You Me Bum Bum Train

Ever wished you could be someone else? How about trying out multiple personalities? That’s exactly what the ‘passengers’ of You Me Bum Bum Train get to do. The labour of love of its creators Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd, who founded it in 2004, this immersive cult show has popped up in secret spots across London, taking participants one by one through a series of weird, wonderful, intense and exhilarating experiences.

Each participant signs a non-disclosure agreement so that the mystery of what actually happens gets preserved and so everything is a total surprise. You are the star of each of the incredibly realistic scenes, with hundreds of volunteer actors (and the occasional celebrity) guiding you through – but how you react is entirely up to you. This is a safe space to unleash that main character energy and lean into different parts of your personality you had no idea were there, which can be a life changing experience. A shocked first timer I chatted to afterwards said that he would ‘never be the same again’; a 70-something veteran YMBBT rider exclaimed that these shows were the most memorable moments of his entire life. 

In the early 2010s I went to more immersive theatrical events than I care to remember, including four YMBBTs. My immersive days are now long behind me but when it was announced that YMBBT was back after eight years, I knew I had to have another dose. Wearing my comfiest of clothes and ready for anything, I turned up at the secret West End location feeling a mix of excitement and fear. Of course, I can’t tell you anything that happened to me in that joyful 45 minute whirlwind, but I can say that the hiatus has only made it better. The sets are bigger and bolder, the storylines are topical and often challenging and the pay-off is even greater. My advice to anyone who has managed to get a golden ticket (it sold out faster than you can say NDA) is to be open, be playful and to fully go for it because, you never know, it might just change your life.

You Me Bum Bum Train is sold out. If you’re interested in volunteering for the show there’s more information here.