First, the important bit: You Me Bum Bum Train has been extended to April. That means a new ticket ballot, which is open until midnight on Sunday 2nd Feb. Enter here.
If you know, you know, and you’ve already entered, and presumably aren’t reading this any more. Anyone still with us is likely wondering why this show is so popular that you need to win a lottery just for a chance to then buy a £100 ticket. Fair question.
And to answer it, since it first opened opened way back in ’04, the show has just gotten more and more popular, and more and more legendary. At one point seats became more in demand than Glasto tickets. It was the Barbican’s fastest selling show ever. And the reviews have been nothing short of euphoric. Phrases like “The best thing I’ve ever seen in London” (Evening Standard), “One of the best artistic experiences of my life” (The Times), “It will restore your faith in humanity” (The Telegraph), all get thrown around. And those are just a few of the dozens of 5* reviews.
So that’s it about?
Well, that’s the tricky bit. All of its hundreds of thousands of theatregoers were asked to sign an NDA upon leaving. If you go to the YMBBT website and click on the ‘about’ button, you’ll be greeted with a message that simple says “The less you know the better. If you want tickets, do not research into you me bum bum train.” And, not being spoilsports, we’re not going to give it away. So if you want to maintain your sacred naivety, skip to the paragraph below that photo.
For everyone else, what we will do is just lay out the bare bones: it’s basically an interactive show in which one person at a time goes through a series of interconnected rooms, acting as the Main Character in a cast of hundreds throughout the whole experience, cleverly flitting from perspective to perspective. But that’s like describing Champagne as ‘fizzy grape juice’ though, because it’s been praised by punters & critics alike with hyperbolic levels of enthusiasm, as well as collecting armfuls of awards and countless five-star reviews. Honestly, people have literally described it as life changing.

Foudners Kate Bond & Morgan Lloyd. They look intense.
Buuuut, there is one thing that’s rotten in the state of Denmark – the show is continuing with its not-so-great tradition of refusing to pay its performers, recruiting volunteers instead while still nevertheless charging for tickets. In their defence, they claim that the show would be unaffordable, and some of the money they do make does go charity, but the practice of getting free labour from artists is something that wasn’t looked kindly upon 8 yers ago, so it’s a shame it’s still being practiced here.
Nevertheless, if you want to have your brain melted and your identity challenged in a thoroughly entertaining way, then you’ll need to sign up for the ticket ballot. Most people who want tickets won’t be able to get them. So be quick.
And God speed.
NOTE: You Me Bum Bum Train is open now in a secret Covent Garden location. It’s set to play until 4th April. To get tickets, or to volunteer, head to the YMBBT website.
Want dinner while you’re in town? Here are the best restaurants in Covent Garden