The premise of Generation of Z is, according to Time Out: “The zombies have broken into London and they’re infecting the masses and you could be next. The deadly Z virus has transformed the global population into a rabid horde who are in Whitechapel waiting to make you their prey.”
The Generation of Z is written by Benjamin Farry, Simon London and David Van Horn, and directed by Michael Hurst and Colin Mitchell.
At the start of the production, the audience are led into a caged area. Soon a troop of soldiers arrive and split the group into four sections, each of which is led by one of the troop.
The story then proceeds as solo adventures, although with connections between each of the groups, before the different sections of the crowd reunite.
The production is located in the East End of London, close to the iconic Brick Lane (which boasts the highest number of curry houses in one concentrated area in Europe.) For the staging of the event, the producers have made good use of an abandoned warehouse.
With the story plot, the audience thrust into an abandoned transport facility designed to take people to safety. However, alarm sounds and soldiers arrive. To get out alive the audience need to work together and with the actors.
The zombies, as well as the ethos, has a flavor of the movie 28 Days Later. The various rooms into which the audience are led, including a mess hall and computer control room, a littered with “missing persons” posters and people who have left in a hurry.
Occasionally members of the audience are pulled out to take part, whether it is to search for a missing key or to be held hostage by a man in the process of transforming into a zombie. This gives an edge to the production. Added to this the story unfolds in “real time.”
The story line is light but the scares are a plenty, and the acting is solid. For the faint hearted, be warned: the zombies look real and the cast fire blanks in realistic looking guns; there are also strobe light effects and an air of claustrophobia. Much of the action takes place down twisting, dark and narrow passages.
If you like frenetic paced excitement, don’t mind getting a little dirty of splattered with blood (well, corny syrup) then you will enjoy the show. Having attended Grimm Tales, the former is better (see Digital Journal’s review here.) However, Generation of Z is great fun for those who enjoy horror movies and wished they could be part of the experience. Digital Journal rating 4 out of 5.
