Shadow Lounge Returns to St Petroc’s Church

This autumn, More to Bodmin is delighted to be supporting Shadow Lounge: The Re-Awakening, a remarkable immersive arts experience taking place within the stunning surroundings of St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin, on 30th and 31st October.

Blending of three original Bodmin-born myths, spoken word, visual art, sound, and light, this unique promenade performance invites audiences to journey through a world where Bodmin’s stories are brought vividly to life.

Enter a World of Myth, Light and Imagination

For returning visitors and first-time explorers alike, The Re-Awakening offers a fresh chance to uncover Bodmin’s tales through a captivating immersive experience.

Wearing wireless headsets, visitors will move through the ancient church in timed groups, becoming part of a carefully crafted multisensory journey. Along the way, stories emerge through live performance, atmospheric soundscapes, moving projections, and intricate suspended paper-cut artworks.

As shadows dance across the historic interior of St Petroc’s, familiar spaces are transformed into something beautifully unexpected. The scent of coconut and lavender lingers in the air, immersive audio draws you deeper into the narrative, and every corner reveals another layer of this extraordinary experience.

This is not a performance observed from afar. It is a world to step inside.

Following the original Shadow Lounge, one audience member described the experience simply as:

“It sent me to another world.”

This October, that world opens once again.

A Celebration of Creative Collaboration

Created by Rob Mennear, artist director of GRIT Productions, Shadow Lounge: The Re-Awakening brings together an exceptional team of artists and creatives, including:

Matthew Thomason, Composer – Robbie Gillet, Spoken Word Artist – Jess Marlton, Fine Paper-Cutting Artist – Arlo Anwin, Animator –  Christian Balistrari, Projection Mapper – Meier Williams, Artist – Paul Joines, Technician – Olivia Walton and Hannah Jacobb, Live Performers

The result is an experience that blurs the boundaries between theatre, installation, storytelling and visual art, while drawing inspiration from the rich heritage and folklore that make Bodmin such a fascinating place.

Why Bodmin?

Few locations are better suited to an immersive exploration of myth and storytelling than Bodmin. With centuries of history woven through its streets, buildings and landscapes, the town continues to inspire artists, writers and creative practitioners.

Events such as Shadow Lounge: The Re-Awakening demonstrate how heritage spaces can be reimagined in exciting and unexpected ways, inviting both residents and visitors to connect with Bodmin’s stories through contemporary creative experiences.

As part of our commitment to showcasing the very best cultural experiences taking place in the town, More to Bodmin is proud to support this event and help share it with audiences across Cornwall and beyond.

Book Your Place

Tickets are available for timed entry slots on 30 and 31 October.

Places are limited due to the immersive nature of the experience, so early booking is recommended.

Whether you’re a lover of theatre, contemporary art, local folklore or simply looking for something truly different, Shadow Lounge: The Re-Awakening promises an unforgettable evening inside one of Bodmin’s most iconic historic buildings.

Discover the shadows. Follow the stories. Experience Bodmin in a whole new light.

Tickets and event information available here.

Check out More to Bodmin What’s On pages for more local events.

The event is proudly supported by Experience Bodmin through its Event Grant programme, which helps enable events that celebrate the town’s heritage, culture and community.