Put on your detective hats while dabbling in codes and keys as Sight Lines brings back their hit theatrical escape game.

Whether it’s a one-minute brain teaser or an elaborate escape room, there’s just something about solving puzzles and mysteries that scratches an itch we all have. And when you meld that with the engagement of live performance and theatre, then you’ve got yourself a winning combination, something that local company Sight Lines Entertainment has capitalised on once again, as they delve into the fourth edition of their hit Crack the Case theatrical escape game series.

Written and directed by Krish Natarajan, Crack the Case – The Dreamcatcher once again sees audience members take on the role of a detective, as they work together to resolve a case. This time around, we find ourselves transported to the futuristic biopolis of Ikanpura, where we’re dealing with an urgent situation – a scientist by the name of Kamil Noor has been detained after planting a device somewhere in the city. The solution? The titular ‘Dreamcatcher’ device, which allows us to enter a virtually-generated version of Kamil’s subconscious, exploring it as a physical space and watching his memories unfold for us to uncover his plans before the device goes off.

Playing at Goodman Arts Centre, we arrived on a dark and stormy night, only adding to the atmosphere of mystery present. Registering our details to receive a mission brief in our emails, we’re ushered to a meeting room to await our orientation once everyone arrives. And from the moment it begins, the energy never lets up. Jon Cancio does a fantastic job as our guide Detective Andrew, sweeping into the room with gusto and a booming voice. Decked out in a fedora and a modern detective ensemble, he introduces us to the situation and our mission with both wit and gravitas, and we feel both welcomed and assured. As we’re shown CCTV footage of Kamil hooked up the the Dreamcatcher, it feels a little more like this is a real person whose actions will have real consequences.

From here, we’re then guided to the Dreamcatcher’s ‘rendering’. Sight Lines has done very well to fully utilise the deceptively small space, which has been divvied up into clear ‘areas’ for exploration, including but not limited to: Kamil’s living room, a doctor’s office, the lab space of a wellness company, and more. The experience itself is anchored by a series of scenes performed by the actors in each of these ‘areas’, helping us piece together Kamil’s backstory and motives, while in-between, we are allowed to explore every nook and cranny, using our phones to take photos and illuminate darker parts of the space, where every chart, symbol or card may well be an important clue.

There has clearly been a lot of effort that has gone into precisely how every detail has been placed, where emojis and charts have been encoded and designed, props are painstakingly labelled and personalised, and video sequences have been filmed specially for the show. Audiences will have to rely on solving multiple puzzles and codes in order to really get to the bottom of the mystery, often having to take notes, or revisit other areas in order to put the pieces together. More importantly, audiences are not allowed to touch any objects, nor are they allowed to interact with the actors, with crew members constantly walking the space to ensure the integrity of the scenes are kept intact, and helps maintain a sense of decorum for the rules of play and engagement.

In terms of the performances, Fahim Murshed, as Kamil, and Masturah Oli, as his wife, share strong onstage chemistry, and we believe their relationship – sweet and caring, a little silly when they lean into the humour that puts a smile on our face, and naturally, the sense of fear and worry when they encounter unexpected problems in their grand family plans. Director Krish has done well to transition between realism and surrealism, alongside the fantastic use of lighting and soundscape, where the occasional segue into more dream-like, almost hypnotic segments where they seem to speak from a trance-like state is unnerving, and helps us to believe that we’re in Kamil’s subconscious.

Amidst the cast though, it is Tan Rui Shan who steals the show, playing not one, not two, but three distinct characters, from a rapping doctor to an eccentric experimental wellness drug advocate, and a harlequin-like clown who does not speak, yet is able to completely convey emotion and meaning in every grunt and giggle. Tan brings both humour and makes these characters feel threatening in every scene, and whether she’s leaping onto tables or shoving her way through crowds, ensures that she always leaves a lasting impact, committing entirely to her characterisation in voice and physicality, in complete control of our attention, and an absolute highlight of the experience.

When we return to the original briefing room, we neither feel like we’ve spent too little time nor overstayed in the dreamscape. In fact, we welcome the chance to finally share our findings and work together with the rest to solve the mystery. The stakes aren’t too high, and Detective Andrew is kind enough to entertain our wild theories or nudge us along the right direction, even when we feel like we’re grasping at straws.

In a satisfying finale where the audience must make a morally charged decision, it lands with surprising impact. The illusion of agency gives way to the sobering sense that we too might be pawns in a larger system, adding depth to an already fun and collaborative experience. All this adds up to a clever, atmospheric, and thought-provoking experience, rewarding curiosity and teamwork that will leave mystery lovers itching for the next case.

Photo Credit: Sight Lines Entertainment

The Dreamcatcher plays from 3rd to 25th October 2025 at Goodman Arts Centre. Tickets available from Sistic. Watch the trailer here