Arcade Archives - North West End UK

Stepping into ‘Arcade’ at Darkfield’s shipping container village feels like entering another realm entirely. You are walked into a brightly lit container, handed a headset, plugged into an arcade style game unit and then plunged into complete darkness. Suddenly you are surrounded by the hum of machines, the click of coins, and a disembodied voice that seems to know way too much about you. It is immersive theatre stripped to its essence, with no visuals and no visible actors, yet it feels completely cinematic and totally immersive. The sound design is remarkable, creating a 360-degree world of nostalgia, menace, fear and intrigue that makes your pulse quicken even though nothing traditional is taking place. ‘Arcade’ plays with ideas of memory and control, turning a simple arcade game...

Set within a fully sealed and completely dark and sound-proofed container outside Summerhall, as a half-hour filler I have no problem with this at all. Personally, I might prefer a recumbent half-hour with a yoga track, but as a decompression from the sometimes over-whelming sights and sounds of the Fringe, this works either way. You certainly have more agency than previous container experiences I have had, you have a button to make choices yes or no, you have a token (use it wisely!) and a slot to put it in. Of course, there are multiple ways the storyline can twist and turn and for hardened arcade fans this might need multiple outings. The audible experience is excellent as is the haptic feedback. At one point, when your partner is wasted right beside you, you experience a s...

Tag: Arcade

Arcade at Darkfield – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Arcade – Summerhall Terrace