Space mayhem! Is this Punchdrunk's most exciting show yet?
The new production is called LANDER 23 and is billed as a live action video game, in which the 'usual' (ie mind-melting) immersive theatre techniques pioneered by Punchdrunk are underpinned by video game mechanics.
Here's the tantalising set-up pitch:
'The Lander Division of the Centre for Astrobiology is responsible for exploring the outer realms of the galaxy. No division goes further or deeper into the unknown.
A week ago, the crew of LANDER 23 vanished while harvesting a new and valuable energy source on Hisarlik 426. A distress signal, then silence.
You are the next crew in.
Mission Parameters: LAUNCH, SEARCH, SURVIVE '
Now if that doesn't whet your whistle, then you're probably not a video game fan or Alien fan. But even then, the sheer ambition behind this one should surely draw you in. A real-life multiplayer stealth game in which you have the agency to save lives, solve puzzles and escape whatever the hell is out there… exciting no?
Certainly the Artistic Director of Punchdrunk, Felix Barrett, thinks so:
'I was really keen to try and make something that would be the dream show for my inner 12 year old,' he says, 'Where you bring a video game into the real world and make people feel like they are their own avatar.'
Punchdrunk is actually 25 years old this year, and LANDER 23 represents an apt production to mark their ethos. Barrett says the term 'immersive theatre' which was applied to Punchdrunk, came from the media applying video game terminology to the show: 'the most immersive form of entertainment are video games because you're completely submerged in a world where you have total agency to do whatever you want to do.
When we first opened with Sleep No More in New York [their original production from 2003, based on MacBeth], one of the papers gave us 'Game of the Year'. I suddenly realised what we do is quite similar to gameplay. And ever since then I've been fascinated by the idea of going the whole hog: what if we took the game mechanics from a big popular adventure game and applied them to a live world. Where an audience member had that much control and could really do whatever they want.
They follow a narrative, they can explore, they can try and beat their friends for points, they can go off on side quests.
I genuinely believe it's the future. LANDER 23 is our first step on that pathway.'
This then, is not simply a fun new production for them, but a sign of what the future may hold for Punchdrunk and for entertainment in general. Particularly when there's a generation who are brought up on video games, who will truly appreciate gaming in 'real life', with all the physical rush that a proper experience will bring.
'There's a whole generation who are going to demand more agency,' Barrett says, 'Those who didn't know a time before this digital age, and who are used to having complete control over their daily lives online, and who are going to be really fascinated about having the same for their evening out. For us as a company, it's definitely the future.'
LANDER 23 will be taking place at their permanent site in Woolwich, partially using old sets in the name of sustainability. Visitors there will be immediately plunged into the action, he promises.
'The idea of being on board a ship that's plummeting towards a planet, knowing that you're then going to immediately have to disembark and go straight into the melee, feels like the most intense hit of adrenaline that anyone would want. There's nothing like a space adventure.'
The adventure is very much for adults and children, and is a chance for some true escapism from all the pressure and noise of modern digital life; 'the empowerment that comes from being able to step inside a different version of yourself, to lose yourself in a character, and conquer exciting situations.' But there is a special kind of magic that comes when you're involving children in these things.
'When we did The Crash of the Elysium, which was a Doctor Who work with Manchester International Festival 15 years ago, it was a show for 6 to 12 year-olds and adults weren't allowed in. They had to save the Doctor like they were in a live episode of Doctor Who, and turned out being the most emotionally impactive show I've ever done. These kids were so in it because of the immersive nature, experiencing it as though it was real. were real. So when they actually saved the Doctor and defeated the baddies they felt victory. It was incredibly emotional for them. Transformative. They realised what it was like to push through to the other side and actually achieve something.'
On that basis, it's going to be a big deal for everyone who attends, an escape, transformative, a huge dose of fun to take you out of a difficult, bewildering world, and put some faith back in your ability to act.
'It's going to be an amazing adventure, but at its core is something that we all need to remember about what we have inside us. To be able to have that sense of: you can do it.'
LANDER 23 is previewing from 17 September 2025. Tickets from £23. www.lander23.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
5 days ago
- Geek Tyrant
STAR WARS Just Exposed How Emperor Palpatine Bungled The Jedi Hunt After Order 66 — GeekTyrant
Order 66 was supposed to be the Jedi-killing masterstroke. In Star Wars history, it's often painted as the swift and decisive end of the Jedi Order. But Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #7 flips that narrative on its head, revealing a much messier truth about the galaxy immediately after the purge. Yes, the initial slaughter was devastating, but Emperor Palpatine's follow-up plan to track down survivors was shockingly primitive and, frankly, doomed from the start. Instead of launching a methodical, galaxy-wide manhunt, the fledgling Empire relied on clumsy tactics that make it clear why so many Jedi lived to fight another day. In Legacy of Vader #7 , the first phase of Palpatine's 'great' Jedi purge boiled down to passing out lists. Imperial officers and clone troopers literally handed names and physical descriptions of 'possible Jedi survivors' to local magistrates and everyday citizens. It was a far cry from the later precision and ruthlessness of the Inquisitorius. The flaws were obvious. A galaxy with countless species and wildly different appearances meant that a description could match dozens, if not hundreds, of people. Even accurate details could quickly become useless as Jedi changed their names, cut their hair, ditched their robes, and blended in with the crowds. The comic even shows an official broadcast from Palpatine himself offering bounties for 'any traitorous Jedi who yet survive.' While meant to encourage tips, this tactic could easily backfire. Offering 'most generous' payments for information might tempt some to turn in a neighbor, but it could just as easily inspire false leads, wasted resources, and open defiance. Many citizens still saw Jedi as protectors of the Republic, and others simply distrusted the new regime. Instead of cooperating, some might shelter fugitives or feed the Empire misinformation. This is exactly how the Hidden Path, an underground network to smuggle Jedi to safety, was born. Relying on a public bounty system was wildly inefficient. Palpatine's early strategy lacked the precision and focus needed to wipe out Force-sensitive survivors, which is why the Inquisitorius became a necessity. The Inquisitorius wasn't a squad Force-sensitive hunters, often former Jedi themselves, trained to root out and eliminate survivors. Under Darth Vader's direct command, these hunters didn't need civilian help or crude descriptions. They could feel their targets through the Force, tracking fear, presence, and even hidden connections. The issue of Force sensitivity plays out in Legacy of Vader #7 through the character Grandea, who reveals she can sense Kylo Ren's identity because it was 'right there in the front of [his] mind.' It's a perfect example of the kind of psychological and Force-based detection that Inquisitors would later weaponize. Unlike clone troopers or bounty hunters, Inquisitors were personally invested in their missions. They had a vendetta against the Jedi and were molded into tools of Palpatine and Vader's will. They worked in secrecy, didn't depend on unreliable locals, and brought fear wherever they went. Palpatine's initial hunt for the Jedi after Order 66 may have started with chaos and missteps, but the rise of the Inquisitorius transformed the Jedi Purge from an amateur manhunt into a cold, calculated extermination. Without them, the Jedi Order might have survived in far greater numbers.
Geek Tyrant
6 days ago
- Geek Tyrant
LEGO STAR WARS Trailer Teases Return of Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker and a Wild New Adventure — GeekTyrant
Get ready for a brick-built adventure across the stars because Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy — Pieces of the Past is coming to Disney+ this fall, and the trailer just dropped featuring none other than Mark Hamill back as Luke Skywalker . This new four-part animated special is a sequel to 2014's Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy , and it promises a galactic journey packed with humor, deep lore dives, and Force-powered chaos. The series picks up with Sig Greebling and Darth Dev who must put aside their differences to confront a mysterious new threat rising across the LEGO galaxy. The official description teases plenty of action and laughs: 'A new threat rises in the galaxy, and Sig Greebling and Darth Dev must combine their powers of Force Building and Sith Breaking to stop it. Alongside Jedi Bob, Yesi Scala, and Servo, they will journey into the deepest corners of Lego Star Wars lore, uncovering pieces of all the galaxies that have come before.' The special is written and executive produced by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, with Chris Buckley directing. The cast is a great lineup. Dan Stevens makes his debut in the LEGO Star Wars universe as Solitus, a fallen Jedi. Ashley Eckstein joins the fun as a BrickHeadz version of Ahsoka Tano, and Ben Schwartz lends his voice to the fan-favorite Lepi smuggler Jaxxon. Fan-favorite characters and voices are back, including Gaten Matarazzo as Sig Greebling, Tony Revolori as Darth Dev, Bobby Moynihan as Jedi Bob, Marsai Martin as Yesi Scala, Michael Cusack as Servo, Ahmed Best as Darth Jar Jar, and of course, that special guest return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. With LEGO's signature comedy and a stacked voice cast, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy — Pieces of the Past looks like a wild ride through Star Wars, blocky, chaotic, and filled with surprises. So go ahead and check out the trailer below. The movie is set to premiere on September 19, 2025,
Geek Tyrant
12-08-2025
- Geek Tyrant
STAR WARS Confirms When the Mandalorian Was Orphaned, and It Reveals More About His Past — GeekTyrant
One of the long-standing mysteries about The Mandalorian has finally been cleared up, and it sheds new light on Din Djarin's backstory. In the series, we learn that Din was orphaned when battle droids wiped out his family, but the exact timing of that tragedy has never been made explicit. The droids were Clone Wars–era models, but that didn't necessarily mean the attack took place during the war itself. Now, thanks to an excerpt from the upcoming The Mandalorian Visual Guide by Pablo Hidalgo, which was shared by we have a definitive answer. The book states: 'His real name is Din Djarin, and a tragic day during the Clone Wars on his homeworld of Aq Vetina still haunts him. It was the day his parents were killed by battle droid fire; the day he nearly met the same fate; the day Mandalorians came rocketing in to rescue him; the day he became a foundling (an orphan rescued from a warzone).' That confirmation locks the event firmly within the Clone Wars era. It also allows us to place Din more precisely on the Star Wars timeline. With the Clone Wars beginning in 22 BBY and The Mandalorian set around 9–11 ABY, Din would likely be in his late 30s to early 40s, depending on his age during the attack. These details offer and a clearer picture of the man behind the beskar, and as his journey continues, we'll continue to learn more about him and his past. Din Djarin will next return alongside Din Grogu in The Mandalorian & Grogu , set for release in May 2026. According to footage shown at Star Wars Celebration 2025, the film looks to be an awesome adventure.
