Let’s just start by saying I’m not a D&D player. I’ve played a couple of times with my family, led by my teenage son as Dungeon Master, but that was just to show interest in something he loves. So I do understand the basics – that said, you don’t need any prior knowledge of D&D to get swept up in the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern. If anything, this show is probably the best way I’ve found so far to get a better grasp on the complex game that is D&D.
This is an interactive show that began in New York as an Off-Broadway production – the same director, Michael Fell, also rehearsed with the Australian cast. In what ways is it interactive? The story lies in the audience’s hands, as well as with the roll of the 20-sided dice.
As you enter The Studio at the Sydney Opera House, you pick a coloured sticker from a basket. Depending on what colour you choose, you get aligned with one of the three classes: Warrior, Mage (Wizard) or Assassin/Entertainer. Throughout the show, you make decisions for the character in your assigned class, mostly by choosing options via your mobile phone (after scanning a QR code) – and sometimes just by yelling out. (Top tip:Make sure you turn up with a fully-charged phone.)
You answer polls and take part in little games to choose what character the actors play, then make decisions or see the outcomes of characters’ actions. Dice rolls are directed by the Dungeon Master, played by the charismatic Cody Simpson-lookalike William Kasper. So, led by the dice and audience decisions, the acting is largely improv, which makes for a fun and chaotic time that really rouses the audience.
The actors (player characters Eleanor Stankiewicz, Trubie-Dylan Smith and Atlas Adams; as well as Tavern Keeper Zoë Harlen) are likeable, funny and sharp. Eleanor, particularly, commands the stage, holding the audience’s gaze even at times when she’s not the focal point. It’s amazing to think that every single performance would be different – just as a game of D&D is.
By the end of the show, I, along with everyone else, am cheering and yelling out directions. I look over at my son and he’s on the edge of his seat, exclaiming loudly, a huge smile on his face – he’s fully immersed.
The unexpectedness and chaos of dice play is one of the best things about games, and that’s also the magic of this show. I’ve actually never seen anything like it.
In case you want to hear the thoughts of someone who actually plays D&D, here’s my teenage son’s review:
“This interactive show is a very enjoyable experience for both D&D veterans and newbies alike. They stay true to the game’s lore and rules, while making it easy to understand and work well for a crowd.
After answering polls to choose what characters the actors play, we ended up with an aspiring-dragon-slaying monk, a fireball-slinging skeleton cowgirl, and a seductive elven bard.
Behind the stage, there were amazing digital artwork displays of the buildings or landscapes the characters were in. Along with the changing lighting and runes that lit up around the stage when characters perform certain actions, it helped make for a very immersive experience. The actors were incredibly talented and funny, which made it a hilarious show. This – combined with you deciding the outcomes and characters – meant that it couldn’t all be rehearsed. The improv made it way better.
The captivating and emotional story, hilarious characters, and being able to decide the fate of the story, made for an exceptional performance that could be viewed again and again. I would highly recommend this show for anyone who loves D&D or wants to get into it, or just anyone who can appreciate a well-told narrative played by great actors.”
FAQs
Is D&D The Twenty-Sided Tavern suitable for kids?
It’s suitable for older kids, about 12-plus. On the night I took my 13-year-old son, the story actually took some pretty saucy turns (a fair few sexual references), so it’s not G-rated, but it’s PG enough for mature, D&D-loving teens.
Do you need to understand D&D to enjoy D&D The Twenty-Sided Tavern?
No, see above, my son and I both agree that it’s still an enjoyable show for people who don’t understand D&D jargon. The actors guide the audience through, they also give you a little 101 fact sheet at the start, and it’s an entertaining adventure to watch/be part of, regardless. By the end of the show, newbies will ultimately have a greater understanding of the workings and loreof D&D.
How long is D&D The Twenty-Sided Tavern Sydney show?
It’s 2.5 hours, with a 20-minute intermission.
How do audience members interact with the actors in D&D The Twenty-Sided Tavern?
You scan a QR code and that takes you on your phone to an interactive, user-friendly web page that pops up polls and games that let you help decide what happens next. You don’t spend the whole show on your phone – you just grab it at key moments when you’re directed to do so. There is also a lot of yelling – and yes, audience involvement up on stage (but only for keen beans – there’s no coercion to get up if you’re awkward about it).
Tickets for Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern is on now at the Opera House, until March 8, 2025, and tickets are available over here.
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