Lost Origin is a new immersive show from Factory 42 (Hold the World with David Attenborough VR, Painting the Future with the Royal Academy, and the immersive version of English National Ballet’s Giselle), alongside Almeida Theatre and Sky.
Lost Origin is an interactive experience where the participants, in teams of six, must work together and against the clock with one mission: to covertly enter the headquarters of Origin, a warehouse in Hoxton, recently revealed to be a front for an illegal dark web marketplace.
It is exciting to be part of this mission and explore the different rooms, guided by one of the characters: the most thrilling factor of these immersive shows is the sense of unpredictability and constant tension – you never know what is going to happen and what or who you will meet on your way.
The set dressing is perfect, each room is beautifully designed, with plenty of things to explore.
Where this performance falls short is the purpose of the plot, the suspense and the conclusion. The story doesn’t have much substance, nor a strong ending.
The actors give their all and are completely committed to their roles, but the use of augmented reality is limited to a few minutes, and I was probably expecting something more, knowing that the show is funded within the Audience of the Future programme by UK Research and Innovation through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
Factory 42 has achieved a well-crafted and well-executed 60 minutes absorbing and fun immersive experience. It opens to audiences on 21 November 2021 for an exclusive limited run until 4 December.
Photo: Seamus Ryan