Abandon – An Immersive Experience is an immersive performance piece that takes you on the ride of a lifetime.

Back Door Productions brings the story of a missing young girl to the halls of After Dark. As the production begins the audience wanders the layout of the venue, trying to piece together their own idea or assumptions of the production before the performance commences.

Chuckles and whispers were exchanged as the audience notices lighting differences, set placements, and the incredible bar at the front of the exhibit which sold refreshments and paper fans.

The venue was set up in a similar way to an art exhibition, seats left bare for the performances about to commence and areas waiting to be filled by the cast members when the production began.

As the audience gathers, the lights dim and a voice echoes throughout the space and calls to the audience. A news reporter announces that a young girl is missing and it is up to the audience to help search for her and piece together what occurred – why did the young girl run away from home? Was she taken? And by who…or what?

Audience members veered off into groups for accessibility and as the immersion commenced, we realised that the performance was split up in six spaces/scenes – the main room, a psychiatrist office, a ‘fear’ room, loungeroom with a secret, an open space for a contemporary dance piece, and a dinning room scene.

Each space – depending on when you entered/viewed each individual scene – developed and got progressively more intense as the performance moved along. Audience members who watched a scene first would get a different experience than the others who saw it last – some performances which included the missing girl.

The acting within the piece was intriguing and engaging - from the psychiatrist and best friend of the lost girl to the demon waiting to take advantage of those who trespassed against them. The contemporary dance piece in one of the rooms was also incredible to watch and left a lot of the audience in awe and partial confusion which added to the experience more – the things you’ll find while searching.

Abandon was an enjoyable performance art piece which utilised immersive theatre concepts and I can’t wait to see what Back Door Productions creates next!