For U

Oh dear it's an essay. Just don't bother reading it - unless you want to find out about Secret Cinema's Back to the Future that is... :)

Today I found myself blipless at 11.45pm then luckily came across this illuminated loveliness for U all, on the way home from a most excellent night at which photography was not permitted.

If I had blipped a pic from this special performance then I'd have to shoot you all and that would be messy and exceedingly difficult.

At very short notice today we were given tickets for the final dress rehearsal of Back to the Future by Secret Cinema. So we hastily pulled together vaguely 50s outfits and swung into Hill Valley circa 1955 for the show's 5.30pm start. 6 hours later, (yes 6) we emerged grinning and dancing into the night. We had a brilliant time.

The girls threw themselves in with gusto - it was great to see them so excited; huge kidlet grins as they leapt about the place. We got to ride an old U.S. school bus, take part in the town parade, dance in the town square, argue with Biff and his bully boys and help two valley girls sneak into the dance. We even stroked the Delorean.

Yes there are minor gripes and improvements begging to be made (don't you dare charge people for fairground rides when they've already paid £53 to get in, springs to mind) but overall I reckon this is great immersive cinema/theatre, provided you throw yourself into it. Full immersion is essential for maximum joy; you have to be able to see the fantasy not the plywood. It's definitely one of the best we've been to and by now we've seen - ooh blimey - I realise it's 9 different immersive shows.

This particular production has been the focus of a huge media storm having cancelled their first week of shows at extremely short notice. Devoted Back to the Future fans were and are furious. I hope most of them can come back another time because I think they'll really like it.