Punchdrunk is a British theatre company, formed in 2000 by Felix Barrett. The company developed a form of immersive theatre in which no audience member will have the same experience as another. The audience is free to choose what to watch and where to go. The format is related to promenade theatre, but uses audience immersion more extensively. The company has been recognized for its unique uses of sound, light, movement and environment. In 2015, Punchdrunk formed a new company, Punchdrunk International, which produces a selection of Punchdrunk's commercial productions for national and international audiences. The company is a National Portfolio Organisation with Arts Council England.

Theatrical style

In a typical Punchdrunk production, audience members are free to roam the performance site, which can be as large as a five-story industrial warehouse. They can either follow the performers and themes (there are usually multiple threads at any instant), or simply explore the world of the performance, treating the production as a large art installation. Masks are another signature element of Punchdrunk's work. Barret says when the company "...introduced masks, suddenly inhibition fell away and people found a sense of freedom in their anonymity, allowing them to fully explore their surroundings and become totally absorbed in the world around them." Former Secretary of State for Culture James Purnell cited Punchdrunk as an example of "access and excellence" in modern British theatre.

Related organizations

Punchdrunk Enrichment

In 2008, Punchdrunk founded a new branch of the company focused on outreach to communities and schools called Punchdrunk Enrichment. Punchdrunk Enrichment projects are mostly aimed at children and young people. Projects from Punchdrunk Enrichment include:

Punchdrunk International

In 2015, Punchdrunk founded a new production company, Punchdrunk International. Felix Barrett serves as the Artistic Director of Punchdrunk International. Company members include Creative Producer Colin Nightingale, Creative Director Stephen Dobbie and Design Director Livi Vaughan. The company has also collaborated with selected organisations, including a long term creative partnership with Samsung North America. Projects made in collaboration with the company include Believe Your Eyes, a VR experience for Cannes Lions Festival, 2016. The experience has since travelled to Art Basel Miami, Samsung 837 in New York and Phi Centre, Montreal. Believe Your Eyes was awarded a Silver Lion in the Entertainment category at Cannes 2017.

Fallow Cross

In 2017, Punchdrunk opened Fallow Cross, a research and development space in Tottenham Hale.

Punchdrunk productions

Punchdrunk International productions

The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia

The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia was published by Routledge in 2019, edited by the theatre scholar Josephine Machon. Development of the book began in 2014, after Machon interviewed Felix Barrett for a book on British theatre companies. Machon interviewed further members of Punchdrunk and visited Barrett's parents' home. The book is structured as an encyclopaedia to allow non-linear exploration of its contents, mirroring Punchdrunk's non-linear performances. It was reviewed by The Times Literary Supplement, and nominated for the Theatre Book Prize in 2020.