Hello! Richard here again with a fun little side article about the inner workings of Nomad Escape.
You know how in the culinary world, people care about who the chef is? We think that should be the same in the Escape Room industry. There are some excellent podcasters, writers, and influencers in the industry that are highlighting some of the people doing incredible work, so I’m going to talk about my fellow founder of Nomad Escape, the insanely talented Francesca Penney (or Fran as she prefers).
We met working in an Escape Room, and have been together ever since. We’ve gone through it all, and yet no matter what life throws at us, Fran is there, trying to figure out how to make a mad puzzle work, or figure out how to make an experience more fun. That’s really the word I would use to describe Fran’s work. Fun.
I think that stems a lot from her time working on Glasgow’s OG live horror event “Alien Wars”, which ran until 2009 and, as someone who played it, understands the lasting impression a good horror event can have!
Fran is best known for building incredibly successful escape rooms. First was “Conspiracy”, an X-Files style room where your friend had gone missing. The truth was out there, and everyone who found it, loved it.
But Conspiracy was soon overshadowed by Fran’s second room, industry darling “Star Crew”, which garnered her a TERPECA nomination (which stands for “Top Escape Rooms Project Enthusiasts' Choice Award”).
Then there was the mighty “Ritual”, which she built over in Edinburgh. Because it was in a different city, she solo’d it harder than the previous rooms. But, for the first time she got an actually decent budget, and as one of the members of the first team to play-test it, man. It was next level. From what I’ve heard, it outperforms several of the other escape rooms in that branch combined.
Now, she’s taking all her talent to Nomad Escape, and one of the main things we have been working on is how to incorporate live actors into the experience. But with her creativity, drive, and experience, I’m sure she will smash it!
Until then, take care, and keep on puzzlin’
PS. We still do not have the phone set up. Maybe next week?
Do you want to get deeper into Nomad Escape?
Find us here:
- Instagram - @nomad.escape
- Facebook - Nomad Escape Room
- TikTok - @nomadescaperoom
- Bluesky - nomadescape.bsky.social
