Latest news with #immersiveexperience
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on Our Story With David Attenborough and The Herds: a new theatre of the Anthropocene
As parts of the UK swelter, this week brought yet more alarming reports of increasing temperatures, extreme weather events and dwindling chances of meeting the global 1.5C target. It was the UK's warmest spring on record and its driest in more than 50 years. Communicating the urgency of our predicament without provoking despair and hopelessness is an intractable challenge, especially when it comes to children. But two trail-blazing theatre experiences are bringing the breakdown of the natural world into urban metropolises, and raising the alarm with such immediacy that even those of us fortunate enough to live in places that have so far been relatively unaffected by the climate crisis must pay attention. Our Story With David Attenborough is a breathtaking 50-minute immersive history of the planet, from the team behind the recent film Ocean. Thanks to 24 projectors and 50 speakers, the Natural History Museum's Jerwood Gallery is transformed into the solar system, prehistoric caves, the ocean and the jungle. As in Maurice Sendak's children's classic Where the Wild Things Are, 'the walls [become] the world all around'. We swim with whales and come face to face with gorillas – as Sir David did in Life on Earth in 1979. We look from space: like last year's Booker prize-winning novel, Orbital, by Samantha Harvey, Our Story inspires the feelings of awe and protectiveness towards our planet that astronauts call 'the overview effect'. In the past, Sir David has been accused of not speaking out strongly enough on human-made ecological disaster. But the Guardian writer George Monbiot, once one of his fiercest critics, described Ocean, released for Sir David's 99th birthday this year, as the film 'I've been waiting for all my working life'. In Our Story, we journey through mass extinctions of the past and, speculatively, in the future. Without change, 'the prospect for the generations that follow is grim', the audience is warned. Next Friday, hundreds of lifesize elephants, giraffes, gazelles and animal puppets of all kinds will stampede through London's streets on their 20,000km journey from central Africa to the Arctic Circle. The Herds is the follow-up project to The Walk. In 2021, a 12-foot puppet girl, Little Amal, travelled from the Turkey-Syria border to London, to raise awareness of the refugee crisis. Little Amal reached 2 million people in 17 countries. Now her creators hope to do the same for the climate emergency. As the herd flees north, it will be joined by puppets of native species from each country it visits. Manchester is its next destination, before continuing on to Scandinavia. The project's artistic director, Amir Nizar Zuabi, has acknowledged that all such endeavours, however ambitious, are just 'water dripping on a stone'. But, as he says, over time enough drips can reshape a stone. These are visceral, sensory immersions. Like Olafur Eliasson's climate art installation The Weather Project at Tate Modern in 2003, such spectaculars invite us to reflect together – they are collective experiences. This is the theatre of the Anthropocene: vast, cataclysmic, beautiful and yet ultimately hopeful as well. They help us visualise what a different world might look like – if only politicians and corporations were made to act. The next chapter is up to us. As Sir David says at the end of Our Story, we must work towards a time when Earth becomes a planet 'with not only an intelligent species, but a wise one too'.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Theatre to open in former Debenhams in Westfield White City
A former Debenhams store in west London is set to be converted into a 600-seat theatre despite concerns from some Theatre will open with Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story Live on Stage this autumn at the Shepherd's Bush Westfield shopping was granted in February despite objections that drunken people would cause disruption and again when the planning application was submitted but this week's meeting unanimously approved the plans. Planning officers, who recommended the change of use said the show would be an immersive experience where visitors would "only be able to dine within the proposed development in combination with viewing the show". According to the LDRS, contributions of £275,000 have been agreed to be paid by the applicant to the Law Enforcement Team, CCTV and other local improvements. There were four objections submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham council's licensing committee in person with two young children wrote: "I understand people need to have a release, time to have a drink, however the limit is when I am threatened at my own house. I would feel much safer with less drunk people around, not more."The venue was granted permission to show plays until 12.30am Monday to Sunday and to stay open until Dowling, a partner at Blandy & Blandy, representing the applicant told the licensing meeting that while there would be some dancing after the show, this would allow for a more gradual dispersal of attendees rather than a mass at the time, Karl Sydow and Adam Kenwright, who are behind the venture told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they were "thrilled" with the approval "and look forward to joining the Westfield London and Hammersmith and Fulham communities".
Thrill Geek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
Netflix House: A First-of-Its-Kind Immersive Destination Opening in 2025
Netflix is bringing its most beloved stories to life in an entirely new way with Netflix House — a permanent entertainment venue debuting in 2025. Located in two major U.S. cities, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and Galleria Dallas in Texas, Netflix House will invite fans to step directly into the worlds of their favorite Netflix series and films In 2027, Netflix House will expand with a third location in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip at BLVD Las Vegas. Designed as an immersive experience hub, Netflix House will feature rotating installations inspired by popular titles such as Bridgerton, Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Money Heist. Visitors can look forward to themed dining options, retail experiences, and interactive games that bring iconic Netflix moments off the screen and into real life. Spanning over 100,000 square feet in each location, Netflix House will transform former department store spaces into vibrant, story-driven destinations. Whether guests are sipping afternoon tea in a Bridgerton-inspired setting or testing their skills in a Squid Game-themed challenge, each visit promises to be unique and unforgettable. Netflix House builds on the global success of Netflix's fan-favorite pop-ups and live experiences, including Stranger Things: The Experience, Money Heist: The Experience, and interactive events like The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience. With construction currently underway, the first Netflix House is expected to open in 2025 — offering fans a year-round, ever-evolving celebration of Netflix storytelling. Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Our Story With David Attenborough on show at the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum will host Our Story With David Attenborough from June 19, the museum's first immersive experience.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Immersive wizard cocktail bar announces closure
A wizard-inspired immersive experience and cocktail bar has closed. The Cauldron was located in Clarence Gardens, Brighton, and offered guests an immersive 'potion-making' cocktail experience. The company posted a statement on their website announcing the site's closure, alongside their other locations in London, Edinburgh, New York, and Philadelphia. READ MORE: Royal Albion Hotel owners submit plans after latest demolition work It said: 'It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we share The Cauldron & Wizard Exploratorium has closed its doors. 'We explored every option—from investment and loans to partnerships and strategic sale discussions—but could not secure the capital or find a buyer with the resources needed to keep our magic alive. 'To the one million guests who walked through our doors: thank you. Thank you for believing in our vision and making magic real, from our very first Kickstarter backer to our final guest. The potion making experience at The Cauldron 'To our investors: we are truly sorry we could not fulfil the potential of this company or reward your faith in us. 'To our amazing team: thank you for your hard work, your authenticity and your commitment to creating inclusive, magical experiences for everyone. 'We are deeply grateful to every guest, team member and partner who made this dream possible. Always remember to be kind, pay it forward, and know that you are magic. Magic is for everyone.' The cocktail bar opened in August 2022, founded by entrepreneurs Matthew Cortland and David Duckworth. Matthew described the venue as a 'gateway to the magical world' and said: 'Our mission is to make magic real for people with science, technology and design.' Alongside their cocktail-making experience, they also served a range of unique cocktails featuring different effects such as fire, ice, smoke, and colour change. The venue also featured non-alcoholic experiences for families, offering everyone the chance to enjoy the experience.
