Ivan Carić is the Founder and Creative Director of Lemon Difficult, an immersive experience company that blends immersive theatre, overnight historic stay vacations, narrative puzzles and fine dining into something unique. His latest production is The Key of Dreams: a luxury, overnight immersive experience – part theatre, part gaming – in which audience members investigate occult mysteries, join secret societies and uncover the dark secrets of the house. It takes place at a 17th century manor house in Wales, occupying the entire house and the grounds.
- Read: Who are Punchdrunk? | Our guide to the visionary immersive theatre company
- Watch: What does the audience think of Viola’s Room | Punchdrunk’s latest production
Ivan Carić comes from a corporate background: he worked in large telecom corporations for nearly twenty years. In 2020, he reevaluated what he was doing, decided to quit his job and do something creative, as he told Starburst Magazine. The result was Lemon Difficult, which produced both The Key of Dreams and its predecessor The Locksmith’s Dream, which took place in the same venue.
- Watch: Interview about The Grand Expedition | Gingerline’s latest immersive dining experience involving circus
- Read: Review of The Grand Expedition | an immersive dining experience by Gingerline
Ivan Carić’s team includes his partner Laura Langrish, who is lead writer on Key of Dreams, and Leo Doulton, Associate Creative Director of Lemon Difficult. He also works with several actors, a chef and various other behind-the-scenes professionals.
- Read: Immersive shows in London | 5 best shows in 2025
- Read: Immersive shows in New York | 5 best shows in 2024-2025
In this interview Ivan Carić describes The Key of Dreams and explained the motivation behind the project.