Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the fantasy tabletop role-playing game, has been attracting tens of millions of players around the world for 50 years. Since its inception in the 1970s, it has inspired and evolved. There have been television series, films, multiple books, and now, Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern merges gaming and improv comedy successfully through interactive theatre.

Fans of D&D will love the show; however, it’s also a great night out for novices (aka me) who don’t know what D&D is.

Dungeon Master (William Kasper) and Tavern Keeper (Zoë Harlen), explain all the steps to the audience. The rest of the crew includes Warrior Atlas Adams, Spellcaster Eleanor Stankiewicz and Trickster Trubie-Dylan Smith. With over 300 individual pieces of content, there are multiple ways for the quest to unfold. This means the actors are required to improvise their storytelling and here is where the cast excels, entertaining the audience on the fly whilst keeping focus on the story narrative.

Running in a ‘choose your own adventure’ style, the audience selects their hero and then gamifies through the Gamiotics platform, using online voting to decide the direction the story takes. The audience chooses where the players will go, who they will meet, and what action or experience they undertake. The interactive element is both online and offline as onstage volunteers are called up to join the cast of heros and compete in games and physical challenges.

Set design by KC McGeorge takes the audience straight into the fantasy world of Tavern Bar and game arena. The stage is scattered with props from D&D (books, costumes and action figures) and a giant screen used to show the animation, vote results and the all important dice-rolling close-ups.

Trying to follow the dice-counting points allocation gets a bit confusing but that can be left to our MC / Dungeon Master. The audience can focus on enjoying the show and playing along via puzzles, riddles, and games.

Audience members are encouraged to dress up D&D style (as witches, wizards and game characters) and I saw a bit of this on the night I went. This is a game night with repeat attendees, keen to return, as no night is the same and how the game is played the night prior will impact the next night’s story.

Led resident director of the Off-Broadway production, Michael Fell, this theatrical production has been brought to life by Tony-nominated Broadway producer David Carpenter and Showpath Entertainment. Carpenter is also the Founder and CEO of Gamiotics Inc. The experience is currently running off-Broadway in New York city and will start a US tour in 2025.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern is a fun, engaging and an opportunity to socialise in a unique way. 

3.5 stars.

NB: Whilst playing along, try one of the colourful healing potions such as the Wizard’s Brew and Bullywug Fizz, served to the side of the Tavern.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern is playing at Sydney Opera House until 8 March 2025. 

For tickets visit Sydney Opera House