Punchdrunk, the trailblazing immersive theatre company, has announced its latest venture, LANDER 23, previewing from 17 September 2025 at One Cartridge Place, Woolwich.
Described as a live action video game, LANDER 23 invites audiences to become players in a multiplayer stealth mission. With real-time gameplay and genuine agency, this production marks a bold fusion of theatre and gaming.
The narrative centres on the Lander Division of the Centre for Astrobiology, tasked with exploring the furthest reaches of the galaxy. A week ago, the crew of LANDER 23 vanished on Hisarlik 426. Now, a new team must launch, search, and survive.
Players are split into two squads: Command (Drivers) and Ground Team (Fields). As Fields navigate the alien terrain, they rely solely on voice guidance from their Drivers aboard the ship. Communication is key to survival.
Felix Barrett, Artistic Director of Punchdrunk, said:
“To make a video game live – and specifically a AAA adventure game – is the holy grail for me; to take the complete submersion in a world and the endless choice of where you go, who you talk to, how you choose to play the game, and to make that real. The future is inevitably tech driven – how can we, as a company that is built on the magic of live experiences, create something that is not just as compelling as an evening on Fortnite or Zelda, but that elevates that experience to something more engrossing. Something which fires up both hemispheres of the brain, removes the passivity of sitting in a chair, and has a far longer-lasting impact. That’s our ambition for LANDER 23 – create the ultimate antidote to screens: instead of sitting on the sofa in front of your TV, what would happen if you threw away your controller, stepped inside the game and became your own avatar – relying on your ingenuity, dexterity and courage to survive. In real time. In real life.”
LANDER 23 incorporates video game mechanics such as maps, lives, and regeneration. The production also repurposes the world of Troy from The Burnt City, reimagined for this new sci-fi narrative.
The creative team includes:
- Conceived, Directed & Designed by Felix Barrett
- Co-Directors: Kath Duggan and Joel Scott
- Designers: Livi Vaughan and Beatrice Minns
- Lighting Designers: Felix Barrett and Sarah Readman
- Sound Designer: Gareth Fry
- Visual Designer (Video): Bruno Cordeiro
- Game System Creator: Meaning Machine
Previews begin 17 September with early access tickets priced at £23. From 7 October, standard pricing will apply. Players will experience a work-in-progress version and are encouraged to provide feedback to shape the final game.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
