Dining in 5 Countries in 2 Hours? ... Unique Dining Performance Enjoyed on a Hot Air Balloon

by Seo Miteum

Published 08 Oct.2022 08:00(KST)

When entering the venue, the lighting and fog create a dreamy atmosphere.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] Immersive Dining Grand Expedition. It is a compound word combining ‘immersive theater,’ meaning audience-immersive performance, and ‘fine dining,’ enjoying high-quality cuisine. It is a new form of performance gaining attention recently in the English-speaking world.

It is similar to a ‘dinner show’ where you enjoy a performance with a meal, but it is differentiated by a higher level of audience participation. Its origin is the UK. It started in a warehouse in London in 2010 and, after 12 years of enthusiastic response, expanded worldwide. This is the first time the performance is held in Korea.

Entrance of the performance hall.

The performance is themed around Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days.” With the concept of setting off to an unknown world, when you bend down to enter the entrance decorated with a fantasy atmosphere, a dreamlike world appears. A hot air balloon enters through dim lighting and hazy smoke, and the exotic background around it catches the eye.

At the press call held on the 7th at Blue Square Chaos Hall in Itaewon, as the audience sat at a hot air balloon table that could seat about eight people, performers appeared noisily. The language they use is Gibberish. It is a language that does not exist in the real world, a device to maximize the fantasy element. Performers dance with the audience or present light missions to interact.

Performers are putting on a show around the hot air balloon that arrived in Rio de Janeiro.

The hot air balloon crosses the sky with Greenwich, Hokkaido, Siberia, Rio de Janeiro, and space as backgrounds. Each city features appropriate food and performances. It is enough to give the feeling of actually being there. In Greenwich, pork sausage rolls, tomato chutney, and fruit are served, and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian seasoned beef and cheese balls are on the table. Performers also serve, and postcards contain detailed descriptions of the food.

Greenwich meal

The food is handled by Joseph Lizard, the owner chef of the Michelin restaurant ‘Ebit.’ Having moved from the US to Korea and running a restaurant for four years, he presents Korean-customized dishes based on his accumulated know-how. He said, “I made it while thinking about how to satisfy the subtle tastes of Koreans.”

One big concern for the production team while preparing the performance was the characteristic of Koreans who are reluctant to take the lead. Although it was successful in London, success in Korea was not guaranteed. Seeking a solution, the production team hired active musical actors experienced in audience communication. They carefully selected actors who excel not only in acting skills but also in inducing responses and improvisation. The result was a success. Performer Lee Kyung-yoon explained, “I thought we would gradually approach so that they could open their hearts little by little, but they enjoyed it better than expected,” adding, “When we meet enthusiastic audiences, sometimes we raise the tension from the start.”

For Korean sensibilities, it might be a performance that feels ‘distracting while eating,’ but the show is directed to boost excitement step by step. During the Rio de Janeiro segment, lively gestures were spotted everywhere. It is a perfect performance for those who want to enjoy a meal in a cheerful and exotic atmosphere.

Breaking through the COVID-19 situation, this is a long-awaited sensory-satisfying performance. Producer Jeong In-seok (CEO of I Am Culture) said, “When producing, we tend to focus only on trendy works, but I thought presenting various genres would diversify the audience, so we took on the challenge,” adding, “We invite you to the first domestic attempt to enter a fairy tale and spend a dreamlike two hours.”