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.
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.
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...
'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?
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
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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