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How Punchdrunk conquered Manhattan How Punchdrunk conquered Manhattan
(5 months later)
They came, they saw and they conquered the hearts of the notoriously discerning audiences of New York. As the experimental "immersive" dance-drama troupe Punchdrunk prepares to return to Britain this summer, where the company will embark on a high-profile collaboration with the National Theatre, luminaries of New York's alternative scene are lavish in their tributes.They came, they saw and they conquered the hearts of the notoriously discerning audiences of New York. As the experimental "immersive" dance-drama troupe Punchdrunk prepares to return to Britain this summer, where the company will embark on a high-profile collaboration with the National Theatre, luminaries of New York's alternative scene are lavish in their tributes.
"They made an important stamp on the New York scene and had a tonic effect on US artists. They've really shaken things up here, fuelling the rise of immersive theatre," said Mark Russell, director of the New York Public Theatre's annual Under the Radar festival, which focuses on new, avant-garde work."They made an important stamp on the New York scene and had a tonic effect on US artists. They've really shaken things up here, fuelling the rise of immersive theatre," said Mark Russell, director of the New York Public Theatre's annual Under the Radar festival, which focuses on new, avant-garde work.
Sleep No More, Punchdrunk's take on Macbeth in which cast and audience mingle, and which contains no dialogue, created an unexpected sensation in New York. Initially scheduled for six weeks, it has been running for more than two years, almost unheard of for an Off Broadway show from overseas.Sleep No More, Punchdrunk's take on Macbeth in which cast and audience mingle, and which contains no dialogue, created an unexpected sensation in New York. Initially scheduled for six weeks, it has been running for more than two years, almost unheard of for an Off Broadway show from overseas.
The announcement that Punchdrunk's next artistic project is with the National, while Sleep No More continues uninterrupted in New York, has been welcomed warmly. The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable will be based on the play Woyzeck by German playwright Georg Büchner. The National and Punchdrunk have yet to announce the "secret" location in London, where the production will open in June.The announcement that Punchdrunk's next artistic project is with the National, while Sleep No More continues uninterrupted in New York, has been welcomed warmly. The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable will be based on the play Woyzeck by German playwright Georg Büchner. The National and Punchdrunk have yet to announce the "secret" location in London, where the production will open in June.
Russell said: "I'm really excited that their next step is yet more new, artistic and challenging theatre. It would probably have been easier to turn out things similar to Sleep No More, given its success, but they're making a brave move that is more of the adventurous programming that's marked Nicholas Hytner's tenure at the National."Russell said: "I'm really excited that their next step is yet more new, artistic and challenging theatre. It would probably have been easier to turn out things similar to Sleep No More, given its success, but they're making a brave move that is more of the adventurous programming that's marked Nicholas Hytner's tenure at the National."
Punchdrunk first put on Sleep No More in London in 2003. Despite it being a hit, there was no guarantee that it could be repeated across the Atlantic.Punchdrunk first put on Sleep No More in London in 2003. Despite it being a hit, there was no guarantee that it could be repeated across the Atlantic.
The rules for the audience to wear masks and remain silent intrigued celebrities from Matt Damon to Natalie Portman and Justin Timberlake, who were reportedly thrilled to move around incognito and unhindered at the show.The rules for the audience to wear masks and remain silent intrigued celebrities from Matt Damon to Natalie Portman and Justin Timberlake, who were reportedly thrilled to move around incognito and unhindered at the show.
Many New York dwellers have turned the show into a regular ritual with die-hard fans attending 25 times or more. On some websites the show has featured on must-see lists, alongside the Statue of Liberty and the Guggenheim Museum.Many New York dwellers have turned the show into a regular ritual with die-hard fans attending 25 times or more. On some websites the show has featured on must-see lists, alongside the Statue of Liberty and the Guggenheim Museum.
Queueing to get into the show, Canadian tourist Dylan Lisaway, 21, said he had read about Sleep No More on a travel blog. "Generally speaking, I don't go for weird things but it sounded so wild and fun I just had to try it," he said.Queueing to get into the show, Canadian tourist Dylan Lisaway, 21, said he had read about Sleep No More on a travel blog. "Generally speaking, I don't go for weird things but it sounded so wild and fun I just had to try it," he said.
Last summer, Punchdrunk's production company partner, New York-based Emursive, put a roof bar on the McKittrick hotel, where the show is running, where patrons can drink with or without seeing the show. This year it has opened a "secret dining" experience on an interior floor, where diners must "expect the unexpected".Last summer, Punchdrunk's production company partner, New York-based Emursive, put a roof bar on the McKittrick hotel, where the show is running, where patrons can drink with or without seeing the show. This year it has opened a "secret dining" experience on an interior floor, where diners must "expect the unexpected".
"It crosses so many genres. This is reaching people who don't read the theatre pages but want to know where the coolest new bar is. They come for a drink but then are wooed and want to see the show," said Randy Weiner, who runs Emursive and is a co-founder of one of New York's most edgy nightclubs, the Box."It crosses so many genres. This is reaching people who don't read the theatre pages but want to know where the coolest new bar is. They come for a drink but then are wooed and want to see the show," said Randy Weiner, who runs Emursive and is a co-founder of one of New York's most edgy nightclubs, the Box.
He saw Punchdrunk's Masque of the Red Death in London in 2007 and decided the company must bring a show to New York. "It's reached new people. Kanye West will put on a mask and experience Sleep No More but he probably isn't going to go to see Macbeth in Stratford-upon-Avon," said Weiner.He saw Punchdrunk's Masque of the Red Death in London in 2007 and decided the company must bring a show to New York. "It's reached new people. Kanye West will put on a mask and experience Sleep No More but he probably isn't going to go to see Macbeth in Stratford-upon-Avon," said Weiner.
Arts experts credit the New York production of Sleep No More with engineering immersive theatre on a larger, more sophisticated scale than works that have gone before, expanding it exponentially but also giving a welcome boost to the niche genre of contemporary dance.Arts experts credit the New York production of Sleep No More with engineering immersive theatre on a larger, more sophisticated scale than works that have gone before, expanding it exponentially but also giving a welcome boost to the niche genre of contemporary dance.
"By taking words away, it's bringing dance and movement as an art form to an audience that often hasn't been drawn to it. It's a gift for the dance world – which is not usually associated with such long runs," said prominent New York choreographer Doug Varone."By taking words away, it's bringing dance and movement as an art form to an audience that often hasn't been drawn to it. It's a gift for the dance world – which is not usually associated with such long runs," said prominent New York choreographer Doug Varone.
Meanwhile, the bar and nightclub spin-offs from Sleep No More that help to finance the show will never be allowed to overshadow the artistic production, Weiner said. "It's not about making money, it's about bringing new people to see the show," he said, while acknowledging the extra income was useful because "when a show can't pay its way, it closes".Meanwhile, the bar and nightclub spin-offs from Sleep No More that help to finance the show will never be allowed to overshadow the artistic production, Weiner said. "It's not about making money, it's about bringing new people to see the show," he said, while acknowledging the extra income was useful because "when a show can't pay its way, it closes".
And the danger of the show's reputation as a tourist attraction melting its cool? "It's not about who comes to the event, it's about what the event is," said Weiner.And the danger of the show's reputation as a tourist attraction melting its cool? "It's not about who comes to the event, it's about what the event is," said Weiner.
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