Alcotraz, at 592 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Locked up, with no place to go. After all, you are in a jail, with ocean all around (think Alcatraz).

And yet a horrible infection is spreading. Inmates are dying.

Still, at least moonshine is on the menu, even though the screws tell you it ain’t.

Welcome to the immersive experience that is Alcotraz.

As far as the storyline is concerned, there is more going on here than at first meets the eye. The questions are: What? Who is in on it? and “For what purpose?

So, this is how the fun-filled experience goes down:

After you buy your ticket to the hour-45-minute offering, you are given brief riding instructions: No drugs. No flash photography. And, no touching of the actors.

A door opens and a guard, whose name turns out to be Wilmot (one of two in the room, the other being Gill), barks instructions: “Against the wall; this is not a drill; arms out.”

Next, each of the 48 of us taking part (in fact the “prison” is large enough to “host” two groups of 48 – one on each side of the facility) is handed an orange jumpsuit.

Next thing you know, you are being led down a narrow corridor to the cell block.

Up to six (at a squeeze) can fit into one of the 10 tiny cells (that, for all intents and purposes, look like the real thing) in one of the two blocks that constitute the jail.

Once inside, there is some interaction with the screws before the warden, Jericho Rose, arrives. And let me tell you, he is no shrinking violet.

We are told we will be fed chicken soup (take that to mean cocktails or mocktails), four of which are part of the experience.

We are asked to fill out prison report cards, including the reason we were arrested and why we may deserve parole.

Later, each inmate is seen by the warden in the company of his/her/their cellmates.

It is an opportunity to plead your case for freedom, though, I warn you, you are highly unlikely to pull a swifty on the warden. Instead, there are laughs aplenty.

Still, it is only a matter of time before things come to a head as the medical crisis deepens.

Alcotraz is a beaut group activity, something to consider for a birthday, a buck’s or hen’s night, as a team bonding exercise or just for a good day or night out.

The full theatrical experience can be had at 592 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.

For bookings, go to https://alcotraz.com/melbourne/