In the Dark: London’s Immersive, Groundbreaking Sound Experience

In the Dark is a new and astonishing live music experience. Judith Schrut went to London’s ancient church of St Bartholomew the Great to see what it’s all about.

Take one dark winter’s evening, a stunningly beautiful 900-year old church, and two dozen talented musicians on strings, woodwinds, brass and vocals. Add an inquisitive audience wearing sleep masks and what do you get? The result, I’m delighted to report, is In the Dark.

I went along to In the Dark’s press night in London’s oldest church, St Bartholomew the Great, to see what it was all about.

I discovered a live music experience like no other. For a start, it takes place in unique, intimate, historic spaces and in total darkness – for both audiences and performers. Music to be performed remains secret until each show, so no programmes to flick through as we arrive, although we’re given details of the music played as we leave. There is no stage, no microphones, no loudspeakers. Instead, performers move gently around and through the audience. Acoustics are perfect, naturally. The whole extraordinary undertaking is brought to life by the musicians and vocalists of Hush Collective and its innovative artistic director, Andrea Cockerton.

Apparently, what we see with our eyes is 80% of perception. So what happens if we take that away? In the Dark showed me –  it changes everything. When our sight is removed, when we strip away all visual distractions, we experience how profoundly we can hear.

After a brief introduction by Ms Cockburn, my guest and I put on the black masks we’ve been given. The lights go out and, for the next extraordinary hour, we simply let pure sound wash over us. What we hear is an eclectic mix, harmonious re-workings of sound from folk to classical, from the indie-rock of Mumford & Sons to the dreamy Scandi-acoustics of Ane Brun and Sigur Rós. For me, the vocals are particularly beautiful: sensuous layers of solos and harmonies. Sometimes I feel the singers are right next to me; at other times more distant, or as if floating overhead.

After the show I speak with two Hush musicians, vocalist Hannah Heaton and cellist-vocalist Clare Bostock. They’ve both been with the Collective from the start. “It’s so much fun to perform!” Clare and Hannah say. “You never know what will happen. Andrea gives us freedom for improvisation and change, and that freedom is exciting.”

Hannah is especially pleased with the amazing feedback from audiences. For example, just after tonight’s show she’d met an audience member in floods of tears. “I hope those are happy tears, I told her. The woman was simply overwhelmed with emotion, telling me it was the most emotionally charged show she’d ever been to”.

For me and my guest it had certainly been a special and memorable evening, a chance to focus on the pure act of listening and the unique pleasure that comes with live music. Or, as Clare Teal, one of my favourite musical artists, likes to say, “Live music –  it’s the very best thing for you.”

I was delighted to learn that In the Dark is not only musically sound but ethically sound – a proportion of its profits are donated to support people and projects using sound for social good.

In the Dark, performances at St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, and the Chain Store, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Docklands, until 29 March 2025, with further dates and venues to be announced. Please note tickets are limited – In the Dark events intentionally happen in small, intimate venues. Find out more here.

All images except last, Ian Olsson Photography. Last image, Judith Schrut.