London – The Perfect Crime: an immersive theatre, game-like experience

You’ve got 60 minutes to carry out the perfect crime: steal the most expensive painting in the world! Think laser matrix, cracking security codes, tricking high tech locks, disabling alarms and dodging security guards – very Ocean’s 11…or indeed Pierce Brosnan’s Thomas Crown Affair. Either which way, your imagination will be more than stretched. So, gamers listen-up: this should be right up your street. Blagging our way through the process, our presenter Claudia Peifer, pretended to be a replacement cleaner on an extra shift, tried to be a gymnast and faked being a security guard herself.

It is an incredible labyrinth of never ending challenges, starting in a storage cupboard. From there, you’re expected to master a proper obstacle course until you might (or might not) get your hands on the loot, trying to beat the system undetected. The Perfect Crime is the latest theatrical adventure created by the guys behind Heist and The Crystal Maze’s Live Experience. It’s interactive nature brings out the best (or the worst) in you and is a fantastic exercise for team building and sticking it out until the end #mustgo (theperfectcrime.co.uk)

The Perfect Crime – The Story

Back in 1990, the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston suffered a major theft: 2 of the most valuable paintings were stolen, one being The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt, and other was The Concert by Vermeer. With the FBI offering a reward of $1 Million, no information has come forward so far to this day. The amazing thing is, that on the Black Market, their estimated worth is around $100 Million, so the perfect heist to get your hands on one of those paintings would indeed be a worth your while. Forget even thinking about claiming the rewards money – that wouldn’t be ‘playing the game’.

The plot spins around breaking into the storage of a veteran thief, based in London. The bar is the meeting point at the hideaway, and Baroque (your host) will explain the start point to you and what awaits thereafter. You’ll be equipped with a walkie-talkie, and your mate on the outside is your only link to guide you to the next steps. You are utterly dependant on him, as he is also able to see the monitors that follow the movements of the security guards. Other than that, you’re on your own…or at least you need to rely on your team members, if you’re in a gang.

Rogue Productions

Rogue Productions is a theatre company that created interactive games and theatrical experiences. Their audiences are expected to participate in whatever plot they’ve set on solving or action to be carried out. What you can be sure of is, that every show is an adventure, testing the punter to the core. They want their visitors to be part of the story, challenging their character and imagination, using the power of play and immersion to turn the audience into heroes, or Rogues, themselves. Apart fromf their public events, they are award winning creators of independent work as well, taking on commissions and for brands and company institutions – interesting stuff.

The Director – The Producer

DEAN RODGERS, the show’s director, is an absolute pioneer of immersive entertainment. His experience is extensive, having been the co-creator and co-director of the famous immersive experience called Heist, and the game & experience designer of Time Run: The Lance of Longinus, which is widely regarded as one of the best escape games in Europe. He’s also the co-founder of The Crystal Maze: Live Experience, and explains what The Perfect Crime is all about for the punter ahead of our experience on film.

ORAN DOYLE, the show’s producer, has many years of experience on jobs spanning the UK, Europe and America. His projects include works for the Historic Royal Palaces and productions like Les Enfants Terribles. He is also the creative director at Third Folly, a multidisciplinary arts company, creating works and events for heritage spaces. As a visiting lecturer at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, he is also active in training young actors and other emerging talent.