Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Cell Block Two-One-Two, London
Hidden behind unassuming shutters deep within the capital lies Alcotraz London, also known as Cell Block Two-One-Two – a secret speakeasy prison cocktail bar. What makes this clink a little more bearable? Well, successfully smuggle in liquor past the Warden and get it to the hands of Alcotraz’s canteen-working inmates who will serve you up delicious, bespoke cocktails. What are you waiting for? Line up below the metal detector and be ready to enter Cell Block Two-One-Two!
Alcotraz is an immersive experience like no other. From being placed in a holding cell the moment you enter the building, to processing and donning the iconic orange jumpsuits before being led through the bleak stone corridors into cleverly designed prison cells, it really feels like you’re spending the afternoon behind bars.
Prior to attending the experience, you are instructed to bring a spirit of your choice which you then smuggle in with you and hand off to the prison canteen’s genius mixologist team who handcraft four bespoke cocktails for you throughout your experience.
The first character we meet is Slick, (Tremont Deigh) a high-profile prisoner entrusted with briefing new prisoners on the rules, which were there to be broken, and which weren’t. We are then taken to meet Guard Gil (Heather Williams) who issues the orange jumpsuits explains how to get contraband past the Warden. It’s then time to march single file down the halls to the prison’s cell block where you get assigned your cells and the drinks start flowing. The experience is a mixture of scripted scenes between the characters, improvised interactions between the actors and audience, and entertaining puzzles and tasks to aid the story along its way. We also meet Cassidy (Natalie Govea), an inmate of the prison, and later, Carly Hendricks as her lawyer.
Stand out performances were Heather‘s aloof and dim witted Officer Gil, an absolute heart stealer of a character. She truly had me feeling compelled to help and protective against the Warden’s harsh treatment of her. Victoria Sasso puts on a magnificent performance as the powerful badass Warden, causing genuine fear and intimidation and injecting atmosphere into every scene and interaction.
Due to the nature of immersive theatre, there are multiple occasions where the story or activity will differ between participants, leaving them all having had slightly different experiences which allows for a refreshing and individual visit for every audience member.
Inventive Productions actually have four different immersive experiences running simultaneously across London, and most of the actors will play multiple characters across more than one of these. So all 5 roles could be played by any of a company of 50+ performers, on a rotating basis. This structure creates an environment that’s always fresh and playful, as you’re unlikely to see the same combination of performers in the same roles twice. I’d love to go again in the future and see what the different dynamics between performers add to the story.
As a non-drinker, I was taken very good care of, provided with a variety of delicious mocktails and did not for a second feel like I was missing anything, despite it being marketed as a cocktail bar experience. Alcotraz makes for a fantastic day or evening out with mates. It definitely warrants plenty of repeat visits, with each trip feeling as new and exciting as the first and it’s the perfect thing to do this summer!
The Warden demands that you book your tickets immediately and trust me, you do NOT want to defy them.
You can book tickets to Alcotraz, here.
Review by Rachel
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