Darkfield Sydney offers a fantastic mind-bending experience in just 25 minutes.
Rating: 5/5
Darkfield, the mind-bending audio experience that started in Melbourne and has taken the world by storm, is back in Sydney, and it’s every bit as terrifying, exhilarating and entertaining as everyone says it is.
Stepping into the pitch-black shipping container, where the only light comes from the glow of your headphones, is like entering another dimension. The pre-amble of warmings from the staff beforehand actually made me feel more afraid than I needed to be.
The 360-degree binaural sound is so immersive that you’ll swear you can feel the cold metal of the plane fuselage against your skin or the dampness of the cellar walls around you.
I had the pleasure of experiencing all fours shows; Eulogy, Coma, Séance and Flight, and it often felt like an out of body experience. Whilst they’re not for the faint of heart – they are not overly scary.
Eulogy is a twisted exploration of life after death (I think – the story lines of all of the shows are somewhat elusive and up to each individual to connect with and understand).
Coma is a show taken in in white bunk beds, with a pill next to the beds ideally to be consumed by each participant.
Séance is a chilling exploration of the supernatural, including lots of audio effects that surprise and tantalise the audience, while Flight is a claustrophobic descent into the depths of your own fears around flying.
All experiences are masterfully crafted, with every sound effect and spoken word designed to send shivers down your spine. And there is humour trickled throughout all of them.
This is modern day theatrical creativity at its very best.
One of the things I loved most about Darkfield is that it’s not just a passive experience. You’re an active participant in the story, and your every reaction is taken into account. You actually feel like the whole story and experience is designed around you.
The sound design is so responsive that you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, dodging falling debris or trying to escape from unseen pursuers.
If you’re looking for something truly unique and unforgettable, then Darkfield is a must-try. It is a great night out.
It’s an experience that will stay with you long after you’ve left the shipping container, and you’ll be talking about it for years to come.
Just be prepared to have your mind blown – and your heart rate elevated.
Darkfield is at Wulugul Walk, Central Barangaroo.
