This train ride which started at Pedley Street Station was like no other as we took a ghostly Journey to the Underworld this October.
I and other some other community members of Love Pop Ups London we were invited down via Funicular Productions to sell our souls to take a Journey To The Underworld aboard a ghostly train carriage in return for a blog.
Funicular Productions
Funicular are a passionate collective of creators specialising in creating truly immersive experiences. Co-founded by entrepreneur, actor and scriptwriter Craig Wilkinson and production director Ed Borgnis, the Funicular team boasts years of experience bringing events and theatre to life all over the world.
This Halloween season they present a Journey to the Underworld.
The Greatest Love Story Never Told….
As summer nights draw to a close and the black velvet skies wash over the capital, Pedley Street Station welcomes you to witness the greatest love story never told where fantasy, fear, danger, lust, hope and love await in the world of the Dark one.
As passengers embark on their journey to the Underworld, they will be treated to their last meal aboard a luxury train fit for the Prince of Darkness himself.
Guests will join Claude, the shackled conductor, and his lowly assistant Gordy, on a quest for absolution, redemption and eternal love that will take them all the way to the Underworld. Along the way, guests will do their best to outwit the seductive Gatekeeper, the hunched Harbinger, and the damnable Dark One, all the while praying that this isn’t a one-way ticket.
All aboard for this immersive dining and theatre experience.
Departing from 28th September to 7th November.
Question is are you prepared to sell your soul to witness the greatest love story ever told and meet the Dark Lord himself?
I met the Dark Lord
Upon signing our souls away we waited to board the Funicular Express within Pedley Street waiting room and sipped on one of the many deadly sin cocktails curated by the dead bar staff.
Before our departure time was near ghostly things started to happen from books flying off shelves and a pram moving by itself with me and others questioning what have we let ourselves in for?
All aboard
On board we were met by Claude, a shackled conductor and his assistant Gordy.
We soon then learned after taking our seat this was not just any standard journey to the underworld but actually a quest to help Claude save the woman he loves from the Dark Lord who’s soul was sold to after her father had sold her soul in return for riches in the world.
Claude proceeded to tell us that we were to take a Journey to the Underworld with him to help save his long lost lover Sadine whom which the Dark Lord has control of due to her father had sold her to the Dark Lord for all the riches in the world.
Looking out of the carriage windows which are screen projected to make it look like we were travelling down to the underworld we were shown a video which explained further about Claude and Sabine’s love and in how she ended up in the underworld. The whole story led to terror, greed, death, danger and darkness.
We knew that this quest was going to lead us all on a journey to absolution, redemption and eternal love which will take us all the way down to the Underworld.
Fearing for our souls it was up to us to help Claude reunite with his love an take on the Dark Lord. With moments of darkness and screams from within the carriage the question we all had on our minds was what have we done?
On this fateful Journey to the Underworld to save Sabine we had to take on a seductive Gatekeeper, the hunched Harbinger, and the damnable Dark Lord all whilst enjoying a devilish four course feast curated by 2017 MasterChef The Professionals Finalist Louisa Ellis.
We started off with the Amuse Bouche, A Butternut Squash Volute, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and Chive Oil which was creamy and flavoursome and really making me think of Autumn and Halloween.
For Starters we were served Black Garlic Gnocchi, Sauteed Wild Mushrooms, Truffle and Nasturtium. I don’t really like truffles so for me I did not particularly enjoy this dish as I find truffles too strong even though I like mushrooms. However the cream helped to dull the strength a tad. However if you are a lover of truffles then you will love this dish as my fellow influencers did.
For Mains we enjoyed a Pan Seared Guinea Fowl Breast, Celeriac Textures, Anne Potato, Braised Leek and Arran Mustard Sauce. The Guinea Fowl was perfectly cooked, succulent and full of flavour with the Celeriac textures giving the dish a nuttiness working really well with the rich Guinea Fowl meat.
Sweet lovers delight like with any meal it was time for Dessert which was a Chocolate Ganache, Honey Ice Cream, Bee Pollen Tuile and a Honey Crisp. This was a piece of heaven from the richness of the chocolate through the crunchy sweet honey crisp working all perfectly in balance together.
Hitting hell we then met the Dark Lord ourselves and praying that this isn’t a one-way ticket and that this feast would be our last it was up to us to banish the Dark Demon to save our souls and release Claude and Sadine souls from the depths of hell.
When true love’s kiss, the spell shall break. For true love conquers all
We survived, reunited Claude with his love and we got our souls back.
Verdict
Even though this show is not like their usual Murder Mysteries it was still brilliantly well done.
I loved the story of two star stricken lovers being separated due to greed. The journey was full of scares and inter activeness making it an enjoyable evening.
The acting was carried out well with my favourite being Gordy, the camp assistant to Claude, but to be honest all of the actors and performers gave it their all and really took on their characters and gave a truly thrilling performance.
The most scary moment for me was when we had to put on a blindfold which we was then submerged into darkness and heard screams, cackling and even experienced things touching us. Was it the Dark Lord himself?
I really enjoyed the evening and would recommend it to anyone looking for a different and unique night out. Think back to the time when you were young and sat around a campfire and told scary stories as this is what it reminded me of but in a higher class situation. However if you prefer murder mysteries or who done it type stories then I would advise to attend one of their other shows instead of either the Jewel of the Empire or Murder Express. Each are served with a feast created by a chef who has appeared in MasterChef.
Funicular Productions
Pedley Street Station
Arch 63
Pedley Street
London
E1 5BW
Nearest tubes:
Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, Shoreditch High Street
Funicular Productions host three shows throughout the year. Click on each to discover more.
The Murder Express – Murder Mystery
Jewel of the Empire – Who Done It
Journey to the Underworld – Love Story
Book your adventure now if you dare.
Thank you to Funicular Productions for inviting me and some other community members from Love Pop Ups London down to adventure down to the underworld.
Click below to be redirected to read all our write ups on a Journey to the Underworld plus other write ups from when I went along with others to solve the murder on the Murder Express. All our views are of our own honest opinions.
“I love going out discovering new and existing restaurants, theatres, immersive experiences and so much more but I also love staying in and discovering new gadgets, gaming and cooking.
