Adam Dolan enjoys geeky gaming fun at Punchdrunk's new immersive show.
Resistance 3 is out! And to help celebrate the latest instalment in the popular Playstation videogame franchise, Sony Entertainment have teamed up with Punchdrunk to present ...and darkness descended, an evocative piece of immersive theatre located in the gloomy and atmospheric arches under Waterloo Station.
In the alternate reality world of the Resistance games, earth has been overrun by an alien force called The Chimera; a nasty bunch who’ve enslaved and infected 90% of the planet’s population with a mutagenic virus.
As an experiment in totally immersive theatre, ...and darkness descended is amazingly successful, not to mention ridiculously fun. It’s a fantastic exercise in geeky, fanboy wish-fulfilment, albeit a little brief – the whole experience lasts around ten to twelve minutes. I’d happily spend a weekend playing at mutant-fighting super-soldier.
darkness begins with you and your small group of 'rebels' being briefed on your mission, which is to deliver a message to the leader of the human resistance, the game’s protagonist Joseph Capelli. In order to do this, you and your rag-tag group of freedom fighters will have to navigate the ominous and dank Waterloo Archway Tunnels; destined to run into all manner of monsters and infected human victims. I wasn't given a gun, which I was slightly disappointed about, but they did give me a big metal flashlight to wield against the inky blackness, which was nice.
I won’t go into too much detail about what happens next, because if you are fortunate enough to bag a ticket, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but it’s safe to say that the experience features plenty of screaming, running, monsters, and more screaming.
At one point I found myself leading the group through a pitch-black tunnel, illuminating the way with my trusty flashlight, muddy water splashing around my feet, while a terrified petite blonde girl I’d never met before clung to the back of my t-shirt like it was a lifeline while muttering “Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god...” There’s something distinctly alpha about yelling “Get to the door!” while an infected zombie-lady lurches out of the darkness of a dilapidated infirmary, shrieking like a banshee. Never before have had I felt so much like Corporal Hicks from Aliens, and by god, I’ve wanted that since I was fourteen years old.
...and darkness descended is wildly enjoyable, whether or not you’re a fan of videogames, and I’d highly recommend you check out this singular experience, should you get the chance. Also, in the event of the inevitable zombie apocalypse/alien invasion, give me a call, I’m now a veteran. I've got a borrowed flashlight, and I know how to use it.
...and darkness descended runs at Waterloo Station Theatre until 4 September.
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