After an 8 year hiatus, You Me Bum Bum Train is returning. And while it sounds like a refreshingly direct Tinder Bio, it’s actually one of the OG immersive shows that pioneered the genre. Since it first opened opened way back in ’04, hundreds of thousands of people have seen the show. At one point seats became more in demand than Glasto tickets. It was the Barbican’s fastest selling show ever.
So that’s it about?
Well, that’s the tricky bit. All of those 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 blessed 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
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. It’s opening at 10am on the 3rd of September and running for two weeks until 9pm on the 17th. If you are lucky enough to score tickets, the Train will be playing in Covent Garden this November.
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 set to open in Covent Garden this November. Tickets have now sold out but you can find out more at the YMBBT website.
Want dinner while you’re in town? Here are the best restaurants in Covent Garden