Tommy Wallach & Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp

Tommy Wallach and Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp, co-founders of Hatch Escapes, are recognised for their work in immersive entertainment, combining storytelling, innovative design, and emotional elements to create engaging guest experiences.

Their breakout hit, Lab Rat, is praised as one of the most innovative escape rooms worldwide, recognised for its humour, storytelling, and theatrical components.

Recently, The Ladder, a genre-blending immersive experience that combines game and theatre and winner of a 2025 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement, has further advanced the medium, drawing participants into a profoundly human, multi-path exploration of life, choices, and their consequences.

The Ladder was designed with replayability in mind, resulting in a unique choose-your-own-adventure experience that is more akin to a theme park attraction than a traditional escape room. Replayability is a growing trend in in-person immersive gaming design, and Hatch Escapes continues to present itself as the trailblazer.

Beyond their initial projects, Wallach and Pettigrew-Rolapp transformed Hatch’s Los Angeles space into a centre for immersive creators—hosting independent productions, playtests, and collaborations that support and expand the local immersive community. Their dedication to advancing the art form while nurturing community highlights their unique dual roles as both creators and facilitators.