It’s service with a snarl at Dismaland, Banksy’s dystopian pop up “Bemusement Park”, which opened on 22 August in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, having been shrouded in secrecy. Even the fantastically sullen employees believed right up to the last minute that they were extras on a film set, while at the same time being coached by management in the fine art of (dis)servicing the visitors.
And the training certainly paid off. There was no break in character from any of the staff in their treatment of the seething, and relentlessly cheerful, Bank Holiday crowds who poured into Dismaland last weekend. Although at one point some very genuine and un-Banksy mounted police showed up to assist in queue management. All visitors were treated with exquisite discourtesy throughout: no smiles, minimum assistance and constant requests not to smile coupled with enjoinders to “no-joy” the treats on offer.
However it was a considerable challenge for Dismaland’s grumpy cohorts to keep up their barrage of insolent gloom when perky comic-activist Russell Brand showed up, full of friendliness and enthusiasm for the cornucopia of grim goodies on offer. He was happy to part with a fiver to be Photoshopped amongst the mannequin paparazzi snapping Cinderella’s coach crash. And apparently especially liked David Shrigley’s Topple the Anvil (with a ping-pong ball) stall and the carousel horse that was in the process of being made into ready-meal lasagne.
Keen Banksy collector Brad Pitt, who is currently house hunting with Angelina in the UK, is also slated to make an appearance this week. But I was assured that this visit would definitely take place after-hours, as the appearance of such a popular mega-celeb would ruin the Dismaland ethos by making everyone too happy.
