An Interview with… Adam Blackwood, Founder and Creative Director of Private Drama Events
Adam Blackwood is the Founder and Creative Director of Private Drama Events, the UK’s leading multi-award-winning experiential and events agency that specialises in bringing stories to life through extraordinary events and luxury immersive experiences. Blackwood trained as a professional actor at RADA and has over 25 years’ experience working in film, theatre and television. Today, Adam Blackwood is one of the UK’s top creative directors and is renowned for his expertise, knowledge and passion for the arts and brings a unique understanding of how to create and develop theatrical, immersive performances.
Following the huge success of the British Pullman, a Belmond Train’s 2023 Moving Murder Mystery, Private Drama Events has once again partnered with the British Pullman to create The Carriage Club: London’s first immersive cabaret show on a train. The Carriage Club on board British Pullman draws inspiration from London’s vibrant cabaret scene, combining seasonal fine dining with enthralling live performances by a cast of singers, actors, dancers and magicians.
In this interview, we ask Adam Blackwood about his inspiration and process creating The Carriage Club.
What do you turn to for inspiration when developing projects for Private Drama Events?
I think ideas can come from anywhere. It might be seeing a show, an opera, a film, listening to music, visiting a gallery, enjoying a walk or chatting. The spark of inspiration can so often come in many surprising ways and for me the excitement is connecting the story with the means of communication.
The Carriage Club draws inspiration from the infamous 1920’s The Devonshire Restaurant in St James London (later rebranded as the San Marco Restaurant). How have you seen that history come to life in The Carriage Club?
The original images of the Devonshire Restaurant dining layout look similar to the layout in the carriages of the train and it is where I started with the potential cabaret experience. In addition, some of the performers could almost have just stepped out of the doors of the restaurant and into the magical interior of our Carriage Club on board the British Pullman.
What is your favourite piece of cabaret history, or what interesting anecdotes have you come across when putting together The Carriage Club narrative?
Cabaret is such a rich source of inspiration at the moment. Be it musical shows like Moulin Rouge and Kit Kat Cabaret or Brasserie Zedel, The London Cabaret Club, Medium Rare or The Phoenix Arts Club, we are spoilt for choice. It is hard to choose a favourite cabaret artist but the amazing burlesque artist Jolie Papillon and the brilliant juggler Florian Brooks are, once seen, never to be forgotten.
Image credits: The Other Richard
What challenges and triumphs have you experienced in putting together a cabaret performance on a moving train?
For most cabaret shows, you sit in the comfortable surroundings of a lovely dining theatre space, are plied with a glass of champagne and then you sit back and watch the show. In The Carriage Club, all the acts have to move around and visit the audience whilst in between the guests are served a five course dinner. This can sometimes lead to a few challenges, not least doing the splits in the aisles or spinning decks of playing cards up in the air as stewards are passing amongst them and delivering food to all the guests.
As the UK’s first immersive cabaret show on a moving train, why is now the right time for The Carriage Club? What kinds of stories do you think guests are looking for today?
Since returning to the live scene post COVID-19, people are looking for experiences that they can be a part of. A cabaret on a luxury moving train is exactly that, and a totally new idea that they can be immersed in. We hope that audiences are going to love this. Great food, fine win and fabulous cabaret. What’s not to like?
What does luxury mean to you?
A chilled glass of champagne, entertaining company, delicious food and beautiful surroundings. Sounds a bit like The Carriage Club!
Image credits: The Other Richard
The first of nine exclusive The Carriage Club dinners will take place on Friday 31st May 2024. Prices per person start at £545 and include a round trip on the luxury British Pullman, A Belmond Train, welcome champagne, five-course dinner by Head Chef, Jon Freeman, and live cabaret performances.
Adam Blackwood
