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Daisy Bowie-Sell as a zombie in 'The Generation of Z: Apocalypse'

How to be a zombie in ‘The Generation of Z: Apocalypse’

As the immersive zombie survival show ‘The Generation of Z: Apocalypse’ arrives in London, we get some pointers on how act like the undead

Written by Daisy Bowie-Sell
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‘Must have excellent staggering skills’ is what I imagine the advert for this acting job said. Whatever it was, it worked: I’m with a crowd learning how to play reanimated corpses for new zombie experience ‘The Generation of Z: Apocalypse’. The show shoves audiences into a huge warehouse that’s inhabited by a gang of infected bodies. And I’m discovering how to be one of those dead dudes. 

Five steps to becoming a zombie

1. It's all in the stare

It's all in the stare
It's all in the stare
Director Michael Hurst assures me that once I’ve got that, the rest is easy. ‘Fix on a point ahead of you,’ he says. I furrow my brow and with all the concentration I’m worried my eyeballs may fall out. Not a bad look for a zombie, though.

2. Walk as though you're a bit pissed

Walk as though you're a bit pissed
Walk as though you're a bit pissed
I’ve had more than enough practice at this, so it should be easy. But who knew there are different levels of drunk walk? These zombies have a virus – à la ‘28 Days Later’ – which means they are fast. I have to stumble only occasionally.
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3. Get the voice right

Get the voice right
Get the voice right
In ‘Shaun of the Dead’ there was a lot of moaning, in ‘Dawn of the Dead’ the shufflers are almost silent. The screeches coming from these walkers would freak the Hulk.

4. The make-up needs to be good

The make-up needs to be good
The make-up needs to be good
In this show it really is. Make-up artist Kristyan Mallett has worked on Brad Pitt zombie flick ‘World War Z’, and his team are painting me in what’s called a ‘grunge palate’.
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5. Be creative

Be creative
Be creative

‘Be experimental with your zombie,’ says a fellow trainee. Apparently one of the secrets is to find your own corpse groove.

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