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Jessica Hern as Jordan Baker - Photo by Mark Senior

Immersive theatre in London

Kitty Underwood

By Kitty Underwood First Published 30 August 2022, Last Updated 5 September 2024

Have you ever been to immersive theatre in London? Immersive theatre takes the spontaneity and magic of live theatre and turns it up to 11 – the show is different every single night with you, the audience, having a hand in exactly what plays out in front of you.

It can sound daunting, but the great thing about immersive theatre is that you can join in as much or as little as you want! You can go all out, dressing in era-appropriate clothing and volunteering to be part of the story, or you can turn up in whatever you like and just observe! You might even go with one intention and get so swept up in the story that you end up joining in more than you thought! Here are some of the best shows to get that immersive experience in London.

The Great Gatsby

Step on up, Old Sport and get ready to travel back in time to the hedonism of the roaring twenties. Whether you know the book or the film or not, you’ll have a ball as you step inside one of Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties. With loads of rooms and details to explore as you move through the story, you’ll feel like a fly on the wall in this tale of excess, drama and intrigue. See what Megan thought of the show when she went to opening night!

The Gunpowder Plot

Journey back to 1605, in a specially designed venue in Tower Vaults, at the UNESCO World Heritage Tower of London. With a digital special appearance from Tom Felton as Guy Fawkes, combine 4D experiences that will engage all your senses with live action, VR, motion simulators and special effects.

Along the journey you’ll meet the shady figures behind the plot, attempt to infiltrate their inner circle, make an attempt to escape the tower and journey along the Thames towards the Houses of Parliament. Plus, take a pit-stop along the way for food and drink at the Duck and Drake while you hatch your plan!

Get a taste with the trailer below:

Mamma Mia! The Party

Lets be honest, who hasn’t watched Mamma Mia and dreamed of being on that island? We can’t promise we’ll actually whisk you away to the Aegean Sea but the next best thing is right here in London! Be whisked away to Nikos Taverna on the beautiful island of Skopelos (actually a purpose-built Greek Taverna in The O2!) .

Featuring some of your favourite ABBA hits and a hilarious new story set within the Mamma Mia world, adapted specially by Sandi Toksvig, you’ll be taken from dinner to dancing and get lost in a gorgeous Greek evening full of music and romance!

Monopoly Lifesized

Monopoly Lifesized

Have you ever played a board game and wanted to get even more involved? Now’s your chance to live out that fantasy, on a 15 metre squared life-sized Monopoly board! But this isn’t just the board game you know and love.

Compete in one of a kind challenges for your chance to buy properties. Experience the thrill of trying to stage a heist in Mayfair, competing against a clock to build some of London’s iconic buildings, solving a baffling murder mystery or stepping into the world of codebreakers. It’s got to be played to be believed!

Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience

Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience

War Of The Worlds describes itself best: “It’s not theatre, or cinema. It’s not an escape room, theme park ride or VR game. Yes, there are pyrotechnics, projections, holograms and special effects. But this is quite different to an arena show (there are only 8-12 tickets per performance). As London’s multi-award winning, top-rated “immersive night out,” this event combines them all.”

The martians are coming! If you want to be in the heart of the action, this is the show for you!

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