REVIEW: STOREHOUSE IMMERSIVE SHOW at Deptford Storehouse until 20 September 2025
'Fantastic visuals' ★★ 1/2
Ah, 'immersive theatre'. Words that fill me with the same dread as 'replacement bus service', 'leisure centre' and 'here's the new song by Maroon 5'. That's not to say that, when done well, immersive theatre can't be challenging and fun (see Punchdrunk and Secret Cinema) but I've been around the block a few times and when it's bad, it's very very bad.
As a proud South East London resident I am fundamentally delighted that the production company Sage & Jester have set their first foray into the genre, in a decent sized warehouse in the murky depths of Deptford / New Cross. The step from slightly scary estate to charming grassland with a long range view of the 'Storehouse' is a strong start - it's a great vista. And, indeed, all of the visuals are fantastic through my 90 minute stay - it's just everything else that just doesn't work.
The story goes that Storehouse is an 'underground' archive holding all of humanity's published missives and has been in place since the internet changed our lives in 1983. The worries and stress that all this data brings was supposed to have been alleviated on 1 January 2025 - I'm not entirely sure how or why - but it hasn't and thus the Storehouse has entrusted its guests ('Trustees' as we are known) to identify what is going wrong and why. Books are suddenly looking chewy and marked, the ceilings are leaking ink, there are strange voices emitting from the walls and worrying messages are spotted everywhere. The Trustees are led through a few rooms, some characters drift in and out, there's a lot of standing about and a 'big' finish which brings two groups and more characters together. What did it all add up to? A load of hokum, alas.
Seemingly inspired by the creator Liana Patarkatsishvili's life experiences and her being troubled by how the public can be manipulated by information / disinformation, this is a timely and resonant opportunity to ask some big questions around truth and belief. Between them, however, six writers have come up with a narrative that switches between the ridiculously and boringly complex, and the 'and-then-this-happened' simplicity. I'm sorry to say that some of the dialogue was plain daft and the actors, whilst doing their best, are either over-compensating through over-acting or come and go as to be pointless (the great Scott Karim appeared right at the start for 2 minutes and was never seen again; I did like Elizabeth Hollingshead who had all the best lines). Some famous faces - Meera Syal and Toby Jones included - have given their voices to the project but we're never quite clear who and what they are - indeed, a fellow 'Trustee' just kept pointing at photos of Toby Jones and quite correctly saying 'that's Toby Jones'. Aside from a nice running joke involving 80's music, the whole thing was pretty humourless and more than a bit dull.
But....the visuals are ecstatically good. The rooms are beautifully curated and the whole space is lit like a Christmas fairytale with elements of darkness and fear. The sound is multi-layered and always interesting, although at times just too much is going on and quieter moments are buried or lost. A good deal of money has been spent here and the creative team led by Sophie Larsmon take us on a journey that ultimately reveals the scale of Storehouse and it's quite a moment, only let down by the story itself just fizzing out. There's a final 'wow' when the Trustees exit through the inevitable bar onto the Thames - very cool.
Storehouse has a few months to run and I don't know what plans Sage & Jester have beyond this show. The potential to do something amazing is there in the right hands as the space is terrific but it needs the right story - and that's the truth.
Times
Wed – Fri: 6pm & 8pm
Saturday: 3pm, 5pm & 8pm
Sunday: 12pm, 2pm & 5pm
Running time: approx. 90 minutes, no interval
Creatives
Liana Patarkatsishvili
Founder and Concept Creator
Sophie Larsmon
Creative Director
Zoe Snow
Executive Producer
Rosalyn Newbery
Lead Producer
Alice Helps
Production Designer
James Bulley
Sound Designer
Ben Donoghue
Lighting Designer
Donnacadh O’Briain
Story Producer
Tristan Bernays
Co-Writer
Sonali Bhattacharyya
Co-Writer
Kathryn Bond
Co-Writer
Katie Lyons
Co-Writer
Anna Meredith, Sinemis Buyuka & James Bulley
Original Compositions
Caro Murphy
Co-Writer
Rhik Samadder
Co-Writer
Beth Pitts
Associate Director
Sophie Drake
Dramaturg
Julie Belinda Landau
Costume Designer
Images: Helen Murray
