: in this post I share my reflections from the performance, which includes descriptions of some details of my experience.
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