Hotel corridors, hidden corners and familiar spaces will take on a different life this October as Upper House turns three of its properties into stages for a new immersive theatre series.
Titled WITHIN, the production is created with international creative studio ONE HUNDRED as the latest chapter of Upper House’s Art Encounters program.
Rather than sitting in front of a conventional stage, audiences will move through the hotel and become part of the performance, with movement, light and sound guiding each 20-minute journey.
The series will unfold over three consecutive weekends in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai, with a different chapter created for each House.
Upper House Hong Kong opens the series with The Dreamer from October 9 to 11, taking audiences on an ascending journey toward a more tranquil, dreamlike sanctuary.
It will be followed by The Phoenix at Upper House Chengdu from October 16 to 18, where the narrative moves through time before arriving at a hidden garden.
The final chapter, The Collector, runs at Upper House Shanghai from October 23 to 25, exploring secret encounters, curiosities and the idea of collecting.
WITHIN was developed by creatives behind Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More, the immersive theatre production known for allowing audiences to navigate freely through a story rather than observe it from a fixed seat.
For Upper House, that approach offered a way to make the hotels themselves part of the work.
“With every edition of Art Encounters, we look for new and unexpected ways to connect people with culture,” said Teresa Muk, head of brand and strategic marketing at Swire Hotels.
She said WITHIN reflects the character of the brand through “unscripted hospitality and genuine connection,” while giving visitors another way to experience spaces that differ from one House to another.
ONE HUNDRED artistic director and choreographer Conor Doyle said the project was built around intimacy and curiosity.
“Through WITHIN, we’ve taken what makes each House special and used performers, movement, light, and sound to turn quiet corridors into living stories,” he said.
“Audiences don’t just watch — they step directly into the performance and shape their own experience.”
Upper House first introduced its cultural program in 2019 under the name Encounters Across Cultures, before renaming it Art Encounters.
The initiative has focused on collaborations that bring together local and international creative perspectives, with WITHIN extending that approach into performance.
The experience is complimentary and open to the public by advance reservation, with limited spaces available.
Upper House’s Art Encounters 2026 – WITHIN Experience Dates
The Dreamer – Upper House Hong Kong
Date: 9-11 October 2026
The Phoenix – Upper House Chengdu
Date: 16-18 October 2026
The Collector – Upper House Shanghai
Date: 23-25 October 2026
Click here for details.
