What is You Me Bum Bum Train? | Our guide to the mysterious immersive theatrical experience

An AI-generated image of a train taking passengers through abstract experiences

What is You Me Bum Bum Train?

You Me Bum Bum Train is an immersive, interactive theatrical experience that places its ticket holders, or ‘passengers’, at the centre of varying surreal scenarios, one at a time.

When did it start?

Devised by Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd in 2004, who met as art students studying in Brighton, You Me Bum Bum Train was conceptualised by Bond through a drawing she made of a train taking passengers to different worlds. At first, the pair did not acknowledge the concept as a theatrical experience, instead exploring their creativity through ideas that were innovative and undefined. After the 2004 show, it reappeared in 2011 in a former postal depot in Holborn, in 2012 at Empire House in Stratford, and between 2015-2016 in the former Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road. Over the course of its productions, the show has grown from its humble beginnings, with the pair initially designing and building their own sets, repurposing abandoned materials, and staging events in disused buildings to keep costs low.

What are the performances like?

It is hard to pin down what exactly happens at a You Me Bum Bum Train experience. This is not only because the scenarios within the event are completely redesigned with every rendition but also because the secrecy of the goings-on is imperative to the production’s identity. After all, this allusiveness is something you are immediately greeted with when entering their website, stating that “for the show to have maximum effect, the less you know the better. If you want tickets, do not research into You Me Bum Bum Train”. From what we can gather, each participant is forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and from then on, you enter a multitude of different experiences where you take the lead, most of which are only minutes long. However, while you are the centre of these worlds, you are not alone; there are a vast number of volunteers (and sometimes celebrities) who help to guide you through. The general notion from reviewers is that these experiences are life-changing, with the sets being immensely believable, unlocking new facets of yourself you may not have known were there.

What sets them apart?

Besides the unanimously raving reviews each iteration of the experience has received, You Me Bum Bum Train stands out through its undeterred, remarkable ethos. Since its inception, Bond and Lloyd have been candid about the struggles of putting on such ambitious and costly events, stating that they did not take a wage until the 2015 rendition, relying on state welfare and the generosity of their patrons is what helps keep the production alive. Because of this, the priority of You Me Bum Bum Train is the transformative power of each experience, not just for the ‘passengers’ but for all who are involved. The shows have resisted commercialisation, operating as a not-for-profit limited company, ensuring that its focus remains on creativity and the freedom of expression central to each participant. This ethos is seen through their donations and collaborations with various charities. The 2016 production raised over £120,000 for charity, and the planned run in 2020 was meant to be a fundraiser for War Child UK, which was unfortunately disrupted by the Covid pandemic. In 2024, they worked with Raise Your Hands by giving them some tickets to sell and organising private nights for groups.

Despite this unwavering dedication to using theatre as a force for good, You Me Bum Bum Train stands apart through the grandeur of its production, with participants of the 2024-2025 run saying they have made the designs and experiences even bigger and bolder. It is no surprise, then, that the show won the Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust prize in 2010 and was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2013. Over the course of the years, it has been rumoured to attract A-List celebrities as both participants and volunteers, including Madonna, Ian McKellen, Kate Winslet, Stephen Fry, Noel Gallagher, James Corden and Jude Law. It has affected acclaimed actors to the extent that Neil Patrick Harris went to his Instagram, unsolicited, to make a video stating it is “one of the greatest experiences you’ll have in your entire life.”

When are they next performing?

The current rendition of You Me Bum Bum Train has been running since November 2024 and extends until the 4th of April 2025. All we know about the undisclosed location is that it is somewhere on Shaftesbury Avenue inside an unremarkable, drab office block.

How can I see one of their performances?

Unfortunately, the ‘passenger’ tickets for the rest of the 2025 run sold out extremely quickly due to high demand. However, on the You Me Bum Bum Train website, you can apply to get involved as a volunteer, even if you have no prior experience. They make it clear that you are free to dictate your level of involvement.

If future events do occur, to obtain tickets you must join the mailing list via the website, where you will be able to enter the ticket ballot and access the information as to when the shows are on. Previous participants have stated that tickets sell for £100.

This article was originally written for The Cusp magazine. To read it in its original form, please follow this link: https://thecuspmagazine.com/features/what-is-youmebumbumtrain/