DARKFIELD - ARCADE @ The Lawn, Lincoln, UK

Immersive theatre producers DARKFIELD return to Lincoln with their latest experience ARCADE, presented at The Lawn, as part of Frequency Festival from 13-22 February.

Using the nostalgic aesthetic of 1980’s video games, ARCADE’s interactive narrative explores the evolving relationship between players and avatars. This choose-your-own-path experience will fully immerse players in alternate environments in a completely dark shipping container, using 360-degree binaural sound and sensory effects. Players will be asked to address deep existential questions about free will and consciousness in a world where some may win, and some may lose.

WARNING: Contains themes of violence to humans, including children and animals, death, warfare, explicit language, and sexual content. Also contains flashes of light.

Sensory triggers: sudden sprays of water, gusts of air, red and white singular light flashes, single loud gunshot sounds.

Complete darkness: may not be suitable for those with claustrophobia

Can I attend ARCADE if I have access requirements?
Yes - we have access spaces in every show. Please let patrons know how they can book an access
ticket, so we know they are coming and can prepare the space and entry ramp into the container, if
required. If audiences have specific access needs, let us know and we can advise how the experience
can be adjusted on a case by case basis.

Is ARCADE suitable for those who suffer from Claustrophobia?
ARCADE takes place in blackout conditions inside a shipping container and may not be suitable for those with claustrophobia.

Can I leave the container once the experience has started?
At the start of the experience, audiences are given a demonstration of the full blackout they will be in throughout the experience, and are given an opportunity to leave at this point if they find the darkness isn’t for them. After this warning we ask audiences not to leave, in order to preserve the lighting and immersive conditions for the audience. You can instead remove your headphones at any time, though some background sounds may still be audible.

Is there an age rating for ARCADE?
ARCADE is 16+

Is ARCADE suitable for those who are pregnant / have heart conditions / high blood pressure?
DARKFIELD experiences happen in the dark, are quite loud, intense, and can be claustrophobic, with some movement or vibration effects. We let audience members decide for themselves whether this would be suitable for them. There are two seated spaces, if you require one please let box office know at the time of booking.

Is ARCADE scary?
ARCADE is a game like experience with game like mechanics - we would describe the experience as intense or unnerving rather than scary. We avoid describing DARKFIELD’s work as scary or terrifying, as that is not the aim of the work. Different audiences have different reactions, some find the work scary but other audiences do not find the work scary at all.