A loo-dicrously fun experience
A micro-escape room in a portable toilet
The T.U.R.D.I.S. (Toilet Utilities Requiring Dexterity, Intelligence & Skill)
is a portable escape room experience that’s perfect for weddings, festivals, conferences and other special events
I have been suffering from constipation of the brain lately, and with a backlog of reviews to write, I was loaf to add another one. Butt poo knew a time-traveling toilet would be just the mental enema I would need to finally crimp one out?
Now, poop jokes aren’t my favorite…But they’re a solid number two. When I was challenged to a poo-off by my fellow Blogger, David Spira, of Room Escape Artist, in our respective repoos for this experience, I knew I would need to either sh*t or get off the pot. Check out David’s review over on the REA Website.
Now, if you’re unprepared to continue reading the utter crap I am about to expel, and would prefer to avoid the poonami, Gord requested I sit this poo-view on a metaphorical Japanese Toilet seat and give you a squeaky clean translation at the bottom.
My doody is done, and you have been warned. I sha(n’)t be a party-pooper. Urine trouble now, David, for this page has just become ‘Review the Poo’. Let the Battle Sh*ts commence.
With a name like “The Turdis”, you’d be forgiven for expecting a steaming mess of a game. After all, a toilet-themed escape room parodying Doctor Who isn’t a particularly dignified concept. It’s also a bit of a bowel-ancing act playing with people you’ve never met before, but we were up for the challenge, as Review the Room joined Room Escape Artist, and Evan of the MIT Puzzle Hunt when we encountered The T.U.R.D.I.S. at the IEN Summit. But just like its inspiration, this poop-up escape room proved to be surprisingly spacious, easily accommodating three grown adults as we set about our mission to fix the Flush Capacitor, and get Dr Poo moving once more.
IMMERSION/ROOM DESIGN
Now, the concept is, frankly, ridiculous: you’re trapped inside a malfunctioning T.U.R.D.I.S., and your only way out is to fix the temporal flush system before time (and other things) run out. It’s a premise that could easily have gone down the pan, but the designers (the brains behind Bewilder Box in Brighton) have fully committed to the bit. The décor was bog-standard in the best possible way. Every detail felt authentic, right down to the roll holders and suspicious blue lighting. It’s not surprising, it is an actual porta-loo after all, but fortunately, it is one that has never been desecrated. In fact, with its shiny disco ball, one might even call it a party-loo.
PUZZLES
The mad geniuses behind The T.U.R.D.I.S. clearly didn’t just plop things together. No, the puzzles were like a high-fibre diet for the brain – something often lacking at the festivals the T.U.R.D.I.S typically frequents. Not once were we caught with our pants down, nor were we straining or wondering what to doo doo, with each puzzle offering a satisfying flush of victory.
GM/CLUE SYSTEM
If urine trouble, or you’re feeling the pressure, never fear, ass-istance is never far away. Hosted by Dr Poo, and her Number Two, clues will come floating toward you should you require, for despite one normally wishing for a bit of privy-cy when worshipping at the porcelain throne, the door to the T.U.R.D.I.S. is never closed. Be warned, however, for you may encounter even more toilet-related humour from the time-travelling duo than I’ve already subjected you to.
ANYTHING ELSE
The T.U.R.D.I.S has certainly left an impression, and thankfully it’s not one that needs wiping away. Just remember should you ever have the pleasure of using it: The T.U.R.D.I.S is not a functioning toilet!
Oh, are you still here, or did you skip down here for the more digestible version of this review? The short version is, if you’re wondering whether to hire the T.U.R.D.I.S for your event, or give it a try if you happen to spot it out in the wild, my answer is a resounding “YES!” It most certainly is not a party pooper.
The truly joyful 5-15 minutes you might spend within the surprisingly spacious confines of the T.U.R.D.I.S. will leave you just as light and buoyant as if you just dropped the kids off at the pool.
(Okay, so the clean version isn’t quite as clean as you’d get with a bidet, but it’s close.)
Success/Failed
Final Rating:
Operation Puzzles Room Design GM/Clues Excitement
Team: 3 players – 5 minutes, 6 seconds.
Address: Mobile – you can rent it!
Website: https://bewilderbox.co.uk/portaclue/
*Disclaimer: we weren’t charged for this experience, but this has not influenced our review
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