It’s hard to think of an experience that’s quite like film’s most exciting night out. Secret Cinema’s concept of screening a film while immersing the audience in a theatrical recreation of the world on the screen in front of them is nothing if not a unique way of doing things.
If you want to get the most out of it, it’s best to make sure you know how it’s done. And, given that its latest incarnation – Secret Cinema presents Stranger Things – is set to be a new direction for the event, there’s something to be learned even by those who’ve been before. Here’s a list to help you wring every last drop of joy out of the latest Secret Cinema experience:
Don’t … forget your props
As well as an outfit, you’re often given a list of items to bring. These are key to the experience, with the items often serving as a form of currency you can trade with actors to unlock hidden parts of the adventure. In their take on The Empire Strikes Back, you were able to trade seeds to get passage out of Tatooine. In their recent take on Blade Runner, you could trade photographs to get you into a special area. Come well stocked if you want to get the most out of the experience.
Do … enjoy a night without your phone
You know what no one had in the 1980s? Smartphones. So don’t worry about the fact that Secret Cinema requires you to seal your phone at the start of the night (you can unwrap it once it’s all over). It makes the experience all the more immersive, partly because it lets you focus, but partly because Stranger Things’ world demands that you think analogue, just like you did as a kid.
Do … be prepared for something totally new
Secret Cinema’s 2013 take on Terry Gilliam’s Brazil broke with tradition by letting participants continue enjoying the experiences during the film screening. But the Stranger Things experience branches out into totally new territory. According to the organisers, “the traditional screening will be replaced with a unique experience unlike anything seen in the past”. For the first time, it seems that the event is based much more around plunging guests into an immersive world than it is on a screening. Given that Secret Cinema creates such stunning recreations of cinematic universes that they sometimes outshine the actual film itself, this is a vastly exciting proposition.
Don’t … shy away from talking to people
If you want to passively consume a film then there are plenty of multiplexes available. The point of this experience is to actually be in the film, and the best way to immerse yourself in its world is by taking the plunge into talking to your favourite characters. In fact, it’s best to go even further than that and …
Do … get into character yourself
Secret Cinema is largely staffed by actors who are engaged in character-based improv. The more you play along, the more likely they are to appreciate it and reward you with special items or access to hidden areas. Remember, it’s your decision how involved you want to get, but you might be surprised at how easy and natural it will feel to get involved – you might just do it without realising!
Don’t … be confused by the “secret” in the title
When Secret Cinema first started, attendees didn’t know what film they were turning up to – hence the name. They were briefly known as Future Cinema when they started revealing the name of films ahead of the actual event, but a few years ago they reverted to the “secret” moniker that everyone knows and loves them for. Now the “secret” in the title refers to the fact that you never know quite how far they’ll go in their quest to instil wonder into their audience.
Don’t … dawdle
You’ll have hours to explore the world, but it will go all too fast. So if you’re getting a drink, make sure you explore as you sip. Do marvel at the incredible sets, but do it while rampaging through them on a secret mission. It’s always a bit heartbreaking when you realise that the experience is ending – and the only way to alleviate that is to know that you didn’t waste any time while you were in there.
Do … prepare to be blown away by the set piece
Ending with a spectacular bit of showmanship is very much Secret Cinema’s thing, from the incredible moment in Brazil where a winged actor descended on a zipline down a multi-storey tower block, to the part in Bugsy Malone where they stopped the film, issued the audience with foam and plastic ponchos and got the crowd to recreate the on-screen action with a giant foam fight. Given that organisers are promising that this event will surpass their usual offering, with a “more intense theatrical finale with thrilling special effects”, expect it to be very special indeed.
For tickets to Secret Cinema presents Stranger Things and Secret Cinema presents Casino Royale, visit secretcinema.org
