Hello there, by the time that you have reached this blog post, I'm guessing you would have either purchased a ticket to 'Sleep No More' or have heard snippets about it from someone somewhere. Either ways, your curious mind has taken you to read about it before making your way to the McKittrick Hotel. So as someone who was frantically googling about 'Sleep No More' 10 minutes before lining up outside the entrance on W27th Street, I thought I'll share with you some quick tips for what is, no doubt, a memorable experience.
Name: 'Sleep No More'
What is it? Experiential theatre and dance
1. Is it scary?
This was perhaps the most searched phrase associated with 'sleep no more' on Google so I thought I would address this first! As someone who cannot handle any element of horror whatsoever, I would say that 'Sleep No More' is eerie but definitely not 'scary' in a horror sense. The eeriness comes from the fact that it's very dark in there, you are all wearing masks and cannot see each other's faces and there is a very suspenseful soundtrack that just keeps playing for the duration of the performance. Hence, all your senses are immediately heightened upon entry.
1. Is it scary?
This was perhaps the most searched phrase associated with 'sleep no more' on Google so I thought I would address this first! As someone who cannot handle any element of horror whatsoever, I would say that 'Sleep No More' is eerie but definitely not 'scary' in a horror sense. The eeriness comes from the fact that it's very dark in there, you are all wearing masks and cannot see each other's faces and there is a very suspenseful soundtrack that just keeps playing for the duration of the performance. Hence, all your senses are immediately heightened upon entry.
2. What should I wear?
The first priority is to ensure that you wear comfortable shoes, because there will be a lot of walking, up and down stairs, and sometimes even running.
If you're in the mood, you might like to dress to the theme (think 1920s glamour). Otherwise, go with what you might normally wear on a night out at a chic, secluded bar.
The first priority is to ensure that you wear comfortable shoes, because there will be a lot of walking, up and down stairs, and sometimes even running.
If you're in the mood, you might like to dress to the theme (think 1920s glamour). Otherwise, go with what you might normally wear on a night out at a chic, secluded bar.
3. Do I need to prepare anything?
A familiarity with the storyline of Macbeth might be helpful.
A familiarity with the storyline of Macbeth might be helpful.
4. What do I actually get to do in there?
In a nutshell, you walk around, you run around, you watch, and you navigate. You might see someone who looks interesting (the actors are the ones not wearing a mask) and decide to follow them. Sometimes, they might even take your hand or give you something with a whisper.
Investigate, peek behind curtains, read the letters on the desk. Don't be afraid to get lost in there.
5. Last minute tips?
In a nutshell, you walk around, you run around, you watch, and you navigate. You might see someone who looks interesting (the actors are the ones not wearing a mask) and decide to follow them. Sometimes, they might even take your hand or give you something with a whisper.
Investigate, peek behind curtains, read the letters on the desk. Don't be afraid to get lost in there.
5. Last minute tips?
- The earlier sessions tend to be more expensive, but allows you to experience more.
- Get there at least half an hour before starting time. You can always hang out in the bar if you are too early, but you must never be late!
- Eat something before you go as there is no time for snacks once you are in.
- Don't be afraid to be immersed in the story, take those twists and turns and let events simply unfold around you.
- At the start of the performance, you and your fellow spectators are ushered into an elevator to signify the beginning of the journey. You may hear the phrase 'fortune favors the bold', one of you may even get to find out what this means.
- Oh, and make sure you watch each of the banquet scenes.
Enjoy.
xoxo
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The above was written based on a 'Sleep No More' experience in January 2016.
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