The acclaimed immersive theatre company Punchdrunk has boldly stepped into a new realm, launching a groundbreaking multiplayer experience that blends live action with video game mechanics. Titled Lander 23, this innovative production is now running at the company's headquarters in Woolwich, south-east London, until 10 May 2026.
A Theatrical Giant Embraces Gameplay
While Punchdrunk is world-renowned for sprawling, free-roaming productions like The Burnt City and The Drowned Man, where masked audiences explore intricate worlds alone, Lander 23 marks a significant shift. Inspired directly by video games, this experience requires active teamwork and strategy from its participants, moving away from solitary exploration to coordinated mission-based play.
Photographer Tristram Kenton was granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access to capture the intense, atmospheric action of this new venture. The project is directed and designed by Punchdrunk's founder, Felix Barrett, who co-directs with Kath Duggan and Joel Scott. The co-designers are Livi Vaughan and Beatrice Minns.
How The Immersive Game Unfolds
Participants are briefed before being split into teams of four, which are then divided into two distinct squads with interdependent roles. The 'fields' physically navigate a treacherous alien landscape, while the 'drivers' are stationed in a control room on a mothership. Using a console that tracks the fields' locations, the drivers provide crucial navigation instructions and warn of impending dangers.
All players wear special vests and audio equipment to communicate across the divide. The mission is clear: explore the unfamiliar planet to extract a precious new energy source called 'radiance' for the Lander Division of the Centre for Astrobiology. The narrative hook is that the crew of Lander 23 has just gone missing, and players must work to avoid the same fate.
Stealth, Strategy, and High Stakes
This is fundamentally a stealth game. The 'fields' on the ground must avoid detection by torch-wielding enemy guards, with each player given only three lives; a life is lost if they are spotted. The tension is palpable in the control room as drivers race against time to guide their teammates to gather enough energy before a forced departure from the planet.
After the first mission, players swap roles, ensuring everyone experiences both perspectives. The experience demands quick thinking and seamless cooperation. Success is measured on a scoreboard revealed at the end, adding a competitive edge to the theatrical immersion.
The production's distinctive atmosphere is crafted by a talented team: lighting design by Felix Barrett and Sarah Readman, sound design by Gareth Fry, video design by Bruno Cordeiro, and game system creation by Meaning Machine.
By merging the visceral, live nature of theatre with the structured teamwork and objectives of video gaming, Punchdrunk's Lander 23 represents a compelling evolution of immersive entertainment, offering London audiences a uniquely collaborative and adrenaline-fuelled adventure.
