River Lark
NEWS

Immersive theatre in the River Lark

Take part in an exciting interactive theatrical chase game on the banks of the River Lark – with a chance for a swim at the end

This Spring bank holiday will see the world premier of Escape From Fort Lagoon, an interactive theatrical chase game on the banks of the River Lark in Mildenhall, Suffolk.

This one-of-a-kind outdoor experience, created by Wake The Beast and Submersion Productions, “blends the excitement of an escape room with the thrills of The Crystal Maze.”

Gather your pals

The theatrical game imagines a dystopian future where most of the water sources are polluted, and people manage to stay barely hydrated via tablets. The game invites you to form a team of up to eight friends and work together to complete challenges and solve cryptic clues to unlock the secrets of Fort Lagoon, and escape to sanctuary in the River Lark.

The experience lasts approximately 90 minutes, plus the swimming element in the river at the end. Water quality of the river will be monitored, and there’ll be a team of lifeguards on hand so competitors can enjoy the experience safely.

A river adventure

Jude Jagger, Artistic Director of Submersion Productions, is excited about the game. “The event promises to be really unusual and magical,” she told us. “We really hope the wild swimmers, who are usually a very adventurous bunch, will be drawn to this exciting challenge of Escaping from Fort Lagoon!”

The idea for the event was inspired by Jude’s own passion for wild swimming, and recent headlines about sewage pollution in our rivers and seas.

Precious water

“My love of swimming and director Adam’s experience of the show Seasick at Edinburgh Festival got us thinking about water and what it would be like if we lost our connection to it,” Jude told us. “We imagined a future where most of the water sources are polluted, and water is an extremely precious resource guarded by the few.”

The premier of the event takes place 27 and 28 May in Mildenhall, Suffolk, followed by another event on 17 and 18 June in Barrow-in-Furness. The event is funded by Arts Council England and supported by Creative People and Places projects Marketplace and Barrowfull.

To choose a time slot and book tickets for Escape From Fort Lagoon, visit wakethebeast.co.uk/fortlagoon. Tickets are £12 + booking fee (50% of the booking fee goes to Surfers Against Sewage). The event is for competent swimmers aged 12+.

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Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels. She loves to swim, run, hike and SUP close to her home in Herefordshire. While she’s a keen wild swimmer, Abi is new to the world of open water events and recently completed her first open water mile. She has previously written for The Guardian, BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC History Magazine and Ernest Journal.