Overview
Thrills, mystery, eeriness, feeling unsettled while sat inside a shipping container: that's all on the agenda in Melbourne again when Darkfield returns to the Victorian capital with two of its popular — and unnerving — installations. The Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt is welcoming the atmospheric Séance and Flight, which have earned a cult following on previous visits here, around the countries and overseas — and regularly sell out, with more than 300,000 Australians stepping inside to-date.
Entering these metal boxes is one way to escape the summer sunshine, or whatever Melbourne's weather has in store for three months from mid-December 2024 onwards. Séance and Flight open on Friday, December 13, aka the perfect date for it — and consider them the perfect way to get a break from festive cheer, too.
Séance plays on the concept of sensory deprivation, thrusting audiences on a journey into the supernatural realm as they join a medium in trying to contact the spirit world. Accordingly, unlike most shipping containers around the place, this one definitely isn't being used to transport furniture. Given that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black, it's more than a little ominous from before you even walk through the door.
Participants will be able to take a seat inside, and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness — and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past.
As the name suggests, Flight takes place on board an imagined plane, sending passengers tripping through dual worlds as they're forced to ponder the many possible outcomes if the cabin suddenly happened to lose pressure. This is a nerve-jangler, for sure, even for those who aren't afraid of flying.
You won't actually be jetting anywhere, of course; however you will be strapping yourself into a section of a real commercial airliner. Created by Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, Flight draws upon the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics while taking attendees on a multi-sensory journey.
"We didn't think a return to Melbourne would be on the cards, but while Darkfield has been on tour, Melbournians have been all over our socials asking when it's their turn again. So we knew we had to bring fan-favourites Séance and Flight back to our home city for another season," said Realscape Productions Producer Amy Johnson.
"The productions are ideal for anyone who loves the thrill of multi-sensory entertainment, and immersing themselves in the unknown. They are playing in the heart of Melbourne's entertainment precinct at the city's most lively time of the year, so they're the perfect option for a fun date night, pre-dinner experience or post-tennis thrill."
Find Séance and Flight at the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, from Friday, December 13, 2024. For further information and to buy tickets, head to the Darkfield website.
Images: Realscape Productions, Axis Productions, Mihaela Bodlovic and Jack Rintoul.