'Viola's Room' Off-Broadway review — enter an immersive, eerie fairytale
Read our review of Viola's Room off Broadway, an immersive experience created by the theatre company Punchdrunk and narrated by the voice of Helena Bonham Carter.
Outside, the sidewalks and skyscrapers of Manhattan are baking in a 100-degree heatwave, but inside The Shed, I am picking my way over uneven ground barefoot in the dark at Viola's Room. A faint light above guides me on, though I can barely make out the gnarly branches of a tree reaching through the darkness as if to grab me. It’s Punchdrunk’s world, and I’m just living in it — that is, happy to be allowed in once more.
Immersive theatre powerhouse Punchdrunk, the company that created the long-running hit Sleep No More, are back in NYC with its first show stateside since the beloved 1930s-themed production closed its doors in Chelsea earlier this year. But Viola’s Room is no copy-and-paste for anyone looking to recreate past experiences. It wouldn’t be Punchdrunk if it was. Gone are Sleep No More's iconic masks. There is no choose-your-own-adventure — instead, you are strictly instructed to follow the cues exactly. And oddest of all: There are no performers whatsoever — at least, not in person.
Guided by the voice of Helena Bonham Carter, queen of the creepy, we make our way carefully through the maze-like set. Despite descriptions and visuals that paint “Princess Viola’s” life in her castle like a fairytale, the set of Viola’s bedroom is endearingly familiar, full of nostalgic 1990s touches that hold endless significance for what lies ahead. Drink in what you can of the pre-Raphaelite art, the posters of Tori Amos and The Craft, and the books by Christopher Pike. With Punchdrunk, for every detail you catch, there are three more you may have missed, and all have multiple layers of meaning.
We return several times to Viola’s bedroom, each reflective of her state of mind at a given point in the story, and there are always new details to uncover. But it won’t be long before you’re sent out of the comfort of the bedroom and back into the winding maze.
Viola’s Room is sheer magic for those who crave the feeling of being the main character in a fairytale — bearing in mind, of course, that some fairytales have sinister endings. For those whose tastes run the way of the gothic, it can’t be missed.
Viola’s Room summary
Based on the 1901 short story “The Moon-Slave” by Barry Pain, Viola’s Room follows a girl named Viola who loves to dance. One night, she ventures out into the grounds of her estate and discovers a hidden maze. Inside, gazing at the face of the full moon, Viola begs the moon to send her a song to dance to, and her life is never the same.
Helena Bonham Carter dreamily narrates the words of adapter Daisy Johnson in this spooky, compelling story that straddles 1990s girlhood and the simultaneously ancient and timeless feel of a fairytale.
What to expect at Viola’s Room
Upon entering the space, theatregoers will be given precise instructions about how to move through the experience. Each person is required to go barefoot, a strange but oddly freeing state of being that has an incredible payoff.
Unlike other immersive shows like Sleep No More, Viola’s Room is a strictly linear experience, and audiences in groups of no more than six people are guided through by lights. Each person is also required to wear headphones, through which Carter narrates with a cadence that is part ghost story, part bedtime story, and part ASMR.
Viola’s Room is psychologically creepy like any good gothic story, but there are no jump scares. That being said, the experience is intensely sensory, and even those familiar with immersive theatre may find themselves overwhelmed by some of the literal twists and turns of the show. Be warned: you will crawl on your hands and knees, fumble in the dark, and squeeze yourself through a space that may activate claustrophobia. The experience will test your boundaries, but if you can push through (again, literally), you’ll be richly rewarded.
What audiences are saying about Viola’s Room
Attendees at Viola's Room have taken to social media to discuss the unique experience.
- “Every sound, action, and moment felt purposeful.” - Reddit user NattoRiceFurikake
- “Pure vibes. Go. If you need a hand to hold, I’d dance again in the moonlight.” -Instagram user @robgullixson
- The story, the tactile experience, the sensory teases, and every other detail was clearly thoughtfully-designed” - Instagram user @jess__silva
- “If you’re in NYC you HAVE to see this!! So so well done, completely immersive and otherworldly. Best piece of art I’ve experienced in a long time.” - Instagram user @lillianvaleriev
- “The shadows and sounds and mysterious lights put me in a dreamy trance that lasted long after we were spat back out into the real world.” - My +1 at the show
Who should see Viola’s Room
- People who love gothic horror stories, from Nosferatu to Jane Eyre to Interview with the Vampire to Labyrinth, will love the gothic elements of Viola’s story and her fate.
- Though Viola’s Room is a departure from the British immersive theatre company's past work, followers of Punchdrunk will delight in this production that nevertheless bears distinctive touches of its past acclaimed shows like Sleep No More, The Burnt City, and more.
- Fans of immersive theatre in general will be excited to experience a fresh take on the genre, relying on sound and light instead of performances to shape the experience.
Learn more about Viola’s Room off Broadway
Punchdrunk has done it again. For those willing to brave the discomfort of the dark and small spaces, there is a transportive world to discover at Viola’s Room.
Photo credit: Viola's Room off Broadway. (Photos by Marc J. Franklin)
Originally published on