JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH - The Winter Masked Ball

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH

A Winter Masked Ball inspired by Jules Verne

Descend, bold traveller, into the crater of the volcano Snæfellsjökull and you will travel to the very Centre of the Earth. Navigate the subterranean caverns that lead you through lost realms, lit by crystals, phosphorescence and the ruddy glow of magma. Discover the weird and fragrant blooms that flourish in the underground gardens; frolic in the rock fountains and groove in lava-filled grottos. Finally you will encounter the dark and ancient civilisation that dwells in the underworld, whose denizens will entice you with song, story and dance.

Follow this Curious Invitation into the depths below Waterloo station where six vaults have been transformed into a recreation of the fantasy world of Jules Verne for a masked ball of the utmost magnificence with bands, DJs and circus and cabaret artists.

****

THE PAGAN TEMPLE

Where the troglodyte dwellers of this underground realm pray to the deities of fire and rock. 

The Shadowgrapher presents Cinema in Silhouette – A deft motion of the human hand can convey the subliminal greeting of an underground sect or conjure up beasts, phantoms and demons. Drew Colby will initiate you into the light and dark art of Shadowgraphy.

Benjamin Louche – the disreputable and aberrant Lynchean linchpin of the evening will present:

Cynth Icorn – Purely perverted international heavy rubber model and fetish fantasist.

Smashlyn Monroe – Brazen vixen of the sideshow underworld

Femme Ferale – pyrotechnical artiste, whip cracker, sideshow performer – never a stranger to danger.

Syban V – Dark, compelling fantasy of love, betrayal, piercing and stapling.

*****

THE MAGMA CHAMBER

A fiery realm shaken by the primordial forces that shaped our planet (or might it be the passing underground trains on the Bakerloo Line?). Brave the cracking granite masses to submerge yourself into craters of foam. Here the GOLDEN PHOENIX flock to offer mouthfuls of cream and sugar to the intrepid travellers who dare explore the shafts of strata.

*****

THE FLOWER GROTTO

A granite garden where strange and fragrant subterranean flora bloom under the perpetual phosphorescent aura.

SACHA DIEU – guru of global beats and gypsy burlesque

ISOBEL MIDNIGHT – a burning belle, she will invoke the power of the volcano with a pyrotechnic fanfare

DUNJA KUHN – S&M cabaret artist from Berlin, featuring burlesque, blasphemy and voodoo hula hooping

JAMIE MOON – Musical alchemist, weaving vintage and contemporary floor-fillers and obscurities

*****

THE WATERFALL GALLERY

Where underground streams plunge deep into the terrestrial crust and strange reptiles proliferate in MAYNARD’S TRAVELLING MENAGERIE.

****

THE HANGING GARDENS

Push your way through the trailing tendrils to take up pencil and paper with LONDON DRAWING and capture the saurian wonders that lie beyond. An Ichthyosaurus with flaming red  eyes and a prodigious tail engages in mortal combat with a ighty Plesiosaurus, a serpent with a cylindrical trunk and a short stumpy tail.

****

THE ICE CHASM

A land lying deep in subterranean strata, cut off from the volcanic thermal currents, where an eternal winter reigns. 

Here CAPTAIN CROP and MISTRESS BEATRIX will warm your wan and wearied flesh with their whips and scourges.

****

THE SUNKEN BALLROOM

Hewn out of the volcanic rocks from the furnace of the Earth’s birth, where the denizens of this dark domain gather. 

TROYLUS SEARLL – stately dances from our resident waltzmeister.

THY LAST DROP – Victorian carnival punks evoking the spirit of Jules Verne with songs of alchemy, perilous travel and the subterranean world.

NAOMI WOOD – Marvel at a cavalcade of skill, opulence and daring from this high-flying, death defying aerialist as she consorts, cavorts and contorts on trapeze and wire.

FULL TILT COLLECTIVE – the horns and drums of the FULL TILT will lead you on a voyage of discovery through the aural phenomena of funk, soul, reggae, ska, hip hop and drum and bass.

ROCKIT RIYAD – Dragged up from the dark and dingy depths of London’s top Rock and Heavy Metal clubs, Rockit Riyad will assail the dance floor with his merciless mix of hip hop, electro, dubstep and drum’n’bass.

****

THE LUMINOUS FOREST

Lose yourself in this antediluvian midnight forest where lycopodia, sigillaria and lepidodendra grow from the incandescent rocks. The forest opens after midnight with a surprise cast.

.