An immersive show is one where the viewer does not watch the action from the side but ends up inside it. The line between the stage and the hall disappears: events unfold all around, and sometimes are created by the audience itself. Very different formats are sold under the words “immersive show”, with prices varying a hundredfold. Here is a breakdown of the formats and how to choose yours.
Types of immersive shows
Immersive plays. The classic of the genre: the viewer moves through the rooms of a mansion or theatre, actors perform at arm’s length, and every guest has their own route. Tickets usually cost 3 to 15 thousand rubles per person. If you are looking for tickets as a viewer, this is a separate genre with its own listings. We built the light part of such a play on the technology side, see the case below.
Theatrical dinners and mystery plays. The action happens right at the dinner table, guests get roles and tasks. An intimate format for small groups, usually from 5–10 thousand per person.
Immersive exhibitions and projection spaces. Halls with projections on every wall, sound and light. The viewer is inside the picture but does not affect the action: more of a walk than a show.
Audience participation shows. The youngest format: viewers are not just inside the action, they create it. This is exactly how GROMKA.SHOW works.
How the hall itself becomes the show
Every phone in the hall turns into a pixel of a shared light picture. Guests scan a QR code, a page opens in the browser, and the flashlights of all smartphones start flickering in sync with the music: waves, flashes, light patterns across the hall. Synchronization runs over ultrasound, so no app, no internet and no equipment rental are needed. How it works is explained in the technology breakdown.
How it goes
- Guests scan a QR code from the screen or printed materials
- Tap “Start” on the page that opens
- Raise their phones, and the hall turns into a single light installation
The show is controlled by the host, DJ or director from the sound desk. The format scales from 30 guests in an intimate hall to 27,000 viewers in a stadium and works in a theatre, a banquet hall, a planetarium and at open-air venues.
Cases
During the play “A Romance with an Emigrant” at TChK Theatre the audience’s flashlights lit up along with the action, and the public found itself inside the scene. Details in the immersive theatre show case. And in a planetarium the show ran with the internet jammed: sound-based synchronization does not depend on the network, see the planetarium show case.
Right after the show a chat, votes and prize draws open in every participant’s browser, so the immersive part does not end with the lights.
How much an immersive show costs
A turnkey immersive play for a company costs from several hundred thousand rubles, a theatrical dinner from 5–10 thousand per person. An audience participation show starts from 10,000 ₽ per event for up to 100 guests: the price is fixed, and you can run it as many times per evening as you like. See the price calculator and the pricing article for a quote.
FAQ
Are rehearsals or equipment needed? No. Guests only need a phone with a camera; the venue needs a screen or printed QR code and sound. Preparation on the organizer’s side takes minutes.
Does it suit a corporate event or a wedding? Yes, it is one of the main scenarios: an immersive finale of the evening in which every guest takes part. More on the Corporate events and weddings page.
Does it work in a bright room? The effect is more visible in a darkened hall. If the lights cannot be dimmed, we shift the focus to phone screens or place the show in the dark part of the program.
Choosing a format for your event? A comparison with other light show formats by price and conditions is in the light show formats overview.
