A birthday party at a village hall might sound like an unlikely setting for a Halloween fright.

But RSVP turns that familiar invitation into something genuinely scary – and enormously good fun.

The debut production from Horsham-based Ezra Immersive brings audiences to Warnham Village Hall for Tommy Crimble’s tenth birthday party. You meet his family, join the celebrations and become part of an evening – with secrets best discovered for yourself.

Revealing much more would spoil the experience. This is a review that comes with a plea: go in knowing as little as possible.

Davey Ezra, founder and creative director of Ezra Immersive, has brought his first original production, RSVP, to Warnham Village Hall this October. (Photo: Maddi Masters)

placeholder image — Davey Ezra, founder and creative director of Ezra Immersive, has brought his first original production, RSVP, to Warnham Village Hall this October. (Photo: Maddi Masters)

What I can say is that I loved it. For just over an hour, I felt completely immersed in the story, caught up in a world brought convincingly to life by an impressive cast.

There is something of an escape room about RSVP, with its invitation to get involved and piece together a mystery. But the actors give it another dimension. Their performances make you feel as though you have stepped into a horror film and become one of its characters.

That sense of involvement is its biggest strength. You are part of what is happening, and that makes the scares feel considerably closer to home.

At times, it really is frightening but other moments are exceptionally funny. There is a huge amount of fun to be had, with the dark comedy helping to make this an entertaining experience as well as an unsettling one.

Sam Morton (left) and Maddi Masters (right) took part in the immersive horror experience, created by Davey Ezra (centre).

Founder and creative director Davey Ezra summed up that approach when we spoke at the venue.

“It’s not just a show that you’re watching, you are very much in the action, figuring it all out as part of the show,” he said.

Davey, who also performs in the production, launched Ezra Immersive around three months ago after nearly 20 years working in the industry. His experience includes scare acting and work on productions such as Shocktober Fest at Tulleys Farm.

The idea for RSVP began with a practical question: what could he create in a venue he could afford?

“Village halls aren’t very expensive, so I thought to myself, what can I do in a village hall? And then I thought, well, village halls have birthday parties in.”

From there came the Crimble family, their contrasting personalities and the mystery that draws the audience into their world.

That emphasis on character pays off. The acting was one of the highlights for me, making it easy to become absorbed in the story and forget the everyday setting around us.

Davey describes RSVP as an option for people who enjoy horror and comedy but want to try something different from a succession of jump scares. On the strength of my visit, it delivers.

With Halloween approaching, this is a memorable way to spend an evening out: an intriguing invitation, an impressive cast and the chance to feel like you are inside your own horror film.

Just be careful which birthday invitations you accept.

RSVP returns to Warnham Village Hall on October 23, 30 and 31, with further performances on November 6 and 7. The experience is advertised as lasting 75 minutes. Tickets are £34.95 and it is for ages 16 and over.