Little Lark of London

Standing in a queue in an alleyway, staring at shipping crates, ready for Gingerline’s The Grand Expedition: The Incredible Edible Journey, I had no idea what to expect. Were we going to be dining in the crates themselves? How was everyone going to fit? I was tempted to ask the staff members checking us in but decided to let the mystery unfold. And thank goodness I did, as it allowed me to have some wonderful moments of discovery that had my jaw dropping in awe of what I was witnessing. 

For those unfamiliar with Gingerline, they are “immersive dining and experiential event producers” who have been putting on immersive dining shows in London and beyond, giving diners the opportunity to have both a great show and an immersive meal. The Grand Expedition, written by Suz Mountfort and directed by Rob Keates, is their “Homecoming” show as it is the first show the company has put on in London in four years. This particular production is described as a “100-minute dining extravaganza” in which guests go on an adventure around the world in hot air balloons. 

Even though the balloons do not move during your journey, the room is surrounded by walls of screens that allow expeditioners to travel around the world through the illustrations of Fred Campbell and animations by Greenaway & Greenaway. The style is lovely, if at times a bit repetitive. Composer Lex Kosanke has written an engaging score for The Grand Expedition that matches each of the scenes, making for a pleasurable journey. It truly feels as though we are flying through a storybook, being guided by the narrator’s voice and the performers who bring the stories to life. 

The cast, described as “Aeronauts and Local Dancers,” were all brilliant and engaging, putting on fantastic performances and switching between a range of dance styles with ease (aided by Creative Collaborators Saju Hari and Hallgrim Hansegård), all while encouraging the audience to participate in activities. Particular mentions must be given to Jeremiah Olusola for getting everyone participating (even the most unsure diners), Robbie Hébert for his impressive acrobatic skills (with assistance from Circus Consultant Jack Horner), Wenqiu Jiang for her gorgeous dancing and fantastic puppetry and Björn Åslund for his unicycling skills! The first few scenes were incredibly interactive and were definitely when I enjoyed myself the most, as I found myself desiring more interaction with the performers as the meal went on. 

While I cannot say I have much experience in reviewing food, I can say that I enjoyed the meal provided by Gingerline and Executive Chef Jenny McNeill. Without going into too many spoilers, each course takes you on an edible journey to a new part of the world, including some that allow you to contribute to the dishes yourself! I particularly liked the dessert, a combination of the different flavours we had experienced during our expedition. 

I was lucky enough to be in a balloon with just one other group, a lovely couple who told me they’d been coming to Gingerline’s shows for years. Everyone is seated in hot air balloons with multiple groups, which can be a bit awkward for those who go alone and are not expecting to have conversations with fellow audience members. While I did enjoy speaking with my fellow expeditioners, there were some moments where I felt like I was missing out on the activities going on around me with the performers and other audience members.

Ultimately, Gingerline’s The Grand Expedition: The Incredible Edible Journey is a fun dining experience that heralds the return of a great immersive company to the city. I look forward to seeing what Gingerline does next, continuing to pave the way for immersive dining in London and beyond. 

The Grand Expedition: The Incredible Edible Journey is running through 12 May. Tickets can be purchased here.