Why a Booktrail?
1669: Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . .
The Theatre of Glass and Shadows
What you need to know before your trail
In an alternate London, the city’s Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production – the Show – has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.
Juliet’s mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It’s only when her father passes away that Juliet – now nineteen – learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother’s death and her father’s years of silence – and claim her birthright.
But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .
Travel Guide
London’s theatre district
“The Theatre District. The mysterious, glittering Theatre District. It was one of the most famous places in the world, a vast labyrinth of wonders, wound around a show that had played for centuries. A place where nothing was dull and ordinary. A place you would only belong if you were special, and then you’d belong so hard you’d never have to wonder what your life was really about.”
Some immersive theatre experiences
The War of the Worlds, Leadenhall Street
This show has been running for several years at its themed City of London venue. It combines live action with VR, pyrotechnics and other formats to create an immersive version of Jeff Wayne’s rock opera version of the original HG Wells story.
The Gunpowder Plot, Tower Hill.
Run by the some company as The War of the Worlds, this show is an immersive history lesson, with actors, VR and filmed sequences starring Tom Felton who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
CRYPT, St Peter’s Church, Bethnal Green
This is a dedicated immersive theatre space, run by Parabolic Theatre. It has hosted shows such as Bacchanalia, the debut offering of critically acclaimed Sleepwalk Immersive, and many other groundbreaking immersive productions.
Phantom Peak, Canada Water
Phantom Peak is part immersive theatre, part theme park, part escape room. It’s a wild west themed world that you explore via quests generated by a phone app. There are puzzles to solve, utilising some fun steampunk-style technology, and a few challenges along the way. The experience runs for several hours, and there are various themed places to eat and drink.
Trail Gallery
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Theatre of Glass and Shadows
Destination/Location: London Author: Anne Corlett Departure: 1669
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