Review: PHANTOM PEAK - STARLIT SUMMER

Photo credit: Alistair Veryard

Entering its third year, Phantom Peak is truly an immersive theatrical experience like no other. And with its brand new season ‘Starlit Summer’ open now, bringing with it a whole host of brand new characters, quests, and things to explore, it is sure to entertain both returning guests and brand new faces within its unique open world layout.

Audiences enter through “the rift” into a fully realised indoor and outdoor town (the titular Phantom Peak), and after an opening ceremony conducted by the town’s Mayor that gives an insight into the lore of the town and its inhabitants, you are free to take in the four-hour experience, however you wish, to win tokens for one of three teams within the audience.

And where perhaps other immersive experiences have fallen short in the past, by feeling too prescriptive, promising freedom yet ushering you into a pre-decided path, Phantom Peak truly excels; one has the option to either take on quests via an internet app that chooses - at random - one of many interconnected storylines to be completed at your own pace within the four-hour time slot (offering up another to complete if you finish with time to spare), or sign up for and attend scheduled events throughout the evening; such as the ‘Phantom Peak Olympics’. The village is also equipped with a restaurant to take as many breaks as you’d like. Your journey is yours to choose, and we can only advise that the more energy you put into your experience, the more you’ll get out of it.

Whichever path you take, it isn’t long before even the most sceptic of audiences are fully immersed and invested in the storylines and characters of Phantom Peak, especially after a signature cocktail or two from the town’s in-universe saloon bar! We caught ourselves talking nonsense sentences like our lives depended on it as we hurried from one end of the town to the other to stop a gang of evil raccoons from detonating a bomb inside the offices of “Spectre”. And that is just one of the many adventures available! Every aspect of this world is constructed perfectly to allow for total immersion.

The ensemble cast of townsfolk are all utterly exceptional, able to work with any audience members, improvising with absolute ease and offering a unique experience to anyone they come across. We really recommend approaching as many members of the cast as you can if you’re to attend, as you never know what side quest they may send you on, and what rewards it may yield.

The realisation of the Phantom Peak world is so whole and complete that it feels almost odd to name Glen Hughes as a “set designer”. This is not just a “set”, it is another dimension, full of incredible detail from posters on a notice board to hidden props and easter eggs that may only be noticed on repeat visits. We cannot wait to return to this world and hope that you book your tickets as soon as possible, Besties!

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

Phantom Peak: Starlit Summer (Canada Street, Surrey Quays Road London, SE16 7PJ) is currently booking until 15 September, with further info here.