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Five reasons why you should book tickets to ‘The Invitation’

Fancy a masquerade party full of intrigue and fine dining? Here’s an invitation to a devilish new immersive theatre experience
  1. Jeremy Rice
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Written by Time Out. Paid for by Secret Theatre Project
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If you feel like sinking your teeth into a murder mystery for the night, then Secret Theatre Project’s tempting new site-specific show ‘The Invitation’ is a date you just can’t miss. Shut down Netflix, put that cuppa on hold and step into a world of disguise and danger (not real of course – it’s showbiz!) within the deluxe setting of Bethnal Green’s Town Hall Hotel. An immersive experience in which you get to play a role (you’ll even get a secret password), there’s also a fine dining option if all the masquerade drama makes you peckish. After a sell-out stint in Hong Kong, ‘The Invitation’ begins on January 28 and tickets start at £39. Still not sure whether to RSVP? Read on for our lowdown on the show...

You can buy tickets right here

It’s immersive, dahling

If the idea of getting involved in a theatre show brings to mind awkward singalongs or panto horror, don’t worry. ‘The Invitation’ is a chance to enter a grownup world of glamour, secrets and skulduggery. It’s a thriller – and you’re in it! Every guest is guided through the story, with their role gradually unfolding within the theatrical action. So forget the 9 to 5, get your glad rags on and unleash your inner thesp! You’ll even get to wear a mask, a bit like Tom Cruise in ‘Eyes Wide Shut’… 

It’s a mystery

You don’t just have to be an armchair detective – ‘The Invitation’ allows you to get into some interactive sleuthing, navigating a shadowy world of enigmatic clubs and murderous secrets. If a whodunnit gets your heart racing then why not snap up a ticket, grab your notebook and get ready to jot down a personalised password, location and set of instructions. Then let the adventure unravel!

Seasoned site-specific theatre pros are in charge

You're in safe hands: Secret Theatre Project are globetrotting site-specific theatre mavens. Founded by Richard Crawford, a Scottish-born pioneer of the immersive theatre movement, the company started out in 2008 with a version of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ staged in an abandoned New York factory. From ‘Reservoir Dogs’ to ‘Romeo and Juliet’, STP has been telling hair-raising tales ever since, set in asylums, courtrooms and haunted houses. Forget about being stuck in the stalls or bored in the balcony, this is a theatrical event like no other.

Make believe in a fancy hotel

Who wouldn’t want to spend the evening in Bethnal Green’s historic Town Hall Hotel? With its gorgeous art deco interiors, complete with an original Grade II-listed council chamber, it's a setting that serves up atmosphere in bucketloads. From municipal building to mystery central, prepare to be transported as this five-star east London destination becomes ‘The Masquerade Palace’ for the evening. 

There’s food!

As well as indulging in a bit of delightful theatrical devilry, you can enjoy a spot of delicious dinner with ‘The Invitation’. We’re not talking oven chip and beans here. Get your palate into gear, because the dining option includes a luxury two-course meal courtesy of Simon Shand, head chef at the Town Hall Hotel’s Corner Room restaurant. Toothsome treats on his seasonal menu include cod cheeks, BBQ leeks and artichoke ice cream. Bon appetit invitee!

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