How To Do A Secret Entrance

Secret entrances and passageways have existed throughout history, used by smugglers to traffic contraband and by Catholics who stole away from Protestant persecutors before then trying to blow up Parliament. From booby trapped pyramids to the Batcave, they’re secretive, sexy and now they’re absolutely everywhere.

They remain fascinating and nowadays they’re ten-a-penny. So, if you want to create another one (and why wouldn’t you) and bask in the guaranteed appreciation it’s going to receive, how do you keep it fresh? Or do you even need to?

Here’s our good practice guide to Secret Entrances.

Understand an audiences’ mentality as they step into a space. What’s going to draw their attention? How can you weave something into the space that seems impossible? It’s that moment of realisation, that analogue exchange between a person and an object that leads to something unexpected that makes these entrances captivating.

The stepping through is the climax, play with the experience before this. An example we love to talk about is our RYOT Studio Tour, where it wasn’t just the entrance that was secret but also the entire nature of the event.

The secret entrance is only part of it. Whether it’s refrigerator, washing machine, bookcase, portrait or piano the old adage is as true as ever: ‘It’s what’s inside that counts.’

Surprise your audience within the surprise. What’s more interesting than a secret entrance leading to a venue? A secret entrance that leads to a slide leading to a venue. And better than that? An entrance that leads to a puzzle that leads to a slide that leads to a venue. There’s a point where there are too many ingredients but get it right and you’ll create a rewarding interaction before you’ve even started the official experience.

Often these entrances act as gateways, sending audiences on a journey from this world to the one behind the door. It’s the perfect space to take care of any world-building admin or rule-making and the ideal opportunity to start phasing out the real world narrative and replacing it with the immersive one.

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