Nestled amongst the attractions of sideshow alley at the rear of the Garden of Unearthly Delights is an unassuming collection of white ocean containers. They house three of the Darkfield experiences, Seance, Flight and Invisible. The nearby screams of patrons being flung high in the air on the various rides lend a strange contrast to the pending experience.
The audience (if you can call them that) is primed for what is to come. No phones on, no light is allowed. No food or drink. An opportunity to leave immediately, if it gets too much. Or simply take off your headsets and sit in darkness for 20 minutes.
We take our seats along each side of the wall, facing a long white central table. There is some time to get ready with the headphones and darkness before the door is closed and we are plunged into darkness. A low background sound floods through the headset before a voice asks, no, demands that we place our hands on the table. It feels as though someone is walking up and down the rickety wooden table. I pull my hands back slightly.
The whispered voice seems to move around the room, ordering people to lie on the table or to taste something. It’s quite an unnerving experience. There is definitely a feeling of summoning souls.
Before long, the Seance is over, and the lights come back on. The participants all stare at each other, their hands firmly on the solid white clothed table.
We emerge back into the gaudy happiness of a colourful sideshow alley. The contrast is palpable as the participants shake their heads to make sense of what just happened.
This is a unique and memorable experience that tests your beliefs in the afterworld.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Darkfield
• Venue: Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park – Kadlitpina, East Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Note: DARKFIELD experiences are suitable for ages 13 and above. 13 to 15-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. Audiences are encouraged to check content warnings before purchasing tickets.
• Website: www.darkfield.com.au/
• 13 February – 22 March 2026
• Price from $22.00 – $27 plus ticketing fees
• Shows: SÉANCE, INVISIBLE and F
• SÉANCE run time: 16 mins (allow 20 mins)
• INVISIBLE run time: 17 mins (allow 20 mins)
• FLIGHT run time: 22 mins (allow 25 mins)
Cover image supplied – credit Jack Rintoul
