New take on an immersive fantasy experience

Photo by Ian Gillespie.

Following sensational responses and packed houses around the country, A Midnight Visit unveils its fresh Brisbane incarnation this July in a disused Fortitude Valley warehouse, transforming the space into a 36 room theatrical playground.

Inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, A Midnight Visit follows in the footsteps of projects like New York’s Sleep No More, re-defining the immersive experience by creating a truly all-encompassing world.

Part choose-your-own-adventure, part film-set, part performance, part sound-world, A Midnight Visit provides a shape-shifting experience from night to night and unique to each person who embarks on this journey.

Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters embodied by a cohort of performers whose diverse backgrounds include theatre, circus, dance, music and burlesque, A Midnight Visit features sound design and composition from video game makers Kpow; sets developed by a team of designers, scenic artists, props makers and master builders; and costumes by theatre designer Melanie Liertz, directed by Broad Encounters, Kirsten Siddle.

“We know audiences are craving an opportunity to get out of the conventions of traditional arts and entertainment venues, to get amongst it, to feel it, to be transported in every way possible", says Siddle.

“We’re not simply responding to or inhabiting the space, we’re creating a fully formed fantasy world for audiences to explore freely. The experience explores themes of death, impermanence, madness, guilt, love and memory - just the lighter things in life. Set inside one of Poe’s dreams (not that you need to know anything about the master of the macabre), it’s a place where the characters from his life and his literature collide. It’s sometimes funny, sometimes sexy, sometimes wistful, and yes, sometimes a little bit scary!"

The dream world is brought to life across multiple rooms with a multi-talented cast and includes an onsite bar, The Raven’s Rest. The universe of A Midnight Visit oozes steam-punk with a hint of David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick and a whiff of contemporary classics like Stranger Things. A performance experience like no other, you will encounter strange characters, eldritch scenes and uncanny splendour as you journey deeper into the depths of mystery.

Venue: The House of Usher - 95 Robertson St Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, from 27 July. Tickets from $49 (plus booking fee). Bookings: www.amidnightvisit.com