ArticlesMay 23, 2016

Live Interactive Videogame The Dark Room Comes To London

On 28^th May the phenomenal success that is The Dark Room comes to London. The Dark Room is the world’s only live-action videogame. Part stand-up comedy show, part theatre; interactive and insane, this is impro comedy + retro gaming combined into a deranged rock n’ roll game show all under the roof of the new venue Republic.

Beginning four years ago as an online interactive web game, Australian stand-up comedian John Robertson posted his choose-your-own-adventure-game on YouTube, entitled The Dark Room. In the video, the viewer is told that they have woken up in a dark room, and have to find their way out – accompanied by some less-than-helpful suggestions from Robertson, spot lit by a torch under his chin. The various chapters of The Dark Room have been viewed more than 4,000,000 times on YouTube. Nobody has yet made it to the final exit. Online, it has been played in every country on earth, being curiously popular in Germany, France and the U.S.

“Unlike anything live I’ve ever witnessed … cruel, well thought out, and hilarious.” ««««« ThreeWeeks

“Brilliance. Innovative, funny, exciting, dark-as-hell brilliance.” «««««Fringe Guru

Inspired by its success, in 2012 John took the premise more than a few steps further, by converting it into a live show at the Edinburgh Festival in which a whole roomful of people AWAKE to FIND themselves… in a DARK… ROOM! The massive success of this show brought it back to the Fringe every year since and he has also played sold old shows from London to Hong Kong.

The Dark Room is cruel, funny, unfair, confusing and unwinnable, but none of that should stop

you taking a screaming jog right into it. You will regret nothing.” ««««« The Skinny

Now he is brining the beloved format back to London, taking this improvised game show, where the player faces a brutal Old Testament God who loves grammar, and hates you. The whole audience joins in to see if they can find their way out of the Dark Room together. And we’ll give you a clue: chances are they can’t.

“Not to Be Missed” The Guardian

“If Franz Kafka was to write a comedy show, this would be it” «««« Steve Bennett, Chortle

“Passion for a near-Kafkaesque form of sadomasochism” «««« The List

“Will have you crying with laughter” ««««« Broadway Baby

“Brutal, poetic, bizarre and hilarious. If your taste runs to the dark you need to see this show.”

«««««British Comedy Guide