Mansion An immersive theatre experience by Electric Goldfish

Horror Features
Rob Daniel
November 7, 2021
0
670
5 minutes read

To begin, a confession: I have always avoided immersive theatre experiences. The thought of being part of the play appealed as much as being forced onstage in a pair of undies then told to do Macbeth. Kudos then to the Manchester based Electric Goldfish theatre company for their entertaining haunted house experience, Mansion.

Over 40-minutes, an historical tour of a sprawling, dilapidated house becomes a dance macabre involving wayward spirits, occultist sects and a dark stab at eternal life.

Honestly speaking, I thought that finding the place was part of the immersive experience. The event was held at Antwerp Mansion, located a couple of miles outside Manchester city centre, and Google Maps was showing me no route in. Three young women I bumped into wandering the streets near the venue were also having this problem. Our journey took us down a back alley behind a row of takeaway burger and kebab joints, and one of the women asked if this was part of the experience and was I an Electric Goldfish plant!

With minutes to spare we found a half open gate that led onto the Antwerp grounds. Sensing this place had the expected vibe, we stepped through. Appropriately, the large, ill-lit house, unkempt grounds, and fire burning in an oil drum resembled a terrifying 1970s PSA about not trespassing in condemned buildings. Most likely narrated by Donald Pleasance or Tom Baker.

The interior of Antwerp Mansion also lent heavily into this. Often used for gigs and club nights, the large function halls, impressive staircase, cluttered rooms, disused pianos and organs, and ubiquitous graffiti all make the house a prime horror movie setting. How many low-budget indies and short films must be turned away each year?

My group consisted of nine brave souls, aged from mid-50s to late teens. The framing story had a confused nightwatchman (Dean Marsh) calling on the historical tour guide (James Holman) to give an impromptu run through the house, despite us arriving on the wrong night.

Fanciful information on the rundown building and its past inhabitants was drip fed during the tour. Covering horror stalwarts (tragic and suspicious deaths, bizarre cults, demonic pacts), this unfolding story was nicely woven into the experience, so the final shock carried a pleasantly fiendish punch.

But, the primary attraction of an event such as Mansion is how well it works as an immersive piece. Thankfully, really rather well, with Electric Goldfish imaginatively using the various spaces across two floors and a basement. An initial bit of scene setting occurs while standing on that impressive winding staircase, which echoes a 1940s Gothic movie (with added spray paint graffiti adorning the walls).

Set decoration and lighting in the smaller rooms was designed for maximum creep out. A low lit bedroom brimming with unnerving toys and a girl silently gliding back and forth on a swing was particularly memorable. Becloaked figures dancing in a large ballroom carried an Eyes Wide Shut frisson (minus the orgy naughtiness). During this sequence the group sat amongst the hooded cast, which was surprisingly creepy for something that everyone knew was theatre.

Part of the fun was, after a few unexpected shocks, checking out each new room for hiding places that may be housing a waiting actor. Although the ghost train laughs outweighed the scares, Mansion did pack a couple of genuine jolts. Plus, a sense of dread created by that most simple of techniques: turning off the lights. The basement-set climax also carried a Blair Witch vibe, as we descended a stone staircase.

Occasional glimpses behind the curtain could be spotted: an actor popping their head out to see if we’d moved on; a slightly missed cue on butterflies tumbling down from the ceiling. But, these too contributed to this being a performance on the move, ambitiously planned to cover a significant amount of ground. An omnipresent ambient soundtrack created by the theatre troupe wafted through hidden speakers, and tied the whole experience together.

Holman made for an effective tour guide, also slipping into another character during a quick lights-out costume change. As a Mistress of (Occult) Ceremonies in that large ballroom, Nina Tolstoy was appropriately imposing as she delivered a foreboding monologue that led into the final act. Andrew Jordan seasoned an appropriately juicy slice of ham as a cult member who may rue what he wished for.

At 40-minutes, Mansion was well-designed, confidently played, and boasted a healthy fun-to-fright ratio. It was also ultimately light on audience interaction, which can only be a good thing…

Movie Rating: