New Immersive Show 'Pirates of the Pearl' Hits the Hai Seas!

By Ned Kelly, October 20, 2023

Ahoy There Me Hearties! New immersive show Pirates of the Pearl invites you into a world of swashbuckling adventures, aerial performances, fire dances and sea shanties.

Engage with the cast of 20 charismatic pirates, solve puzzles, and navigate treacherous waters as you become an integral part of the narrative.

Leave the landlubber life behind, crack open a bottle of rum to ready those sea legs, and get ready to set sail!

Eric Paci and Brian Wang are the co-director/co-producer partnership behind the show. We reached out to them to find out more...

Eric Paci: My name is Eric Paci. I moved to Shanghai from the Boston area and have lived in Shanghai for around 10 years. I have been involved in the local expat theater scene for around nine of those years.

I have directed shows ranging from Glengarry Glen Ross to Reservoir Dogs and performed in many other shows. Playing Prince Humperdink in The Princess Bride is one of my favorite roles and served as a major inspiration.

This is the fourth immersive show that Brian and I have developed together. The first was Ship of Dreams: The Titanic Experience, which took place on a boat that sailed along the Bund throughout the performance.

A few years ago, we teamed up with The Pearl to bring Moulin Dream to the stage, and now we have developed an even bigger show with great characters, set, and costumes.

The Pearl Theater is the perfect venue for bringing our truly unique style of immersive theater to our audiences.

Brian Wang: Arriving in Shanghai in 2011, I met Eric Paci when we acted together in a memorable theater adaptation of Fight Club at the old Arkham nightclub.

We have collaborated on over a dozen theater shows in Shanghai, including The Princess Bride, Hamlet, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Reservoir Dogs.

We team up to both focus on the big picture and overall audience experience as well as the many complex details and ensure that our collective dreams come to life.

When did you first conceive of the Pirates of the Pearl show?
The first conversations about an immersive pirate show took place on our Titanic boat six years ago. It was fun being on a boat modeled after an old junk boat, sailing on the Huangpu four nights a week.

During a celebration after our last show, we all just started talking like pirates. And here we are, six years later about to start a run of that show.

We started developing the details a few years ago and began rehearsing for a Spring 2022 opening. Due to repeated lockdowns and closures, we had to cancel the run.

We have now reimagined the show and finally get to bring our dream to fruition.

What is the premise of the show?
The show is built around the inaugural night of the formation of the Republic of Pirates, a democratic society in a time of tyranny and imperialism. This night marks the drafting of the Pirate Code and the establishment of rules for pirating.

The story is a tangled web of power struggles, love, betrayal, revenge, and adventure amongst different pirate factions.

It revolves around King Pirate, Inigo Montoya, Zheng Yi, and Jack Sparrow, each with their unique motivations, allies, and rivals.

What can people expect?
Participants can expect an immersive, multi-sensory experience that will transport them to the world of pirates.

They will be part of an epic adventure filled with intrigue, sword fights, gambling, and romance. There will be music, dance, and of course, plenty of pirate shenanigans.

With over 20 pirates, a half dozen dancers, aerial performances, and fire dances, there is something for everyone that attends.

The narrative unfolds through interactions with the performers and exploration of the setting, allowing participants to influence the storyline and become part of the spectacle.

Every performance is different as audience members often dress in costume and develop their own plots and help shape the actions of the actors in the show.

It is an immersive performance – how does that work?
In an immersive performance, the audience isn't just observing the action from a distance; they become active participants in the narrative.

The entire venue is the stage, and the audience can move freely, interacting with the performers and the environment.

The narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion, and the audience can choose their own path through the story, leading to a unique experience for each participant.

Direct Interaction with Characters: Audience members have the opportunity to interact with the characters in the show. This could involve conversations, being asked to perform tasks, or even becoming a temporary part of the storyline. The characters react and respond to audience members, making each interaction unique.
Choose Your Own Adventure: The storyline is non-linear, allowing audience members to choose their own paths through the narrative. This could mean deciding to follow a certain character, choosing to explore different parts of the venue, or making choices that affect the story's outcome.
Physical Environment: The environment itself is interactive. This may mean finding hidden clues or items, interacting with set pieces, or discovering secret scenes. The venue is designed to be explored and will reward curious audience members with additional layers of the story.
Participation in Activities: There are various activities that audience members can participate in throughout the show. This could include dancing with a group of jovial pirates, joining a card game, or becoming a member of one of the pirate fleets to help them rise to power.
Costume and Role-Playing: Audience members are encouraged to dress as pirates and play along. This could mean adopting a pirate accent, creating a pirate persona, or even pretending to be part of a pirate crew.
Decision Making: Audience members may be asked to make decisions that affect the outcome of the story. This could mean choosing sides in a pirate feud, deciding whether to reveal a secret, or voting on the Pirate Code.

These interactive elements are designed to blur the line between performer and audience, creating a deeply engaging and personal experience.

Each audience member's experience of the show will be unique, shaped by their own decisions and interactions.

And you are encouraging people to dress up?
Absolutely! Dressing up adds to the immersive quality of the experience and helps the audience to feel like they're part of the pirate world.

We encourage everyone to come decked out in their pirate finery. However, it's not mandatory, and we welcome everyone, whether they choose to dress up or not.

Who is your favorite character?
It's tough to choose a favorite, as I love all our characters for their distinct personalities and motivations. However, I have a soft spot for Jack Sparrow and Inigo Montoya.

Jack, with his charm, unpredictability, and uncanny knack for getting out of sticky situations, is endlessly entertaining.

On the other hand, Inigo's quest for revenge and his noble intentions, despite being a pirate, add a depth to his character that I find very appealing.

Will there be any sea shanties being sung?
Yes, definitely! What is a pirate show without sea shanties?

Our talented musical team has created a fantastic score for the show, which includes traditional sea shanties, modern pop songs, opera, and original compositions.

The music is central to the atmosphere of the show, and we hope it will have the audience humming along.

Pirates of the Pearl

From the creative team that brought you Moulin Dream Immersive, experience interactive theater with Pirates of the Pearl!

Brace yourself for an extraordinary evening where captivating tales from Pirates of the Caribbean, Princess Bride, and One Piece merge seamlessly with the legends of real-life pirates from Chinese history.

Enter 'The Black Pearl' and be transported to a world where the swashbuckling adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, the poetic vengeance of Inigo Montoya, and the audacious spirit of Monkey D. Luffy intertwine with the captivating stories of renowned real-world pirates like Cheng Shih and Zheng Yi.

Immerse yourself in a pirate sanctuary, where the air crackles with tension and the echoes of sea shanties fill the room. Engage with the charismatic cast, solve puzzles, and navigate treacherous waters as you become an integral part of the narrative.

Pirates of the Pearl is an immersive extravaganza that transports you to the golden age of piracy, immersing you in a world of action, adventure, and historical intrigue on all three floors of The Black Pearl Theater.

Pirates of the Pearl is an interactive theater event, and audience members are encouraged to dress up and cosplay as your favorite pirates to join in the fun!

Don’t forget to book ahead. They have special limited dinner menu prepared by Chef Lung and a special whiskey, gin, and rum cocktails from the team at Hai Seas Distillery.

Scan the QR to get your tickets now: