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Punch drunk Poe

Edgar Allan Poe's mysterious novels go central stage in an amazing london production

I hate the theatre. I dislike sitting for a long time watching people pulling faces, ever worried they’ll call me up on stage.

But, when I got free tickets to see the Masque of The Red Death I didn’t think twice about going. A passionate fan of Edgar Allen Poe, the thought of watching nine of his stories performed by the renowned British company Punchdrunk was just irresistible.

Upon setting foot in the old Battersea Town Hall - completely redecorated to look like a 19th Century mansion - a host asks you to don a mask and proceed, wandering the house and its innumerous rooms and corridors. The only advice: to keep quiet.

And it’s this combination of masks and silence that gives the public the sensation that they’re the part of some secret cult; powerful, successful people in an atmosphere in which everything within reach is there to fulfi ll our personal pleasure. Which isn’t far from the truth. According to some critics, the show privileges Londoners due to its high cost.

Criticisms aside, Punchdrunk, which includes two Brasilians, Fernanda Prata and Vinicius Salles, have created a fascinating piece of work. If I could really let myself go, I’d defi nitely go back again. There are so many rooms, smells, atmospheres and stories, it’s almost impossible to keep up
with everything. I wound up in a bar, asked for champagne and ended up watching the excellent cabaret acts on show.

Due to the play’s incredible success, the company extended their run until April. Take our advice and save up some money, invite someone special and go on a Friday or Saturday, when, after the performance, the venue turns into a burlesque night, complete with live band and performances into the early hours. Jungle's guarantee: it’s an unforgettable experience. JD