“Although we are in the dangerous world of Peaky Blinders, it’s all maintained in a very safe way”: Emma Stansfield and Roxana Bartle on immersive show Peaky Blinders: The Rise

In the streets of post-war Birmingham, where the fog is thick and the gangsters are well-dressed and polished, Peaky Blinders: The Rise sweeps audiences off their feet with a whole new world of danger, turncoats, money plays and games that affect the fate of one Tommy Shelby. Steven Knight’s renowned television series takes on new life at this immersive show with three possible endings. Audiences get to dress up, drink up and hang around the cast as if they’re part of the Peaky Blinders world. Their decisions and how they navigate their way through the games and events will affect the very outcome of the story being told.

Having premiered on 24^th of June at the Camden Garrison, Peaky Blinders: The Rise boasts a cast that features established immersive theatre professionals (from Sam Blythe of Doctor Who: Time Fracture and Lucinda Turner of The Great Gatsby) alongside those new to the game. The Upcoming caught up with Emma Stansfield (Coronation Street and Eastenders) and Roxana Bartle (The Hound of the Baskervilles and Sophia), both of whom are making their debut in this kind of interactive show. We discussed rehearsals, creating boundaries between the actors and the attendees, and how they might behave if they were an audience member making those hard choices.

Mae Trumata

Peaky Blinders: The Rise is on at the Camden Garrison from 24^th June 2022 until February 2023. For further information or to book visit here.

Watch a trailer for the production here: