Have you ever seen a movie where you wanted more? Not because the movie didn’t deliver but because it delivered so spectacularly well that you wanted to spend more time in that universe. You wanted a deeper level of immersion to be part of that adventure. I think we’ve all had that experience and let’s be honest Star Wars may be the ultimate movie for bringing about these desires. From kids playing let’s pretend up to adults playing games (both digital and traditional) to cosplay to themed parties to IMAX and so on. We want to feel like we’re right there in that galaxy far, far away embroiled in that galactic civil war alongside our heroes.
This is where Secret Cinema comes in. Their mission is to create an absolutely immersive environment as part of your viewing experience, a truly convincing and engaging world in which to live out those Star Wars fantasies and they don’t do this by half measures. From the moment you receive your welcome email you realise that this is all about getting into character. You are given a name and profession and are strongly encouraged to dress appropriately. From what I saw, people really jumped at this opportunity and a large number of the attendees really looked the part.
In terms of what to expect when attending, we are very much back to the beloved original trilogy. The immersive experience takes us through A New Hope leading up to an impressive screening of The Empire Strikes Back – the critically acclaimed highpoint of the entire saga. Familiar environments are well realised throughout the 18 acre set up and a cast of hundreds of actors take the role of aliens, Imperials and even some very well-known individuals. A significant amount of this is improvisational and interactive so don’t be surprised if you are questioned by stormtroopers at some point during the proceedings. It certainly elicits a mixture of joy and nerves!
The evening starts off fairly lightly (at least after the initiation routine). Once in the first environment attendees have a chance to get involved at their own pace. There is a wide choice of excellent food and drink available and also even an opportunity to pick up some memorabilia as you explore this very familiar location. Music is also present and Secret Cinema have lined up a significant number of live performers and big-name DJs for these events. What I heard was suitably excellent.
Moving on to the next location requires you to be proactive which is a lot of fun. By this point you’ve had a chance to get accustomed to the whole experience and now you have to really get involved. Passage to the new planet requires something of value to trade and as such you have to seek out some well-known traders to do this. It was an engaging experience and again it continues to draw you into the activities.
After a couple of hours of this you believe you’ve got the idea of the evening and this is where Secret Cinema gets you. They pick up the pace of the scheduled scripted moments and suddenly you are party to some of the pivotal moments of A New Hope. This is a situation where how it is done is far more important than what is done and I’m very pleased to say that Secret Cinema pulls this off exceptionally well. Their love for the source material, attention to detail, showmanship and understanding of their audience shines through at this point and I was but one in a vast sea of faces beaming with joy. Secret Cinema really, really know how to delight Star Wars fans!
With this incredible sequence complete we are brought into the cinema areas ready to watch The Empire Strikes Back. I’d say that perhaps it is a little unwise to overstimulate so many hard core fans (many already suitably plied with alcohol) but maybe it’s better to say that you should prepare for a high energy audience and the constant comments are part of the experience. Secret Cinema again manage to surprise and delight here with some expertly choreographed live elements alongside the movie screening. Their love of the source material and showmanship again are very evident throughout. While I didn’t stay much after this, the experience quickly shifted over to music hosted by DJ Groove Armada and a chance to party late into the night.
As the name suggests secrecy is an essential part of the night. Mobile phones are thankfully sealed away as you enter. One of the main reasons for this is to prevent unofficial pictures from being leaked but honestly the lack of mobile phones is exceptionally refreshing and there’s no doubt that their presence would heavily detract from the sense of immersion. On the other hand these days we expect to see a lot of user reviews and photographs on social media and this secrecy may hinder word of this event spreading through the typical social networks.
Ultimately this feels like an event that has been created with a lot of love and a staggering amount of effort. It has taken 18 months to create and there has clearly been a huge amount of thought put into it. At £78 per adult, the high cost of ticket prices has already been commented on elsewhere. All I can say is that this is a unique experience and something I personally enjoyed immensely. It’s authentic and sincere and just fantastic fun. The evening itself lasts for more than 5 hours and the memories will last a lifetime.
Photographs courtesy of Secret Cinema, Paul Cochrane, Olivia Weetch, Al Overdrive, Marianne Chua, Will Cooper and Mike Massaro.
Review by James Semple. You can find James and his amazing music over at James Semple Composer.
