Gingerline: The Grand Expedition

The Grand Expedition is a delightful immersive experience that stands out in London’s theatre scene. Gone are the days of superficial “immersive” labels (these are my pet peeve, actually). In 2024, audiences expect much much more, almost the immersive magic – and the Gingerline team delivers just that. This show is a breath of fresh air, blending non-awkward audience participation with captivating wow moments that keep you engaged from start to finish.

This is the most fun event involving food you could do in London this year – and it’s not even based in a restaurant!

Please note that I reveal some of the dishes and activities in the post below. The show does rotate them though, so you never know what you’re going to experience on your visit! But please proceed with caution if you prefer to be 100% surprised.

Task one: find the Dalston venue

Finding the venue in Dalston adds to the adventure, with its discreet location adding an element of mystery. I ended up finding a delivery gate with some tips on how to find the entrance for the guests. But generally, if you see crowds of people dressed up in flight goggles and retro flight caps, just follow their lead – they most likely are going in the same direction. And yes, people get prepared for this show – I spoke to my fellow “travellers” at my table and some of them attended Gingerline’s previous shows – and decided to come prepared, with attire matching the theme of the grand expedition, even with retro moustache stuck above their lips.

Let’s talk about the food

The hands-on approach to food at the Grand Expedition adds a fun twist to dining. Dishes with DIY elements and cultural significance explanations enhance the culinary journey, making each bite a part of the immersive experience. The pre-announced cards detailing each dish add to the anticipation and storytelling of the evening.

During my visit, I was asked to sprinkle some barley on the Norwegian salad, construct a bao using the ingredients provided, and serve myself a curry meal from multiple bowls that appeared on the table. So – nothing complicated, but the hands-on experience builds a nice conversation flow between everyone who’s sat at the same table, and builds an exploration atmosphere (we’ve had a general “this is a brilliant sauce” moment when the tahini-black vinegar sauce bottle appeared, and even exchanged ideas on how to replicate it at home).

Audience participation – yay or nay?

People in the audience are regularly involved and pulled into activities organised by the actors/facilitators, but to be frank – it didn’t feel uncomfortable or excluded at any point. Practical tip: If you sit closer to the edge of the table, you’ll naturally be more engaged than those in the middle. This means you can decide how much you want to join in right from the start.

The actors/performers/dancers/acrobats here truly perform the impossible. Between performing carefully prepared choreographies, interacting with guests (only via body language or the “hoo-ha” shout) and facilitating little games and activities, this must be one of the most physically demanding roles right now in London.

Some roles require more of a comedy factor (again, in a mute role) and some also include performing aerial acrobatics while hanging above the tables.

And changing into new outfits in a minute, just to appear in front of the guests with a new set of energy during each show’s section. Oh and let’s not forget being able to deal with tipsy/sometimes drunk guests as well. Needless to say, my jaw landed on the floor and stayed there for the whole evening. I bow my explorer’s hat to the performers and their incredible stamina, energy and skills.

Expect the unexpected at the Grand Expedition

The whole experience is well planned from top to bottom – from (apparently often-changing) menu coming from different destinations you offer, through beautiful retro-looking animations taking you through the journey, through the entrance to the hall (via a suitcase-loaded room). You are sat in a hot air balloon basket, surrounded by huge screens showing animations all around you. The hall is pretty large, fitting multiple balloons at the same time.

The comic-style videos look quite simple at first, but work incredibly well when the hot air balloons get “launched” into the air – the first time it happened, I felt like we were floating above the Dalston sky. The realistic flight feeling received using this cartoon-like animation is such a surprise!

Dear Introverts

Heads up for my fellow introverts. This is an experience in which you get seated at a large table of 8, with strangers. Naturally, as the show progresses, you will get to know your table mates more and participate in activities together. I recommend going to see this show with someone you already know, otherwise, it may feel quite challenging to spend 3 hours with strangers only.

Now, for participation. There is no stage per se, and nobody will drag you out from your table.

Sometimes, an actor may approach you, pass you a message and ask you to read it out loud for your table members. Or, an opportunity will be available to participate (in the case of the performance I saw, there was a flower swing installed and anyone who wished, could spend a moment swinging and taking pics). Altogether, nothing is imposed and there’s a “no touch” rule for interactions between actors and guests, making the whole experience quite comfortable.

Final Thoughts

The Grand Expedition is something completely different, that was such a surprise even to a theatre addict like myself. It’s a perfect way to spend an unusual evening with a menu that’s a surprise, with some silly unexpected attractions and breathtaking dance and acrobatic performances. And I think surprise is the key factor here: just come and let the evening take you to some unexpected places. Let the invitations to the actions happening on the floor of the venue be the start of what could be your best evening this year (high expectations, yes, but worth it!).

Buy tickets here (they sell out fast, so for best chance to grab them, sign up for the Gingerline newsletter): https://www.thegrandexpedition.co.uk

Until 12th May 2024

In terms of tickets, there are various types of experiences available: besides the standard ticket, you get to purchase a “High Flyer” package which comes with an early access to the lounge, premium seats and a set of collectible gifts. You can also purchase a wine/beer/cocktail flight on top of your meal. Drinks and cocktails are also available to purchase from the staff during the whole experience, and there are drink menus on the table always available to view.