Between putting out weekly long-form videos, creating five to seven short-form videos a week, starting up a new podcast, working, returning to university and exercising, I really haven’t had much time for myself. So last weekend, I was more than happy to take a little time out and head over to London to see OX: DREAD Live.

What is OX: DREAD Live?

Well, it’s a horror-themed, Jenga-powered tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) played by four members of the Oxventure team: the roguish Andy Farrant, the incomparable Jane Douglas, the legendary Mike Channell and the chaotically fabulous, but absolutely lovely, Ellen Rose.

For those wondering how exactly Jenga fits into a tabletop roleplaying game, allow me to explain. Instead of rolling dice to determine whether a character succeeds or fails at a dangerous action, the player must remove a block from a Jenga tower. As the game progresses, the tower becomes increasingly unstable, making every attempt to remove another block that little bit more nerve-racking. And if the tower falls? Well, that’s generally the end of your character. It’s a wonderfully simple mechanic that creates an absolutely ridiculous amount of tension.

Last Halloween, the team played a session that saw them take on the roles of teenagers in a slasher movie and, dammit, it was stressful to watch! I actually watched this while on a flight, one which was full of turbulence, and somehow the only thing that stressed me out was watching some of the UK’s top gamers trying to pull a Jenga block out of a tower.

It’s definitely worth a watch:

Quite a few months ago, I saw that they were doing this AGAIN, only this time in front of a live studio audience. Well, you just know this was something I had to see! A buddy and I booked our tickets, and with life having been a little brutal recently, we decided to treat ourselves to the VIP experience. Did we read the fine print to see what that actually included? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But was it worth it? Oh, absolutely.

Fast-forward to October, and my buddy is ill, meaning my long-suffering girlfriend, who has never watched a single video from Outside Xbox, Outside Xtra or Oxventure, is now coming with me to see the show. Granted, I thanked her by being her pack mule all day Friday in London, but Saturday was my day, and that afternoon we made our way to the Bloomsbury Theatre for a meet and greet with the cast. I’m pretty sure I told my girlfriend about this particular part of the experience, but we’ve agreed to disagree over which one of us was wrong. Regardless, we had a fantastic time meeting the cast and managed to get this lovely photo with them.

I’d actually met the cast once before, shortly after finishing chemotherapy. Their content had helped keep me sane during some of the most difficult months of my life, so getting the opportunity to meet them again was an absolute delight. They were every bit as funny, warm and kind as I remembered. Now, I appreciate that meet and greets can be somewhat artificial experiences, but as far as I could tell, they were being genuinely congruent in their interactions with fans.

There was an authenticity to the whole experience that never felt forced. And honestly, it’s one of the many reasons why I’m ride or die for this wonderful motley crew.

They also very kindly explained to my girlfriend what the whole thing was about, which only added to the chaos of the evening.

A Night of Horror and Hilarity

For those unfamiliar with the format, Andy takes on the role of Games Master, guiding his fellow performers through the twisted, dark world he has created for them.

This time around, the story followed a pair of urban explorers, played by Jane and Ellen, alongside a rather obnoxious trust-fund douchebag, played by Mike, as they ventured into the creepy ruins of an abandoned clown-themed amusement park. Before getting into the performance itself, however, I really have to mention the atmosphere, because it was absolutely delightful. Even before the show began, fans were chatting away with one another, sharing their excitement and generally having a wonderful time. Some were even handing out friendship bracelets, which I thought was a genuinely lovely touch.

There was a real sense of community throughout the theatre. People weren’t simply there to watch four entertainers play a game; they were there to share an experience with others who enjoyed the same wonderfully nerdy things they did. In an age when so much of our interaction with fellow fans takes place online, there’s something rather special about seeing that sense of community brought together in person.

As for the performance itself, it was hilarious, nerve-racking and, in almost classic British pantomime fashion, had people enthusiastically yelling out from the audience. Every time someone approached that increasingly unstable Jenga tower, you could feel the tension building throughout the theatre. It genuinely felt like one big extended friend group watching four chaos magicians work their magic for us.

Plus, Andy managed to slip in a reference to the original Street Fighter movie, so you know that’s getting extra points from me.

Daves Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved the show, and I equally enjoyed chatting with the other fans outside afterwards. The entire experience was hilarious, inoffensive and kooky in all the best ways possible.

Between the wonderful cast, the welcoming community and the sheer ridiculousness of watching grown adults become increasingly terrified of a wooden tower, it was exactly the sort of break I needed. My only major regret was deciding to leave dinner until after the show, because having a hangry girlfriend and making a mad dash to Jollibee after 11pm was a dangerous game in itself. Fortunately, I managed to roll a natural 20 on that particular encounter, and everyone made it home happy, well-fed and, most importantly, alive.

100% would do again.