The Tape Escape

Created by Vanessa Smythe, Mitchell Cushman and Nick Bottomley

Outside the March gives QUEEN VIDEO a re-birth with an immersive escape room experience that invites you to PUT YOUR LIFE ON PAUSE.

Most video stores let you take the movies home. But at THE TAPE ESCAPE, the rentals happen to you, pulling you deep inside its collection of thousands of VHS Tapes. Disappear back into 1999 with this love-letter to the lost art of browsing. See if you can escape into (and out of) some of your favourite movies by selecting from our collection of “in store rentals”.



THREE IN-STORE RENTALS TO CHOOSE FROM:

Love Without Late Fees
Six Tapes to Find the One

More than just a video store, The Tape Escape runs its own matchmaking service—pairing up movie-lovers in its customer date-a-base. Two single renters jumpstart their relationship by sharing six video rentals. Because, as we all know, watching the right movie, at the right time, can ensure that ride off into the sunset. So many tapes to choose from, so many possible futures. Can you rent your way to happily ever after?

Capacity: 8 customers.

Rent this if you like: When Harry Met Sally, Sliding Doors, Run Lola Run

 *Rated BN for Branching Narrative


A Grown-Up’s Guide to Flying
Second shelf on the right and straight on ‘til morning


Every year Gene’s older brother Kelly plans a special birthday treasure hunt for her in The Tape Escape – her favourite place. But Gene’s experience of the world is changing, and her 9th birthday calls 
for a different kind of present. Created in collaboration with blind artist 
Devon Healey, this rental experience explores how we experience movies – and each other – when our sighted experience changes. To read more about Devon’s work, check out this interview. For more information about accessibility, scroll down to our FAQ below. 

Capacity: 4 customers.

Rent this if you like: Hook, Scent of a Woman, Singing in the Rain

 *RATED X for Marks the Spot


Yesterday’s Heroes
Embark into What Was

Some say that physical objects have a better memory than a hard drive. Buried somewhere inside the walls of The Tape Escape, a whispering voice calls out to you again and again. Venture on a quest through shelves overflowing with stories, to find the one that can’t be recorded over. There’s something deeper in store, but you might have to uproot the past to unlock the future.

Capacity: 5 customers.

Rent this if you like: Groundhog Day, Fern Gully, 12 Monkeys.

 *Rated DV for Deja Vu


An Outside the March Experience
in association with David Versus Goliath ProductionsLeading Season Supporters
Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation
Tamara Zielony
Susanne Boyce
Q Media
Artistic Accomplice Program Lead Supporter
David Binet

*This project received development workshops and public showings in 2017 and 2018 in partnership with The Kick and Push Festival in Kingston, Ontario.

 

  • Opens July 4, 2019

480 Bloor Street West
(former home of Queen Video)

The Tape Escape defies categorization and delivers a singular experience

The Toronto Star

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:38:53+00:00

The Toronto Star

a fully-immersive space that’s an art installation in its own right

Mooney On Theatre

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:39:39+00:00

Mooney On Theatre

the attention to detail in the store is dizzying

The Toronto Star

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:40:17+00:00

The Toronto Star

Whether you’re a ‘90s kid in the mood to relish in nostalgia, an immersive theatre-lover, escape room aficionado or just looking for a fun and unique experience to try with a group of friends, The Tape Escape has you covered.

Mooney On Theatre

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:40:49+00:00

Mooney On Theatre

a delightful nostalgia trip

The Toronto Star

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:43:05+00:00

The Toronto Star

a constant thrill of surprise

The Toronto Star

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:44:41+00:00

The Toronto Star

Go once, twice or thrice. (Perhaps between Fringe shows?) OtM shows sell out quickly.

NOW Magazine

Outside The March
2019-07-15T19:47:25+00:00

NOW Magazine

Outside the March’s latest site-specific marvel

NOW Toronto

Outside The March
2019-07-15T21:07:19+00:00

NOW Toronto

My sense of play and imagination was reawakened in the intricately woven story and beautifully realized space; I truly felt I was solving a mystery in an actual video rental shop.

Toronto Guardian

Outside The March
2019-07-17T18:08:09+00:00

Toronto Guardian

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Outside The March

PRESS

The Toronto Star:
“the most ambitious project yet forthe endlessly inventive immersive theatre company

“a constant thrill of surprise”

“the attention to detail in the store is dizzying”

“The Tape Escape defies categorization and delivers a singular experience” 

NOW Magazine:
“go once, twice or thrice. (Perhaps between Fringe shows?) OtM shows sell out quickly”

“The Tape Escape’s immersive escape room experiences will reel you in” 

“Outside the March’s latest site-specific marvel” 

Mooney On Theatre:
“a delightful nostalgia trip” 

“Whether you’re a ‘90s kid in the mood to relish in nostalgia, an immersive theatre-lover, escape room aficionado or just looking for a fun and unique experience to try with a group of friends, The Tape Escape has you covered.” 

Toronto Guardian:
My sense of play and imagination was reawakened in the intricately woven story and beautifully realized space; I truly felt I was solving a mystery in an actual video rental shop.


REVIEW: NOW Toronto

REVIEW: The Toronto Star

REVIEW: Toronto Guardian

REVIEW: The Globe and Mail

REVIEW: Mooney on Theatre

REVIEW: MyGayToronto.com

NOW Magazine: Best Weekend Events in Toronto

The Daily Hive: “Annex Queen Video has been transformed into a brand new escape room”

She Does The City: “Video Store Resurrected: Anahita Dehbonehie on Designing “The Tape Escape”

The Toronto Star: “Outside the March Takes Its Audience to the Movies”

TRNTO: “Immersive theatre production opens in former Toronto video store”

NOW Magazine: “The Best Stage Shows in Toronto This Summer”

Toronto Guardian: “Immersive theatre experience to take over Queen Video on Bloor this summer”

No Proscenium: “VHS-Themed ‘The Tape Escape’ to Blend Escape Rooms and Immersive Theatre”

THE POPCORN DOUBLE FEATURE Press Release