Bridge Command
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Bridge Command, Vauxhall

A live interactive experience where you are part of a crew of a starship. You will be given a uniform and be part of a crew. Your ship is a complex organism that will require maintenance, you will meet a variety of characters played by live actors, and your missions will involve an array of challenges.

Above all, the story is in your hands. You and your fellow players will decide what to do as you explore the galaxy.

In recent years, immersive experiences have become increasingly popular; with some being far more successful than others. With these types of experiences being very hit and miss, I was intrigued to see how Bridge Command would tackle bringing a fully immersive starship to life. In reality, this is something they did with ease. The perfect blend of theatrical elements, gaming, escape rooms and immersion, it's easy to forget you're in a fictitious starship and lose yourself to the magic of Bridge Command.

Your mission can be chosen from the following categories: diplomacy, exploration, intrigue or military. Once chosen, you're given your very own unfirm to wear during the experience and introduced to some of the mission's crew members (actors who are absolutely brilliant). You're then "transported" to the ship. This section involves an onslaught of flashing lights; however, you're asked before you enter if this is something you're sensitive to.

While you wait for other members of your crew to arrive, you can explore the bar (which is, of course, themed too). In fact, your drinks are decanted into metal cannisters that you can clip to a belt on your mission suit and take onboard with you. It's the minor details such as this that truly bring the experience to life, as the creators really have thought of everything. The level of intricacy that has been put into the design of the ship is like nothing I've ever seen.

Once you're briefed and taken onboard your ship, it's a breath-taking moment. The set features multiple rooms and purposes, which at times can feel overwhelming. However, your training officer is there to assign roles and explain each position and your job within the role. From captain, to navigator, to comms, to weapons - there's something for everyone and the skills you may (or may not) have.

The explanation is around thirty minutes, which sounds lengthy but there is so much to take in as the experience is very complex and not for the faint of heart! Once briefed, you're left to your own devices and free to undock from the station. Every journey is different, dependent on the decisions that you and your team make, which is what sets this experience apart from the rest. No two missions will ever be the same, and there's so many roles to explore on return visits. And be wary, if you're not doing your job well, real smoke will appear and parts of the ship will cease to function.

It's worth noting that this experience will work best if you work as a team. If this isn't something you're uncomfortable with in a potential room full of strangers, this may not be the best experience for you. However, it pushed me out of my own comfort zone and I enjoyed it far more than anticipated, despite being an introvert through and through.

While the set is incredibly impressive, without the interaction from the well-versed actors, Bridge Command would be nowhere near as successful as it is. The actors are welcoming, knowledgeable and amp the interaction and immersion to levels I've never experienced before. 

Bridge Command is extremely difficult to review as I truly believe that no two experiences will ever be the same as there's so many factors that affect the outcome of your mission; the number of players, the role you choose, the decisions you make within that role, to name but a few. However, one thing's for sure, it's a unique experience like London has never seen. 

You can book tickets to Bridge Command, here.

**photo credit: Alex Brenner**