When Night Comes: Syd Fringe Immersive Theatre Experience Revels In The Darkness

Those who were spellbound by the immersive theatre experience A Midnight Visit several years ago, should be delighted to learn that the latest production When Night Comes headlines the Sydney Fringe Festival.

Kirsten Siddle is a creative leader in immersive theatre and experience design having extensively created and presented her magic to mesmerised audiences worldwide. She is the Creative Director of Broad Encounters, the company which created When Night Comes.

Siddle explained that immersive theatre gives audiences the freedom to break away from traditional narrative storytelling.

“Immersive experiences attract people who don’t want to only sit in a seat and watch, they’re people who may love to explore, move around, experience an alternate make-believe world, have more agency and possibly even get involved and interact with the theatrical world and characters in some way.”

As she continued to describe this latest experience her enthusiasm and passion for the project was evident.

“When Night Comes takes place in the atmospheric and exclusive clubhouse of ‘The Society’. You are a special guest of The Society. Their aim is for you to break free from the monotony and boredom of daily life and to ignite your passion for Hedonistic and sensorial delights ….

“Through the course of your evening, you progress through multiple rooms across multiple floors and meet members of The Society who each encourage you to surrender to your senses and embrace the art of living.”

Siddle described this experience as being ‘on set’ with the performers, walking around and interacting with them – if audiences dare to.

“They may invite to you to participate in a puzzle, a game or a beverage or two, but you don’t have to get involved if you don’t want to. The show is also suitable for watching without getting involved.”

What makes this experience unique is that all of the audiences’ physiological senses are activated as they move around the spaces.

“Broadly speaking the audience spends time exploring and focusing on different senses as they progress through the spaces. We carefully incorporate visual, olfactory, auditory, gustatory (taste), tactile and vestibular (movement) into the multi-faceted design of each space, scene and interaction with the characters.”

When asked why the historic heritage sandstone building setting enhances the mood and atmosphere of the experience, Siddle was quick to respond.

“When Night Comes is hosted by The Society. They’re a strange and mysterious collective, protective of their secrets, and the beautiful Union Bond Store is such a perfect setting as their ‘clubhouse’. The spaces have born witness to so many human stories, experiences and emotions that you can feel the weight of The Society’s secrets (and ghosts) as you walk through the building.”

The previous immersive experience A Midnight Visit was enjoyably macabre and when asked how When Night Comes differs, Siddle paused momentarily.

“When Night Comes has been designed as a more intimate experience, one that revels in micro moments, feelings and dangers. It’s bespoke, detailed and nuanced, wonderfully decadent and indulgent. It’s an experience you emerge from tantalised, exhilarated and turned on.”

She also added that this experience has “a touch of the macabre, but its themes explore the indulgence of living, rather than ‘the beyond’. At times funny, joyful, mysterious, romantic, thrilling, beautiful, strange and absorbing, it spans the gamut of feelings and sensory delights!”

The unique element of this experience is that audiences who enjoy it can come along several times as no two shows are the same.

“This is especially true for those who get to experience special scenes that aren’t played for the entire audience, these ‘easter eggs’ are unique, personal and extra precious, there’s an element of luck involved to get to experience them.”

And what does the future hold for this immersive artform? Does Siddle see an increase in its popularity?

“Yes, I do! I think people are eager to immerse themselves in alternate realities, worlds and spaces that enthrall them in exciting ways. Immersive theatre and experiences are taking off around the world. I’m grateful that the Broad Encounters team have built trust amongst our fans and audiences who know that when they come to our immersive shows they will be entertained and engaged in thrilling new ways.”

When Night Comes is on from Aug 22 – Sept 27 at Union Bond Store, The Rocks.