BEHIND THE SCENES OF "THE ACID BATH MURDERER" LIVE EXPERIENCE.

Revealing the Secrets of Our Most Immersive Show Yet

At The Acid Bath Murderer Live Experience, we pride ourselves on delivering a meticulously crafted and intensely immersive journey into one of Britain’s most notorious true crime tales. But what truly powers the magic behind the horror? How do the actors always seem to know exactly where you are? Why do the scenes shift so seamlessly? And just how many actors are there?

Well, we’re about to pull back the curtain.

When we’ve shared some of the behind the scenes secrets with others in the industry, the response is always the same:“Whaaaaaaaaat?!?!”

So here it is. Some (But far from all) of our favourite tricks of the trade that make this hybrid immersive experience tick.

🔘 Secret Triggers

If you've been through the experience, you’ve probably noticed how the actors seem impossibly in-sync with your movements, often appearing precisely when and where the narrative needs them to. But it’s not magic. It's a well-oiled system of hidden buttons, light signals, and careful choreography.

While there is a central control room handling surveillance and certain technical elements, the real wizardry happens on the ground. Think about it, the actor can't be both ready and in position to perform, and keeping up with the technical operations of the experience at the same time. As groups move through the experience and complete challenges, our system flashes discreet lights in actor holding areas. These flashes act as real-time signals, telling performers exactly how close the group is to arriving.

Then comes the best part: hidden scene release buttons. Once the actor is in position and ready, they press the trigger, which opens a door or transitions the group into the next scene. From the guest’s perspective, it feels like an automated system kicking in, but in reality, it’s the actor confirming they’re prepped and in position. This process is repeated multiple times throughout the show, each time with a slightly different twist.

🎭 One Actor or Two? (Or Three?)

Here’s something that blows minds every time we reveal it: This entire experience can be run with just one actor.

Yes, it’s designed to run with a full cast of three, and that’s when it operates at full throttle—but in leaner moments, the show can adapt on the fly. Through rapid costume changes, precisely timed sound and lighting cues, and clever use of the aforementioned trigger system, a single performer can convincingly appear as multiple different characters, sometimes mere seconds apart.

Using this approach, one actor can seemingly be in two places at once, coming from different angles, in wildly different personas, supported by timed effects that mask transitions and heighten the illusion. Guests rarely, if ever, realise the trickery. Something we’re particularly proud of.

🌑 Working in Blackout

There are several blackout scenes in the experience: full, pitch-dark moments that test the nerves of guests. But what you may not realise is that, even in total darkness, actors are moving with precision. So how do they do it?

Two key tools:

1. Invisible Glow Strips – Each set is subtly laced with tiny glow-in-the-dark strips, invisible to guests but visible to actors who know where to look. These guide them through the space, mark obstacles, and even help them gauge the position of the audience based on which strips are blocked from view.

2. Safety Tethers – In fast-paced transitions, actors use short lengths of string attached to specific points like door handles or set pieces. Each has a loop that fits over their finger, allowing them to silently follow the string to a specific destination—even while moving at speed in complete darkness.

It's a bit like echolocation—except with nylon thread and adrenaline.

🧨 Extra Scenes Added (Mid-Run)

One of the most exciting parts of this project is that it’s never really “finished.” Thanks to a robust backend system (powered by COGS show control), we’ve been able to add entire new scenes mid-run, using the tech infrastructure already in place.

Take, for example, the blitz scene as guests exit Leeds Prison. Originally unplanned, it was added later by repurposing the space and layering new effects: a subwoofer for rumble, soundtrack changes for realism, and flickering lights for the illusion of bombing. Just a few tweaks to an existing environment created a high-impact new scene without any structural changes, and depending on the group, scenes can be added or removed seperately for each instance.

Final Thoughts

We’re often asked how we manage to make The Acid Bath Murderer Live Experience feel so reactive, seamless, and alive. The answer is a combination of tech precision, performance flexibility, and creative problem-solving. Every show is slightly different, and that’s what keeps it fresh, not just for the guests, but for us too.

So next time you're creeping through one of our dimly lit corridors or feeling that rising tension before a sudden reveal, just remember: what seems like chaos is actually a finely tuned symphony of scares, signals, and surprise.

And now that you’re in on the secret... try not to ruin it for everyone else 😉.

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DESIGNING IMMERSIVE.

It's complicated, intricate and specialist. Koncept has it mastered. 

Koncept are specialists in writing and designing immersive attractions that stand out. With a portfolio of award-winning productions, Koncept has a proven track record of transforming ideas into fully realized, expertly written experiences that customers will pay to be immersed in.