DARKFIELD, the internationally acclaimed immersive theater company, is bringing its unique brand of psychological horror to Dallas from March 21 to May 4. Having already left audiences shaken across the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Mexico, DARKFIELD uses 360-degree audio, sensory effects and pitch-black environments to pull participants into three unsettling narratives: “SÉANCE,” “FLIGHT” and “COMA.”
The setup is simple. Upon entering a container and taking a seat, the lights will go out. That is when things start happening.
"SÉANCE" invites attendees into a dimly lit parlor, with a long table and a faceless voice that urges the group to open their minds to the unknown. It's a 20-minute exercise in psychological suggestion, leaving attendees unsure of what is real and what is imagined.
"FLIGHT" places its audience inside a replica airplane cabin, complete with rows of seats, overhead bins and the hum of jet engines. But this is no ordinary flight. The experience plays with the idea of multiple realities, forcing a confrontation with the possibility that this journey might not end safely.
Then there is "COMA," the most unsettling of the three. Participants lie down in a hospital bed. The darkness swallows the room. The binaural audio whispers from all directions. Sleep does not come, but wakefulness fades too. The show drags its audience into the space between dreaming and dying, leaving them suspended in a disorienting limbo for 20 minutes.
Since launching in 2017, DARKFIELD has built a cult following for its ability to manipulate perception. The company's founders, Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, use immersive sound and sensory deprivation to trick the mind, making people feel as though things are happening around them, even when nothing is physically there.
The experience is not for everyone. DARKFIELD warns that the shows are intense and not suitable for anyone under 13. Those 13 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Claustrophobia, a fear of the dark, or an aversion to being trapped in an enclosed space with voices whispering from all directions may make these experiences overwhelming.
For those willing to step inside, DARKFIELD will be waiting … in the dark.
DARKFIELD runs from March 21 to May 4 at the Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St. Tickets are on sale now, with a limited-time offer of $60 for a three-experience bundle.
