Tales from Paradise Heights

The Return of Joe O'Byrne's Tales from Paradise Heights

2/17/2023

The Bench: A Tale from Paradise Heights Cast. L to R back row: Peter Slater, Bill Bradshaw, Joe O'Byrne. Front row L to R Ross Thompson, Jo Malone, Lisa Moore Pic by Maddie Hughes Photography

10 years...that's how long it's been since one of my Tales from Paradise Heights played a stage. Well in the wake of the fabulous success of The Haunting of Blaine Manor, I decided to dig into the past and bring them back. With the way the nation is right now there has never been a better time.

The really good news is they are now rolling out across the country, all of them. These stories built up quite a following in Greater Manchester so it's just amazing that they are now rolling out across the country to wider and bigger audiences and to town and city main stages. There's a lot more I could say about this but I'll save that for a future blog.

For now I just want to share the current 'State of Play' in terms of tours I have now and that are coming up, below are the tour posters (more dates are being added all the time) and if you search the headings in the menu bar above you'll find out much more about each play. Bear with me as I update the site in terms of casts, new imagery, new trailers etc over the next few weeks.

Check the tours, including The Haunting of Blaine Manor...it's quite a schedule. See you out there!

Joe x

STOP PRESS: The multi media stage production of Rank: A Tale from Paradise Heights has just been booked in for a return on Halloween in 2024, handy as the play itself is set in Paradise Heights on Halloween, obviously I will also be building a full tour around this production.

This caused quite a stir when it premiered all those years ago, and I really can't wait for the return of this one, rebuilding it from the ground up and with the technology available today? This is going to be EPIC.

Oh, and a couple more dates have come in as I've been writing this, for Strawberry Jack and I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED - fabulously busy times, and I still haven't got to London!

The British Theatre Guide
Ghost Stories and Gritty Realism from Paradise Heights to Blaine Manor

For a short cut to what all this work has been about, check out this podcast from The British Theatre Guide, an interview I had with the wonderful David Chadderton. David, a prolific reviewer for The British Theatre Guide, has followed the series down the years and I really enjoyed this interview, it tells you something about Tales from Paradise Heights and The Haunting of Blaine Manor. A huge thanks to David for this, it's lovely and very much appreciated.

Finally, I've worked very hard over the years building this series of interconnected tales, and there are more to come. The harder you work, the luckier you get.

Finally a huge thanks to all of the audiences, fans, venue management and staff, reviewers, photographers and absolutely incredible casts that have helped put this series where it is, unrivalled today as an ever expanding series of modern urban fairy tales and fables, set on the mean n moody streets of Paradise Heights and all shot through with a flavour of the supernatural.

Tales from Paradise Heights are back to stay, see you out there.

Joe x

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The Haunting of Blaine Manor: Crewe Lyceum and a Very Special Moment...

9/22/2022

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The cast and crew in Crewe, beneath the digital billboard banner created by Darren McGinn

After the cancellation of the Oldham Coliseum show due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the new tour finally got off to an absolutely flying start at the stunningly beautiful, and gothically haunted,Crewe Lyceum.

Several ghosts are said to haunt the building. There's Charles, the ghostly stage hand, it's always best to say 'Goodnight Charles' when you are leaving the building to avoid any erm...happenings. Then there's the ghost of the ballerina, in love with Charles, who heard he was having an affair with another ballerina. She committed suicide in the dressing rooms, or threw herself off the balcony depending on which version you hear. There's the ghost of a child - people aren't sure if it's a boy or a girl - often seen or felt backstage, a bit of a mischief maker but friendly. The ghost of a monk is the oldest spirit there, thought to originate from the Roman Catholic chapel that was originally on the site of the theatre. Finally there's the 'forgotten actor' (that's strangely familiar) a cigarette in his cigarette holder and an opera cape. He's a malevolent spirit and it is rumoured it is his cigarette that led to the theatre being burned down in 1910...burning buildings and and chapels? Strange connections to Blaine Manor there.

Well last week it was our turn to haunt the building, mixing with the spirits there. We got off to an absolutely storming start to the tour. Over 1200 people saw the show, and judging by the reactions we felt from the stage - and certainly from the four fabulous reviews the show received from the four reviewers that attended (links below) we thrilled and chilled the house.

Enormous thanks to Crewe Lyceum, the management, marketing department, stage management and front of house teams. It was fantastic working hand in hand with such a tirelessly enthusiastic and professional team in making the run a success, our combined efforts paid off. Thanks to the reviewers for our fabulous reviews and finally a very special thank you to our audiences, thank you for attending you were absolutely amazing.

Just look below at how beautiful this theatre is, rebuilt in 1911 after the fire of 1910...psst, see any ghosts?

A Very Special Moment

At the end of our final show on Saturday night, a very special moment occurred recorded from the stage, it's definitely a first for us and perhaps the theatre...

Here are the links to the reviews picked up at Crewe Lyceum:

On In My City Review:
https://www.oninmy.city/2022/09/15/review-the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Bloody_Flicks Review:
https://bloody-flicks.co.uk/2022/09/21/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-review/

The Nantwich News Review:
https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2022/09/16/review-the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-crewe-lyceum/

The Theatre Talk Review
https://www.thetheatretalk.co.uk/post/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-crewe-lyceum-15-09-2022

And check out our fantastic bank of many great reviews at this link:
https://www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

PROMOTIONAL CLIPS

In a nod to behind the scenes, here are some of the promotional videos shot and edited by Darren McGinn with original music and sound effects by Justin Wetherill...first class work from both of them.

Shots from the Show

Darren McGinn got took quite a few stills of the show, fabulous photos of the action, check the slideshow below of just a few of them:

A great start, a fabulous first venue on the tour and our next show is at Swansea on the 26th of October where we have already sold 425 tickets, so move fast if you're in the area. And then it's onward to the remaining venues who are all selling very well. More venues are being added to the tour as I write...so if you see us coming to your village, town or city...don't miss the chance to catch this thrilling ghost story. Check the venues and dates booked so far below:

Horror is a Place

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The Haunting of Blaine Manor: The Rise Continues...

6/8/2022

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It has been an absolutely spectacular journey for the play so far. From the show's humble beginnings in pub theatre it has steadily grown from strength to strength, playing wonderful venues from coast to coast. In addition to the many beautiful theatres we have played so far, there are some truly breath taking venues on the upcoming tour, some of those in excess of 1200 seats.

That's progress.

World renowned parapsychologist Adolphus Scarabus (Jimmy Allen), flanked by Blaine Manor custodian Vincent De Lambré (Ed Barry) and sceptic investigator Dr. Roy Earle (Peter Slater) Pic by Darren McGinn

Everywhere the play has been performed the reception has been nothing short of fantastic. Don't take my word on that though, judge for yourselves in the video below, taken at the end of the show at the last 5 venues:

And there's more than a few good reasons to see the show in these interviews with audience members. By the way this was filmed after one of our Halloween shows, which is why some of the interviewees are dressed and 'made up' for their own personal celebration of Halloween night.

The next tour, starting in September, will be our biggest yet and I intend to reach every corner of the U.K. with it. I have a lot of bookings in so far, but due to Covid backlog for theatres (productions cancelled due to Covid and therefore rescheduled) a lot of theatres are fully booked up well into next year - so I'm planning well ahead. You'll find that venues will be added all the time to the current schedule as I'm constantly in touch with venues approaching them with the show. It takes time from original contact to getting those dates as theatres like to plan out their year's theatrical programs accordingly.

Jo Haydock's Vivian Ruttledge, the reporter out for a scoop on the haunting goings on at Blaine Manor Pic by Shay Rowan

The reviews have been superb, a huge thank you to all the reviewers who have attended and taken time to write those reviews, we really, really appreciate your efforts and of course your praise for the show. Check the reviews out, along with some stunning photography from Karen McBride, Shay Rowan and Darren McGinn, at this link:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

Cairo, the medium (Andrew Yates) does he have his own ulterior motives for being at Blaine Manor?

There is plenty more to come from the most talked about haunter since The Woman in Black, below is the current trailer for the play and the tour schedule so far. Please note that not all of the theatres will have the show on sale just yet, as we are pretty far ahead in some schedules.

Stay up to date with all things about the show either here, or at the show's Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/TheHauntingofBlaineManor

And just to reiterate; a final huge thanks to all of the venues, management, staff, reviewers and of course you wonderful audiences. You have all been amazing, we take nothing for granted. Thanks for your fantastic support and we hope to see you again out there...

Be well.

Joe and the Cast and Crew of The Haunting of Blaine Manor

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Blaine Manor Continues to Conquer Coast to Coast...Audience Reaction

11/25/2021

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Image by Darren McGinn

28th February, 2022 - UPDATE: And the show continues to blaze a trail of delighted and terrified audiences in its wake. This time it was the turn of the wonderfully gothic Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield. This theatre is just gorgeous, the Jewel in the Crown of Derbyshire's theatres, and this venue is HAUNTED - not by one, but by two ghosts. The Grey Lady, who moves props around backstage, and the ghost of Robert Stevenson, who walks across the stage to take his seat before the show starts!

Well all went fantastically well again, as we thrilled a wonderful audience who enjoyed the whole ghost train roller coaster ride. We had a fantastic time there, check their reaction in the video below, and further down check the reactions from other venues on the tour.

It's really fantastic to see such large crowds back in theatres again, this time there were 421 lovely people there to see Friday's show. Big thanks to them and the management and staff of the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield.

The show played The Gatehouse Theate, Stafford on Friday 28th January, 2022 and had the best night so far on its spectacular return after the Covid lock downs. Indeed the first eight venues on The Haunting of Blaine Manor Coast to Coast Tour have gone down an absolute storm with audiences!

Check the Stafford audience reaction below:

A quick note about The Gatehouse Theatre management and staff here who were absolutely outstanding in their support of the show and cast. We've been blessed with so many great theatre teams along the way but Stafford really topped the pile. Phenomenal, thank you.

As you can see the 430 strong audience really enjoyed the show, and we really can't wait to return. Thank you Stafford, wonderful people and a wonderful theatre.

The two previous venues to The Gatehouse in Stafford were literally Coast to Coast - from the oldest working theatre in Wales, Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay to the magnificently gothic Scarborough Spa, right on the East Yorkshire coast line. Coming out of (or should I say still being in) the Covid pandemic we were always worried about how this would affect audience numbers. From the responses we've seen on the tour confidence is building in audiences and so many have expressed how great it is to be in theatres again.

More than anything they've really expressed how much they love this show, the show's facebook page is filling up with amazing reaction to the play, the cast, the lighting and sound design, the shocks, the horror, the laughs and the jaw dropping twists at the end.

Scarborough Spa was an amazing show, the theatre is literally on the sea front, the waves were pounding the theatre as we played and the building literally shook with every wave, it really added to the feeling of a haunted manor - and this was the audience reaction.

Theatr Colwyn's Sold Out performance, these guys were absolutely amazing and brought the. house down, it really went down so well that we are already returning - we will return on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th of April. We're enormously grateful to all the theatres on this tour, including The Platform, Morecambe, Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle, The Muni in Colne and the other three wonderful theatres mentioned in this update.

An older video below from one of our Halloween shows a couple of years ago (which is why some of the interviewees here look particularly interesting - getting with the Halloween vibe), but again this gives you a feeling of how well the show is going down with audiences.

And here are some pics of the wonderful audience at Port Sunlight's magnificent Gladstone Theatre. Another very lively and engaged audience, scanning that crowd you'll see a sea of smiling faces. I wish I'd taken photos at all the venues since we came back, all we've seen are delighted and really lively responses from wonderful crowds - long may it continue.

If you are new to this blog, check out the critics reviews for the show at this link:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

Below you will find a few images of the show, taken by Darren McGinn. Huge thanks to all you audiences and the amazing management and staff at all of the venues we've been to so far, you've been absolutely fantastic. The Coast to Coast Tour will return on Friday 18th of March at Wakefield's majestic Theatre Royal, and as I write this the show is selling fast and looks like it will be a sold out show...so book your tickets here:

www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/events/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-2021

We really can't wait...

Joe and The Haunting of Blaine Manor Cast and Crew

*This is an updated blog, the original was posted in November, 2021. Updated 28/02/22

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From Sold Out Colwyn Bay to Scarborough, The Haunting of Blaine Manor Thunders Coast to Coast and Ever Onward...

10/23/2021

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Image by Darren McGinn

The Haunting of Blaine Manor Tour (the tour now started that may never end) had a fabulous Halloween week. We thrilled, chilled and terrified fabulous audiences in Morecambe - The Phenomenal Platform, Port Sunlight - The Glorious Gladstone Theatre, and Colne - The Magnificent Muni Theatre. Each audience seeming to grow in their intense appreciation of the show, and we've received thunderous applause, whistles and cheers all along the tour from Newcastle to Colne - Colne Muni nearly took the roof off the place! Morecambe, Port Sunlight and Colne - a huge thank you to every single audience member for making this such a special tour in such a difficult time for theatre and live performance.

And now we move onto a Sold Out show in Colwyn Bay, our first trip into Wales where we play the historic Theatr Colwyn - Wales' oldest functioning theatre typing 'Wales oldest operating theatre' gives it a different slant somehow. But what an audience, it's going to get stormy in Colwyn Bay this Friday Night!

Ed Barry as Vincent De Lambré and Jo Haydock as Vivian Ruttledge, pic by Darren McGinn

From there we cross the country and coasts to the beautiful and fabulously gothic Scarborough Spa where seats are still available.

It's too late for tickets for Colwyn Bay as they are sold out (thank you Wales and Theatr Colwyn) but you can still get your tickets Scarborough Spa on th 21st of November - ticket link below:

www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/event/The-Haunting-of-Blaine-Manor-2021

Catch this Ghost Train, a train that invites you aboard for a journey into the supernatural and the dark and unforgiving pitch black tunnels of the psyche.

Six people, one night, and a house, seemingly alive, that knows their secrets, their fears - a house with a terrifying history of black magic, madness, tragedy, darkness and death...

But it's not just what awaits them at the notoriously haunted manor, it's the horror that has entered with them.

Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle Pic by Darren McGinn

The Haunting of Blaine Manor Coast to Coast Tour got off to a flying start at Newcastle's magnificent Tyne Theatre and Opera House, an absolutely amazing night in front of a thrilled Newcastle crowd who really enjoyed our first show in almost two years. It was great to be back and Newcastle and that wonderfully appreciative audience really gave the show the welcome back it needed. What you couldn't escape that night was the sheer joy of an audience experiencing live theatre again, a precious feeling, there's nothing quite like the magic of live theatre and the spells cast between cast and audience were really felt - we had a fantastic time too. Thank you to the fabulous team at Tyne Theatre and Opera House and a huge thank you to the fab Newcastle audience.

Is there something there...? Doctor Roy Earle, investigator of paranormal events. Pic by Darren McGinn

It's the Irish in me that likes to tell a good story especially a good ghost story, and that's exactly what this is. It's going to absolutely rock you.

I'm not here to spoil the show for you though, I'm not going to tell you what thrilled the audience, what scared the bejaysus out of them, made them laugh and then shocked the hell out of them; what kept them hanging on to every word as much as they were hanging on to the edge of their seats...no, you have to enter the manor to experience that. The show's good though, don't take my word for it though, check the reviews here:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

They're great, they are very much appreciated, and we're adding to them as the tour makes its way around the UK, more dates will be added as we go. I'm determined to get the show to as many venues as possible - so yes - coming to your town, city or village or a town, city or village near you - watch out for us.

Check the trailer below:

And here in one of our older videos, check out what audiences have been saying about the production. This was recorded on Halloween in 2019, which is why some of the audience look a little...interesting, and certainly getting with that Halloween feel.

Scarborough is our last date of 2021!

Scarborough is our last town for the tour for 2021, but there are plenty of dates coming up in 2022 - see further down this update!

Scarborough Spa, Sunday 21st November
Tickets:
www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/event/The-Haunting-of-Blaine-Manor-2021

The most talked about haunter since The Woman in Black playing Scarborough Spa? Magnificent, we just can't wait!

Vincent DeLambré (Ed Barry) Adolphus Scarabus (James Allen) and Dr Roy Earle (Peter Slater) Image by Darren McGinn

Adolphus Scarabus, World Renowned Psychic and Parapsychologist (James Allen) Pic by Darren McGinn

Vivian Ruttledge, Reporter (Jo Haydock) pic by Darren McGinn

Vincent De Lambré, Custodian of Blaine Manor (Ed Barry) Pic by Darren McGinn

Cairo, Psychic and Mind Reader (Andrew Yates) Pic by Darren McGinn

Grady, the butler (Joe O'Byrne) Pic by Darren McGinn

So let us welcome you to Blaine Manor for a night you'll never forget. And when it all gets too much just hold on to the person in the next seat and just keep telling yourself...

...it's only a play, it's only a play, it's only a play...

Horror is a Place...Blaine Manor

Theatre is Magic

Joe x

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2020 UPDATE: The Show Must Go On - and - My First Art Exhibition

10/12/2020

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So they say, I'm silver tongued too... Joe O'Byrne in Whitehaven, promoting The Haunting of Blaine Manor - well, not with this pic, but I was there, y'know?

Hey, it's been a while. What a year, eh?

Those of you who are regular visitors to the site will know what a busy bee I am, I don't like to let the grass grow under my feet. You'll know that I create over many forms of media, theatre, film, novel, animation, music and art under the banner Tales from Paradise Heights. None of this would be possible without collaboration with the fabulous talents that I'm working with across the North of England. In recent years the wonderful contributions of Justin Wetherill in music https://www.atmosounds.co.uk  and Darren McGinn in animation and digital imagery  http://www.darrenmcginn.co.uk have helped Tales from Paradise Heights become an established brand associated with quality writing and critically acclaimed films and plays. My aim has always been to make the next production better than the last, so far so good whilst at the same time giving credit to all of the talents that have contributed their more than substantial efforts. Do look through the site to see those names, they all more than deserve your attention, and most of them - if not all - are heavily wounded at the moment.

I'm nowhere near done, I have so much more I want to do...of course Covid 19 has been not so much a thorn in my side, more of a dagger through the heart. Two theatrical tours of two of my plays have been halted due to the virus. I'd have grossed somewhere around £120k - more actually as more dates would have been added, that's a crushing loss to myself and the creatives I work with. Yes I was down momentarily, but you can't keep me down. I'm still as busy, I've just been adapting and there's a whole lot more to come. My appetite, drive, energy and determination are as ferocious as they ever were. Focus is moving to film and audio projects that will expand the Tales from Paradise Heights stories, one lockdown project based on my first novel has had three updates all during lockdown - see https://www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/jackanory-the-bench.html

I've also released the live recording of my one man show - I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED - from its performance at The Met in Bury, I've released the award nominated and critically acclaimed donchyaknow production to watch for free on youtube, you'll find it further down this update.

In between I've been busy down at my art studio - my first appointment based Open Studio Weekend is on 16th, 17th and 18th October - details again are further down this update.

The tour that was, this was lost along with a 6 date tour of The Bench: A Tale from Paradise Heights

Sinful Joe and his first Art Exhibition

...And Heaven Broke 47" x 39" acrylic on canvas by Joe O'Byrne

During the early days of lockdown I was sneaking out like a thief in the night, skulking the deserted mean and moody night streets of Halliwell, making my way to my art studio which is literally 300 yards from my front door, part of FaMAS Gallery and Studios at Falcon Mill in Halliwell, Bolton.

In truth my art saved me during lockdown, I threw myself into it and really enjoyed myself and hammered out a good few canvas' (some of which I've already sold, the rest you'll find at the Open Weekend this weekend. I'm also fortunate to have a studio alongside amazingly talented artists who all have their work on show as part of the same Open Studio Event, so come along and check out their work too.

It's now much more of an appointment based Open Studio Tour, Covid has taken its toll here too so the music and the munches will not be part of the event, but there may be a drink. It's going to be appointment based and if you are interested for now email me at joe.obyrne@ntlworld.com - I'll sort your appointment and it would be lovely to see you. The poster in the trailer for the event below was created before the event went appointment based only - checkout my art website - www.sinfuljoe.com/

Mercury's Garden 47" x 39" acrylic on canvas by Joe O'Byrne

There's much more of my work in the trailer below...

I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED -
Award Nominated One Man Show, for FREE

Well I like to set myself a challenge, and in acting there can't be much of a greater challenge than performing a two hour and fifteen minute one man show, once you step onto the stage there's really no hiding place. The control freak in me is turned up to eleven here, written, produced, directed and acted by myself...have a gander, it got rave reviews. And I'm giving it you for free, my blood, sweat and tears. Frank is the resident villain of Tales from Paradise Heights and he appears in or is referred to in every tale, find out more on him at the link:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/im-frank-morgan-rewired.html

WARNING: There is some STRONG ADULT CONTENT in the show.

Have a watch and leave me a comment on youtube if you can, subscribe to the channel for updates as more stuff will be happening this month.

Trailer:

Poster by Darren McGinn

The Full Show:

So stay tuned, stay safe and keep looking at what creatives are up to. They are all under pressure right now and need your support and they don't subscribe to the insulting view of this government, a view that their efforts and talents are unviable, not 'real jobs'. Their passion, drive and spirits have always been around creativity and story telling, whatever the medium, that will never change. Retrain? Are you mad? Times of great hardship are when some of the most magnificent works have been created, history shows that time and time again, and this time is no different in spirit. The 'will to do' always finds a way.

So keep an eye on my blog on here which has been criminally underused this past year, I'm back on that with a vengeance, don't lose your faith or your heads - we'll come out of this.

And finally, in the immortal words of Freddie Mercury

'...I'll face it with a grin, I'm NEVER giving in - On With The Show.'

Joe O'Byrne x

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Halloween Film Double Bill from Tales from Paradise Heights

10/30/2019

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So All Hallow's Eve is upon us, and Tales from Paradise Heights are proud to present two films, both set on Halloween on the Paradise Heights estate, both loaded with local ferocious and precocious talent, in front of and behind the camera. You can see both films on here today for free, but today only as the links will be taken down tomorrow. We're very proud of them, and more details on the films are below.

THE NIGHT DEATH PUT ME DOWN: A Tale from Paradise Heights

Tonight is Halloween, and Death takes a walk through the streets of the Paradise Heights...

The latest production from Tales from Paradise Heights and the first venture into animation, you can find out much more on the film's genesis at this link:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-night-death-put-me-down.html

Animated by the mighty Darren McGinn, with music by Justin Wetherill.

THE WATCHER: A Tale from Paradise Heights

There are many Tales from Paradise Heights...and tonight is Halloween.

A little girl sits by her window, scared by 'the man' outside.

A family man, begins his lonely night-time vigil.

A taxi-driver, begins a shift that he will never forget.

And a loan shark stalks the streets, still haunted by his past...

This is the Tale of The Watcher

You can find out more about the making of The Watcher at this link:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-watcher.html

This film was lovingly made by a fabulously talented cast and crew from Bolton, Salford and Manchester. The film is a testament to collaboration and to the determination, skill, dedication and passion of everyone involved.

There's a great documentary here too, from Ben Mottershead, that goes behind the scenes of the film. Click the link below:

vimeo.com/32017631

This Halloween is quite a special one for me. I've posted this blog in the early hours as by the time you get around to reading this I'll probably be in Whitby, with another talented band of amigos putting on The Haunting of Blaine Manor to another fabulous audience, in a haunted theatre, in a haunted town, on the haunted coast and in the shadows of Whitby Abbey - Dracula's haunted castle...I think I'm gonna turn Goth.

We hope you enjoy the films, see you on the other side...

Joe & The Paradise Heights Massive x

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A Shiver Inducing Tale involving The Haunting of Blaine Manor and The Old Red Lion Theatre Pub, London.

10/14/2019

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The Old Red Lion in London, is once again home this year for the London Horror Festival ran by talented and brilliant Katy Lou Danbury and her enthusiastic team. I wish them every success. This festival, running since 2011, is growing year an year and showing some incredible new works. All power to their creative elbows and break a leg to all the shows involved, enjoy yourselves. We were part of this fantastic festival in 2017 with the show, The Haunting of Blaine Manor.

This year's festival is hosting a show that delves into the haunted history of The Old Red Lion, LAST ORDERS, the show is about a group of film makers that go into the pub to investigate if it's haunted, to spend the night there filming stuff - a great concept! The pub that has been in existence for some 600 years - of course with such a wealth of history (Oscar Wilde is said to have done some of his scribblings here) there are perhaps bound to be a couple of creepy stories.

We have one of our own...from our visit to the festival. We performed the 3pm matinee show on Saturday 4th November.

Our show is renowned for its soundscape design, created by Justin Wetherill from the howls and wails of the cast that went crazy one rainy afternoon in a sound studio in Sheffield. You really wouldn't know it was us, such is the wizardry of Justin, it's a truly horrifying soundscape. Those that know the theatre pub will know that the theatre is on the second floor. There's a flat on the third floor.

During the show as a cast we became aware of a racket coming from upstairs, it sounded like barrels or metal items being dragged across the floor, along with various other bangs and crashes - it was distracting to us but we soldiered on as it didn't bother the audience at all. The show rocked the house, went down a storm with the sold out audience. Mission accomplished.

Katy was stage managing that afternoon and she asked me if we were happy with how it had all gone. I said I was delighted, just the slight niggle with all the noise coming from upstairs. Katy visibly paled. 'I thought that was part of your sound design?' When I confirmed it wasn't she told us that the flat upstairs was rented out and that at the moment the tenant was out of the country.

'Oh God, he's back.' She said, and she didn't mean the tenant, informing us that the pub was genuinely haunted. She then got on the phone to her boyfriend saying there was no way she was going to be locking up alone tonight...

I think our ghostly sound design woke something. Whatever it was didn't come with us, it's still in The Old Red Lion!

We'd already had a slightly spooky experience a couple of nights before, on Halloween. Well myself and Peter Slater who plays the main role of Doctor Roy Earle...

Herman Chapel Theatre, Oswestry

We had played The Hermon Chapel Theatre in Oswestry on Halloween, and again the show had gone down a storm with the locals. Those that have seen the show will know that it is set in 1953, and they will know that there's a gag around Glenn Miller, the American band leader - a gag around him and his composition 'In The Mood'.

We had done the show, the second of three nights, and we were all heading home. Pete was riding with me, we returned to the car and as I started the engine the radio came on as normal. The tune that was playing?

In The Mood by Glenn Miller!

Pete and I just looked at each other, slightly spooked but finding it funny too - what were the odds of that?

There are three chances left to catch this show on this year's tour - it's been one helluva tour and the three remaining shows take us from coast to coast, Whitehaven, Burnley and Whitby on Halloween. Catch us if you can, it's a great show - check the reviews at the link below:

REVIEWS
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

REMAINING SHOWS
The Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, Friday 18th October
Tickets:
www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor

Burnley Mechanics, Burnley, Friday 25th October
Tickets:
https://burnleymechanics.ticketsolve.com/shows/873602650

Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, Thursday 31st October - HALLOWEEN!
Tickets:
www.whitbypavilion.co.uk/Online/default.asp

Trailer design and animation by Darren McGinn, original music composed by Justin Wetherill

Horror is a Place

Joe x

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Villains, Scoundrels and Perverts - The Haunting of Blaine Manor: The Characters

10/8/2019

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Vincent Price

After a spectacular launch of the 2021/22 tour of The Haunting of Blaine Manor (check the venues and ticket booking links further down this update) I thought I'd take a little time and talk about my influences in the writing of the play.

Part of the title to this blog entry is part of a line from script - 'Villains, Scoundrels and Perverts...' - yes the play has its villains and scoundrels. Perverts? Well, no - but you decide when you've seen it. So, I always wanted to write a ghost story, that's detailed elsewhere on this site - www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor.html

But what of the characters? I went back to my childhood and teenage years and found my rogues gallery in some of my favourite films. As I was writing each character I had these actors and some of their portrayals in mind, some of them are an amalgamation of more than one actor - it's my imagination, I'm allowed! I hasten to add here that the actors that are playing the characters in the play are NOT doing impressions of them. Each performance is owned and lived in by the actors onstage, a product of their wonderful craft and skill and direction - it's been a lot of fun in rehearsal working with this talented bunch.

The actors all named below were in my mind when I was writing, and there were qualities of others (again listed elsewhere) but these few below kept popping up, they were iconic models for me to hang action and dialogue on, and all this a good while before I finally cast the play. I shared my time with these silver screen icons who freaked me out regularly between the hours of midnight and four in the morning on each writing session, a good ghost story should be written around that time don't you think? That's when I did all of my writing on this.

Humphrey Bogart

Doctor Roy Earle

For Doctor Roy Earle, the American dropped into a haunted English manor, I was writing with Humphrey Bogart in mind. He has an axe to grind with swindlers and fakes, of which he is sure Cairo and Scarabus are. A confident investigator, shrewd, adept but with a tragic past and a somewhat wounded centre. Punchy, abrasive, cynical and trouble when he's had a drink.

Lauren Bacall

Bette Davis

Vivian Ruttledge

For newspaper reporter/columnist Vivian Ruttledge I had a Lauren Bacall meets Bette Davis combination going on in my head. She'd be thoroughly English though of course - glamorous, catty, curious and a very adept investigator herself. Blaine Manor though is something entirely new to her and the house begins to take its toll - though no psychic, she can sense there is something dark and dangerous here.

Peter Lorre

Cairo

For mind reader and clairvoyant Cairo, Peter Lorre was alive and kicking in my head. Cairo would be East European, cunning, sly - is he a fake or does he really have such powers? What has he potentially already unleashed in the manor?Wherever there is trouble you might find Cairo. Very cutting in his patter and a coward at his core. A villain of the piece? Well he's no hero.

Peter Cushing

Adolphus Scarabus

Adolphus Scarabus, parapsychologist, medium and author - scholar in the Dark Arts. An acclaimed Master in his field, world renowned and for most there is no doubt of his power. However he is very much a target of Doctor Roy Earle's cynicism and distrust. His main reason for accepting the invitation to Blaine Manor is the safety of the others, he has no doubt of the terrifying power of the house. This guy was Peter Cushing right from the off in my imagination.

Vincent Price

Christopher Lee

James Mason

Vincent De Lambré

Custodian of Blaine Manor, and all too aware of the dark power of the house. He was very close to the owner. On the outside he is bearing a burden over what happened to the owner, Mister Tyler, but what's going on on the inside with him? Vincent started out as Vincent Price in my head - of course, how many haunted houses did Vincent Price find himself inside? But the more I wrote, the more I found elements of the dark strength of Christopher Lee with a hint of a sly 'North by North West' James Mason.

There's a broader nod to Vincent Price elsewhere in the show, see if you can spot it...or hear it perhaps...? Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Dirk Bogarde

Phillip Stone as Delbert Grady in The Shining

Grady

Grady as the butler of Blaine Manor was always going to be very 'English with great manners', a faithful servant of the house for some 37 years, man and boy. He arguably has more knowledge of the house than anyone. Dirk Bogarde played the part in my head as I was writing, though many that have seen the play have felt the presence of Phillip Stone's Delbert Grady from The Shining. See what you think.

So that completed the 'base models' for the characters. Once the actors were cast though the true magic started to happen, this is truly a firecracker ensemble with all the actors playing out of their skins...come and see them, it's the least they deserve and you should treat yourself too...you'll love every minute.

Left to right: Andrew Yates as Cairo, Jo Haydock as Vivian Ruttledge, Phil Dennison as Adolphus Scarabus, Peter Slater as Doctor Roy Earle, Ed Barry as Vincent De Lambré and Joe O'Byrne as Grady. Newcomer James Allen now plays the part of Adolphus Scarabus as Phil had to move on from the production, both have and are creating wonderful versions of the character. Image by Darren McGinn

Tour Dates 2021/22

The Platform, Morecambe, Wednesday 27th October
Tickets:
https://uk.patronbase.com/_ThePlatform/Productions/BLA1/Performances

The Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight, Friday 29th October
Tickets:
gladstonetheatre.org.uk/events/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

The Muni, Colne, Saturday 30th October
Tickets:
https://www.themuni.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-at-the-muni/p-291-the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay, Friday 12th November
Tickets:
https://theatrcolwyn.co.uk/shows/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor

Scarborough Spa, Sunday 21st November
Tickets:
https://www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/event/The-Haunting-of-Blaine-Manor-2021

The Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford, Friday 28th January 2022
Ticket Link To Follow

The Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, Friday 25th February 2022
Tickets:
https://chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor.aspx#.YVDD4y2ZNuU

The Theatre Royal, Wakefield, Friday 18th March 2022
Tickets:
https://www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/events/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-2021

Whitby Pavilion, Thursday 21st April 2022
Ticket Link to Follow

Burnley Mechanics, Saturday 18th June
Matinee and Evening Performance
Tickets:
https://burnleymechanics.ticketsolve.com/shows/873627065

Swansea Grand Theatre, Wednesday 26th October 2022
Ticket Link to Follow

More Dates To Be Added Soon - Watch This Space!

Image by Darren McGinn

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'Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Had to Deal with Cynics.' Adolphus Scarabus

9/27/2019

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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Adolphus Scarabus is a world renowned parapsychologist, author, and clairvoyant. His skills are unparalleled in the field of supernatural research. He's also a fictional character, a character I created for my play The Haunting of Blaine Manor. Shortly after his entrance in the play, he is verbally accosted by American Doctor Roy Earle, a man who has built his own career and reputation proving that mediums and hauntings are fake, that 'there are no such things as ghosts'. Scarabus is unperturbed, he's used to this and unruffled in his reply

'Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had to deal with cynics.'

Adolphus Scarabus, played by Phil Dennison

This is true, as well as being a world renowned author, the creator of the Sherlock Holmes series of mysteries and The Lost World among his prolific output, he also had a fascination with the afterlife and spirit world. He carried out detailed research and attended many seances and 'ghost hunts' in haunted buildings. He studied to such an extent that he lectured on the subject. This of course left him wide open to mockery and ridicule from his peers, he was widely derided by scientists and cynics.

Doctor Roy Earle, played by Peter Slater - and yes, Doctor Earle is another fictional character. This mock newspaper was created by the brilliant Darren McGinn, words by Joe O'Byrne

Now when I was writing this play I had no idea that the play would become as successful as it has, that it would be filling theatres, that it would be garnering fabulous reviews from critics and the public and repeat viewings from many audience members. What I couldn't know at that time is that eventually the play would be performed in the spectacular and historical venue that is the beautiful Albert Halls, Bolton (pictured below) - an extra thrill for me as this is my home town.

Now imagine my excitement when I find after looking into the history of the Albert Halls that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave a lecture here, on the supernatural, in the very room where we will be performing the play! How spooky is that? It adds a whole new thrill to the ride. Who knows, maybe the ghost of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will be there with us, to hear that line being uttered? If you're with us as an audience member that night, and you feel an extra chill? Say hello to Sir Arthur.

We play the Albert Halls on Friday 11th of October, a fabulous venue for a ghost story, it's going to be quite a night. Book your tickets here, but hurry, tickets are disappearing faster than ghosts at an exorcists convention!

Check out Adolphus Scarabus at the beginning of the trailer below, trailer created by the brilliant Darren McGinn with originally composed music by the very talented Justin Wetherill, Justin also created the chilling sound design for the play.

Do you really want to miss a night like this? Come join us for a night you'll never forget.

Tickets:
www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk/events/event/40/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor

Check the spectacular reviews:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

Hope to see you...Horror is a Place.

That place is Blaine Manor.

Joe x

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The Full Show:

Halloween Film Double Bill from Tales from Paradise Heights

A Shiver Inducing Tale involving The Haunting of Blaine Manor and The Old Red Lion Theatre Pub, London.

Villains, Scoundrels and Perverts - The Haunting of Blaine Manor: The Characters

Doctor Roy Earle

Vivian Ruttledge

Cairo

Adolphus Scarabus

Vincent De Lambré

Grady

Tour Dates 2021/22

'Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Had to Deal with Cynics.' Adolphus Scarabus

Author

Archives

Categories

A Very Special Moment

PROMOTIONAL CLIPS

Horror is a Place

Scarborough is our last date of 2021!

Sinful Joe and his first Art Exhibition

I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED -Award Nominated One Man Show, for FREE

The Full Show:

Doctor Roy Earle

Vivian Ruttledge

Cairo

Adolphus Scarabus

Vincent De Lambré

Grady

Tour Dates 2021/22

Author

Archives

Categories

I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED -
Award Nominated One Man Show, for FREE