If your idea of a great theatre experience is sitting, watching, clapping, and then filing out afterwards, then SMG Live and Punchdrunk International’s co-production of Sleep No More is not for you. In fact, labelling this an experience misses the point – it’s more like visiting another planet. ‘We take audiences out of the safety of a traditional theatre, pull the rug out and place them at the centre of the experience in a completely unknown place,’ says Felix Barrett, artistic director of Punchdrunk and co-director of Sleep No More. ‘This makes them active characters in their own story, choosing their own paths and deciding their own fates.’
This unknown place is part of Sleep’s charm, but it doesn’t come cheap. ‘We take over a building and completely reimagine it, building a whole world from scratch inside for the audience to explore,’ he says, explaining that they spend a long time finding the perfect structure for each production. ‘The building is as much a part of the story as the characters that inhabit it.’ In Shanghai’s case, this means the five floors and 90 rooms of the McKinnon Hotel, but the story is the same – ‘Shakespeare’s Macbeth,’ says Barrett, ‘reimagined as a 1930s film thriller, staged as an epic experiential theatre experience’. Past shows have also included Hitchcockian touches, including a Manderley Bar and a character called Mrs Danvers, both from his 1940 film Rebecca, but Barrett says the shows are localised according to audience reactions during previews. He also claims that the ‘sights, sounds, and smells of 1930s Shanghai will have a strong influence on the production’.
But it’s safe to say that Shanghai audiences – and indeed, most of us – have never bought a ticket for anything like this. Barrett wants viewers to ‘be physically present and completely absorbed in the performance’. That means absolute silence and – strap in – no phones. (No doubt a local explained the extent of that particular Hail Mary in China, so he says they ‘may’ make theatregoers check their devices at the door.) Theatregoers also wear masks, rendering them invisible and anonymous, which Barrett calls liberating. ‘That allows them to fully explore their surroundings and become totally involved in the world of the show.’ He suggests leaving your friends behind and going exploring. ‘The bolder you are, the more you will get out of the production,’ he says. ‘Audience members who explore hidden parts of the show’s world are rewarded.’
But what can they expect to see? For starters, audiences are encouraged to rifle through drawers, read letters, and open suitcases. They can follow different characters and experience multiple storylines, and then head to the bar if it becomes too much. New York and London shows have been notable for their high levels of violence (it is Macbeth after all), but Shanghai might see an edited version. ‘We recognise and respect cultural differences,’ said Barrett. ‘We are finding ways to change things in a unique Punchdrunk style.’
Characters might ask you to drink something; they might also take your hand and lead you into another room for a one-to-one, the height of the experience, according to Sleep’s legions of fans. This means a private encounter with one of the phenomenally attractive performers that might entail a whispered poem, a souvenir, or even a (surprisingly common) kiss.
And that is a common refrain throughout the many reviews, that the actors display almost supernatural looks and talent, forever banishing audiences to the awkward, dumpy world we have come to know. ‘The performers we work with have an unbelievable level of technique in contemporary dance and presence on stage,’ he says, adding that they need a unique energy and strong improvisation skills. ‘Ultimately our performers need to be amazing storytellers who are able to express strong emotion and connect deeply with audience members,’ he says. ‘They also need to be ready to react to anything, as no two performances are ever the same.’
Unusually, Punchdrunk is not just another company looking to break into the China market; in fact, the visionary SMG Live approached them first. Even more unusually, the company has nothing but superlatives for their co-producers. ‘They are passionate about our work and about the show; it has been an incredibly rewarding and inspiring experience,’ says Barrett. ‘Shanghai is exciting because you can really feel a creative energy in the streets and a hunger to create and experience fantastic cultural events,’ he continues. ‘To be making the Asian premiere of our work in a city like this is an honour.’ Shanghai will never be the same.
Sleep No More is at the McKinnon Hotel from Wednesday December 14 to March 26. Tickets are 550RMB and are sold out until after Chinese New Year, but you can book from February 17 on their website.
