Ice Spy: The Great Escape

By Poppy Wilgress Lost Voices Intern

In the December 2022, Mess Up The Mess had their annual Winter show entitled ‘Ice Spy: The Great Escape’. The show, developed and performed by young people with the help of artists, was an interactive escape room experience wherein the audience had to solve puzzles and find clues for Tulip, a young botanist to be, who discovers that plants are slowly dying as a result of the evil doings of the company Amci Soul. It was up to the audience to find the clues and help Tulip save the future. Audience members were drafted into being ‘spys’ and were guided through the show by head spy ‘Spy-ghetti’ and her new recruits. Audiences members went in to several rooms, each featuring a different settings and characters, including a Wasteland, Science Lab and Board room.

‘Ice Spy: The Great Escape’ was first developed during the summer of 2022 in Mess Up The Mess  Creative Escapes workshops. Here the young people first developed the story of Tulip and the dying plants, as well as the escape room concept. During the autumn season, the young people developed the show further with Theatre writing team Flossy and Boo and worked with several other artists to create music, costumes and sets for the show. What makes productions such as this so special and so integral to Mess Up The Mess’s mission is that the whole show from initial concept to performance is created by the young people and features topics and issues that they care about. With Ice Spy, the show heavily featured the theme of environmentalism and conservation, as well as some commentary on the role that businesses play in climate change and pollution.

The young people at Mess Up The Mess had a thrilling and rewarding time participating in the show, whether they were involved in the production design, costumes, performing and even writing. The winter show was also an opportunity for the young people to showcase and demonstrate all the skills and confidence they have gained since Mess Up The Mess. One family member of young people commented that “Our child is thriving ! She is confident and exploring many directions of the theatre and performance”. Another comment from a young person’s carer explained that “Since starting Mess Up The Mess, we have seen the (young person) ‘s confidence grow,social anxiety has become under control and her general well-being so much better”. The show and the performers also received much praise and positive comments with audience members describing the show as ‘Energetic’, ‘ Entertaining , ‘Exciting’ and ‘Intriguing’.

All in all, Mess Up The Mess’s winter production of ‘Iced Spy: The Great Escape’ has been a tremendous success, not only because of it’s exciting escape room structure and compelling story, but also for the way it brought all members of Mess Up The Mess together to be create something unique and special.

Though the winter show may be over, Mess Up The Mess will continue to provide weekly drama workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be taking part in a number of projects throughout the year, including theatre trips, Yfory, Peer Leading training and our Lost Voices project with Llamau.