Review: PLYMOUTH POINT, Swamp Motel
Swamp Motel are at the top of their game when it comes to theatrical innovation and this is more than demonstrated in the first part of their new London Stone trilogy, Plymouth Point.
Helmed by Punchdrunk Creative Associates and co-founders of comedy theatre group Kill The Beast, Ollie Jones and Clem Garrity, these award-winning theatre makers have created a thrilling, gripping, interactive experience that blurs the boundaries between theatre, film and gaming.
A young woman goes missing and you are invited to an emergency briefing as a resident of Plymouth Point, headed up by the girl’s neighbour Katherine Stewart. By using modern means of technology and online resources, you must follow the clues and unlock evidence to help find her. But is all as it seems?
Designed for 2-6 players, the experience is held via Zoom whereby members of the team communicate with one another by screen and audio sharing. Entirely online, Plymouth Point is timely being available during the national lockdown that the UK is currently enveloped in, and is the perfect way to spend time with friends, family or work colleagues who you are unable to see at present.
From the get-go, the tone of the piece is set and stakes are high, with the visible timer a constant reminder that you are on the clock. Whilst predominantly left to your own investigative means, Katherine Stewart (aka a member of the Swamp Motel production team) can communicate with you via the chat function, just in case you vere too far off course.
There is a superb narrative as you navigate your way through websites, hack into emails and social media sites, watch videos, make phone calls and break into ‘secure’ business portals to obtain clues about the young woman’s whereabouts. The attention to detail and level of research that has gone into designing this piece is astonishing. This is evident when you are immersed in the experience but is even more mind-blowing on reflection.
Plymouth Point can definitely be enjoyed as a singular entity as it rounds off to an incredibly tense yet satisfying conclusion. However, it cleverly leaves you wanting more and has clearly been designed with this effect in mind.
A phenomenal feat has been achieved with Plymouth Point and here at WEBF HQ, we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in the next two experiences of the London Stone trilogy to see what happens next!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Jenny Ell
Plymouth Point is available to play in the UK until 1 April 2021 and in the US until 1 May 2021. To book tickets, please click here.
