Secret Cinema Tips & Advice

Heading to Secret Cinema’s 28 Days Later event? Here’s everything you need to know, plus Secret Cinema tips for your first time attending.

This weekend just gone, I took the plunge and finally attended Secret Cinema. This event was 28 Days Later! I already blogged about the marketing that has gone into promoting the experience and mentioned I’d do just a short post after the event. This is because there is little point me blogging about everything that happened. The whole point is that it’s supposed to be secret.

So instead I’m going to do a tips post for if you’re attending. Or if you’re thinking about taking part and haven’t quite made your mind up yet…

28 Days Later with Secret Cinema: Tips & Advice

DRESS UP
It is 100% worth getting into costume for. Some people have complained about having to pay extra on top of a ticket. But although dressing up is encouraged, it isn’t compulsory. I would definitely recommend dressing up in some way though. You’ll only feel like the odd one out if you don’t. It’s not the type of thing where ‘just some’ people dress up – pretty much everyone does! If you don’t want to splash out an extra £20, just order a cheap pair of scrubs on eBay. Everything additional that came with the kit ordered officially was fun to own but wasn’t at all needed. A pair of scrubs and maybe a mask covering your mouth will be more than enough.

TAKE PART BEFOREHAND
Do take part in the build-up to the event. You have to sign up to the website to get details anyway, but I’d also recommend chatting to others attending. You should also watch all the videos and reports released in advance.

ZOMBIELAND RULE #1 – CARDIO
Be prepared to run and get your adrenaline pumping. It isn’t a ridiculous amount of running but it really gets you in the right frame of mind. Despite knowing none of it was real, I totally felt like it was real. I was genuinely scared and it just added to the excitement all the more.

EXPLORE
I know everyone says this, but to get the most out of your experience, do be willing to explore. Poke around at the set and talk to characters! We had to find a particular character at one point, which led to us being paraded around the whole set, looking pretty bemused. We were even told off for walking too slowly and not catching up! It’s definitely a lot of fun to participate but again, if that’s not your thing, don’t feel you have to.

BRING A COAT
…or alternatively, a coat stuffed into a backpack. You will get hot running around, so just bring one with you for the journey there and back. There’s not a cloakroom there (that I saw, anyway) so it’s useful to have a backpack with you so you’re not carrying stuff around whilst running and such. Also, during the viewing of the movie, you may get a bit chilly. But the premise of where and how you’re watching it makes it more than worth it).

DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO IT ALONE
If you don’t have friends to go with – go anyway! I went alone and made friends with two girls there. Plus you get split into groups there anyway (obviously if you’re with friends you’ll get put into a group with them). Basically, it’s the type of thing where friends aren’t necessary. You’ll be having so much fun and will be encouraged to talk to other people anyway.

KEEP IT SECRET
Finally, if you do go, don’t spoil it for anyone else. I’ve just touched upon things that are general knowledge anyway. I was a little disappointed to know some stuff already but found there was also so much there to see and do that was a surprise.

EMBRACE THE FEAR
Oh and also, it’s scary: but in a good way. I cannot explain enough how amazing it feels and how much attention they’ve put into the details. You honestly really do 100% feel like you’re in a zombie apocalypse and I can’t imagine creating this feeling was easy – but they did it.

Well done Secret Cinema, you’ve got yourself a new fan and I’ve already committed myself to attend the next one.

What do you think? Would you ever attend Secret Cinema? Let me know.