Inside the land of Shakespeare

Generations have revered the line of dramatic masterpieces. Emotion is projected from printed pages. Audiences are wrapped into stories that are, hundreds of years later, still eerily relatable. There is a certain awe that comes in your first glimpse of the brilliance in his work. Brash, razor sharp, and fluid. You wonder what it was like inside his head.

Sleep No More puts you physically inside the raw ferocity Shakespeare’s creativity.      

What is Sleep No More?

An Immersive performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In New York, a cast of high caliber dancers create a silent, noir-esq rendition of the classic work. Taking place through the entirety of the 100,000 square feet McKittrick Hotel set, actors sprint across rooms and tumble down stairs as the audience rushes to follow.

Three rules for the show:  No talking, No phones, No removing your mask.

These are the instructions given to participants upon entering Sleep No More.

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What it’s really like:

When you walk in you’ll want to find actors to follow as their performance moves. The show does not happen in one place but rather…

…in many places at once. Actors have different paths they follow through the hotel as the story proceeds.

You’re given a white mask that helps you -and the performers- differentiate between those observing and those acting. In high energy scenes actors have a split second to choose where to position the action; both for the audience and for the safety of those performing punishing stunts.

The 3 hour long show is grueling for the actors. There is no off stage and the story is told through dance and motion rather than dialogue, performers have to maintain a nearly superhuman level of physical health.

Within the revolution of immersive entertainment, Sleep No More is a pioneering performance. Mostly passive in relation to the actors, occasionally a lucky audience member will be selected to help dispose of a body or to participate in a one-on-one. The set, however, is indescribably detailed. You can let the show drift away while you explore the veritable labrinth that frames this otherworldly drama.   

Reports from the front lines of Immersion Nation are saying that performers will select audiences members for one-on-one experiences based on body language, amongst other things. Certain scenes aren’t designed for a train of guests positioning for the best view. One-on-one’s allow the story to take on a different dimension for those lucky enough to be picked.

The Hotel is also home to a rooftop restaurant, Gallow Green. The Club Car, and the Manderley Bar serve as themed event venues with their own entertainment lineup and with atmospheric context that matches The Mckittrick’s overall vibe. Emursive, formed to execute the New York location of London based Punchdrunk’s theatrical impetus, Sleep No More. An immense weight of creative talent transformed the once abandoned warehouse into The McKittrick Hotel.