Blog Posts - Tales from Paradise Heights

The Watcher: A Tale from Paradise Heights...Available on American Amazon Prime and Rolling Out To Over 70 World Wide VOD Services

1/3/2019

2019 has got off to a flying start with The Watcher: A Tale from Paradise Heights now available on American Amazon Prime, fantastic news for this classic northern England horror short. As the year progresses the film will become available on over 70 VOD (Video On Demand) streaming services world wide.

This is down to the tireless efforts of Mark Reid of Renderyard who has been championing the film, right down to doing the subtitles for each streaming service.

Ben Mottershead's excellent documentary on the making of the film is at the link below, well worth a watch as it gives an insight into how all the separate Tales from Paradise Heights are connected.

vimeo.com/32017631

So if you have any American friends give the link below a share and have them check out one of the many Tales from Paradise Heights.

Amazon Prime Link: a.co/d/aAPjleu

Reviews:

htp://o/d/aAPjleu

There's much more on The Watcher on the film's page here:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-watcher.html

There will be further updates as the film becomes available in other territories...once again, huge thanks to Mark Reid of Renderyard.

Happy New Year...

Joe x

Rushing Headlong Down The Highway of 2019...

1/2/2019

2018 was my most creative and successful year, starting the year with an award win and ending it with an award nomination. I also co-produced and co-directed the first animated Tale from Paradise Heights (above) and the film will be entering film festivals this year. On top of this The Haunting of Blaine Manor played Buxton Festival and set new house records in terms of audience numbers at the Underground Venues, and then there was the Sold Out winter tour of the play - totally independently produced without any funding and a tremendous success every where we went.

I love all my collaborators, their input is invaluable, their talent incalculable, their friendships so precious and their support simply monumental - none of this is achieved without them, all of this is down to them throwing themselves into the mix and giving their all. Jo Haydock, Peter Slater, Andrew Yates, Phil Dennison, Ed Barry, Daniel Thackeray, Darren McGinn, Justin Wetherill, Darren Barker (set builder for I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED) - I love you all so much and there's much more to come. Of course I also want to say a huge thank you to the management and staff of all the venues, the reviewers and the fabulous audiences we met along the way.

Then there was the first Broken Banshee Cabaret that came out of Frank Morgan's club, The Ace of Spades (The Kings Arms), a small and intimate affair as the first one was bound to be. But this will grow and the talents we had that night were amazing including, Andrew Yates, Jo Malone, Zoe Iqbal, Johnny Ryall and The Hurtful Taunts, Johnny Giro (Peter Slater) Anne Addiction (Moni Wilkes), Harlow Kitty (Clare Bagnall) Ian Curley, Phil Dennison, special thanks to Lisa Connor of the fabulously Bohemian Boozer - The Kings Arms. There will be four Broken Banshee Cabarets a year so watch this space - the next one is at Easter. An extra special thanks to the incredibly talented photographers that I've been lucky to have get involved in all of this - Karen Mcbride, Shay Rowan and Darren McGinn, you've all created some truly iconic imagery.

2018. What a great year.

So, 2019 - last year was the bench mark. This year I intend to go beyond that, no biggie, and the collaborations I have and will make further along the way will make that happen. Age is just a number - the drive, the urge, the obsessions and the will to do will make it happen.

So with 2018 fast disappearing in the rear view mirror, here's to rushing headlong down the highway of a FAB 2019, starting with the return of that ferocious Shark next month. See the next update for details...Happy New Year x

Christmas in Paradise Heights Part 2: The Broken Banshee Cabaret

11/29/2018

There's a first coming to Salford. A Tales from Paradise Heights Double Whammy - no - TRIPLE WHAMMY! It's something of a 'meta' event, your chance to attend a Cabaret bursting with ferocious northern talent from Manchester to Bradford and beyond. A cabaret hosted by a fictional character in his fictional club, from his fictional universe but packed with real acts. Then 24 hours later see the fall of that fictional character in a play set in the same club.

That club? The Ace of Spades, Paradise Heights.

The character? The Paradise Heights notorious gangster, loan shark, gambler and club owner Frank Morgan. But first, more on that cabaret...

What if you could attend a cabaret in Frank Morgan's club, The Ace of Spades? This will be a cabaret like no other...

THE BROKEN BANSHEE CABARET

Paradise Heights most infamous villain, Frank Morgan, is bringing a unique night to The Kings Arms, Salford, all set in his club The Ace of Spades - The Broken Banshee Cabaret will be a night of live music, burlesque, comedy, film, spoken word and all with a Dark Christmas edge...shot through with that unique Tales from Paradise Heights flavour. It's a night you're not going to want to miss, and it's going to sell out fast.

Live Music from The Hurtful Taunts, Comedy from Johnny Giro, Burlesque from Anne Addiction & Harlow Kitty, spoken word from Ian Curley, Joe O'Byrne, sketches from a whole host of talent from across the region including Jo Malone & Zoe Iqbal (Smash & Grab), Andrew Yates and Phil Dennison. A night of live music, comedy, film, burlesque, drama, tragedy, murder, mayhem and marmite.

So there's The Broken Banshee Cabaret on the 14th, the play I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED on the 15th (more on that at the following link here www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/blog/christmas-in-paradise-heights-part-1-the-second-coming-of-frank-morgan ) but what's the third part of The Paradise Heights Triple Whammy? Tales from Paradise Heights has taken a bold step into the world of animation. The first animated tale, the first of what will be a series of Animated Tales from Paradise Heights. The Night Death Put Me Down will have it's Salford/Manchester preview at The Broken Banshee Cabaret, it's a six minute short that packs a punch as Death takes a stroll through Paradise Heights.

Fans of the series will find more than a few nods to characters and locations from the series. It's an exciting calling card for tales to come.

Tales from Paradise Heights have produced an eclectic range of characters in film and theatre over the years, all from powerful and poignant connected tales for our times. All of these characters being given flesh and blood by the talents of incredibly skilled actors all backed up by some of the most talented crews in the North. They have all helped the fictional community of Paradise Heights become much more real...well this is a further step into reality as the series most iconic villain - Frank Morgan - invites you to a twisted cabaret for Christmas in his club The Ace of Spades, all under the roof of the hub for creative talent that is The Kings Arms, a Legendary Bohemian Boozer ran by the Dynamo that is Lisa Connor.

And all this for a tenner? Yep, a Christmas Gift from Frank and The Ace of Spades, tickets are already flying. It's a Cracking Kick Off to Christmas, Christmas Tales from Paradise Heights Style, you'd be crazy to miss it! Book your tickets at the link:

www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-broken-banshee-caberet-the-kings-arms-tickets/8941515?REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed

Merry Feckin' Christmas!

Joe x

Christmas in Paradise Heights Part 1: The Second Coming of Frank Morgan

11/19/2018

After a ferocious return earlier this year, I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED is back just in time to haunt Christmas. The celebrated first Tale from Paradise Heights made it into film and theatre all those years ago, way back in 1999 came the film based on the play, the play - well there's more on the history of it here: www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/im-frank-morgan-rewired.html

So if you've seen I'm Frank Morgan before 2018, you've seen it...except - YOU HAVEN'T.

This is the Frank Morgan Remix, the revisit the reincarnation of a Devil, Frank - RewiRED. The new show tore apart the old monster and created a new one, a Frank-enstein Morgan if you will. Major new story threads were added to the tale creating a richer and more layered story, shot through with a vein of dark gothic meets urban horror, a twisted modern fairy tale. I guarantee you there is nothing like it out there, and audiences and reviewers loved it, the original play was the trailer...this is the full blown story. A Modern Myth. A Modern Tragedy.

The original script became the corner stone for what would become a whole series of interconnected plays and films, all set on the same estate - Paradise Heights. All the stories have been critically acclaimed and have gained a strong Northern following down the years, and this year the series moved into animation with The Night Death Put Me Down.

As there are plans to bring back all the tales over the next couple of years - starting with The Bench in 2019 www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-bench.html now would be a good time to get in at the beginning and savour the experience from the origin, this tale.

And here's a blast from the past, an interview from BBC Radio Manchester Icons series, it's all about Tales from Paradise Heights, and its influences.

So that gives you a flavour of what this series of well reviewed plays and films is all about, the best kept secret on the UK theatrical scene it seems. So yeah - now's a good time to get on board, and of course there's lots more info on The Tales in the drop down menus above. Hope to see you.

Tickets available soon for The Kings Arms, 15th December, 7.30pm
Tickets £10-/£8 cons: The Kings Arms, Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
www.kingsarmssalford.com/

Joe x

The Haunting of Blaine Manor: Autumn Tour - Update

8/12/2018

'There's a joy in being scared - a thrill.'

'The most talked about
haunter since
The Woman in Black.'

So after July's fantastic run at Buxton Festival, we're now gearing up for the Autumn Tour of The Haunting of Blaine Manor.

There's going to be a fair bit of posting and news coming up about the tour, so this post will be the main 'go to' post that will contain as much relevant info as possible about the production and where it will turn up next.

The journey of the play so far has been fabulous. Winning The Salford Star's award for The Best Play of 2017, gaining fresh new reviews from each theatre run, breaking house records, selling out two weeks before we arrived in London and getting wonderful responses from all our audiences, some of whom have now seen the play 3 or 4 times, each time bringing new faces so that they in turn can watch their reactions to the play...the fear is infectious.

Why Should You See The Haunting of Blaine Manor?

To ask you to take our word about the play would be unfair, which is why below you'll find links to reviews and a voxpops video of interviews with audience members who came to see the production, they very graciously shared their views on the play.

'A brilliant story,
really well told.'

REVIEWS

The link below will take you to reviews by established theatre critics.

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

'Agatha Christie
meets
The Haunting.'

Character Tarot Cards designed by Darren McGinn

The Origin of The Play...Ghosts in the Night

The following link will bring you to a page filled with the stunning photography of Karen McBride and Shay Rowan, the digital design work and photography of Darren McGinn and myself talking about why I wrote The Haunting of Blaine Manor.

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor.html

'I felt like there was something in the room throughout...truly gave me the scare.'

TRAILER

1950s Classic B&W Movie Trailer

As you will find out elsewhere, when writing the play I wanted to create the feeling of watching an old black and white film set in a haunted house...so here's a cheeky trailer to capture that feel...nowhere near as good as the quite brilliant trailer that Darren McGinn created (above) with the original music and sound effects of Justin Wetherill.

Come join us on our journey across the North West, to Yorkshire and to Shropshire...get your tickets and climb aboard the ghost train.

With the house record setting sell out of the show at Buxton Festival it's probably a good idea to book ahead for this show - and we sold out London 2 weeks before we got there. Links are below where tickets are on sale for the show...

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre - 22nd Sept
www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/227032

Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax - 27/28 Sept
www.squarechapel.co.uk/whats-on/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Hebden Bridge Little Theatre, Hebden Bridge 19/20 October
hblt.co.uk/diary/shazia-mirza-2-2

The New Continental, Preston 24/25 October
newcontinental.net/whats-on/event/haunting-blaine-manor

The Met, Bury - Halloween Special - 31 October
themet.org.uk/event/haunting-blaine-manor/

Hermon Chapel Arts Centre, Oswestry - 1/2/3 November
www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/260932

'There is murder here,
there is horror, there is the supernatural...but there's also a detective story.'

Yes, as well as being a chiller to watch, there's also something of a detective story going on. Can you predict how the play will end? What are the agenda's at play? Who is hiding what? And there's more than murder in the air...there are ghosts here and something else, oh yes most definitely something else...but we don't want to give too much away.

As you're watching - as it all becomes too much to bear - close your eyes, take hold of the person next to you and just keep saying to yourself 'It's only a play...it's only a play...'

Come and join us for a night you will never forget.

Joe x

The Night Death Put Me Down...First Animated Tale from Paradise Heights

8/10/2018

Exciting news as last night, 9/08/2018, I visited Darren McGinn and he recorded my dialogue for the first animated tale to come from Tales from Paradise Heights. Working with the animation skills of Darren (and some sound) and the music and sound skills of Justin Wetherill, the first animated tale should premiere around the last week in October, perhaps even Halloween night.

Keep your eyes peeled for this, particularly if you're a fan of Tales from Paradise Heights - there will be Halloween Easter Eggs...more soon.

In the meantime here are a few pre production concept sketches I did for the short...

Stay tuned for further updates, in the meantime I'm back to the promotion of the Autumn Tour of The Haunting of Blaine Manor...see you on tour. Joe x

With the house record setting sell out of the show at Buxton Festival it's probably a good idea to book ahead for this show - and we sold out London 2 weeks before we got there. Links are below where tickets are on sale for the show...

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre - 22nd Sept
www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/227032

Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax - 27/28 Sept
www.squarechapel.co.uk/whats-on/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Hebden Bridge Little Theatre, Hebden Bridge 19/20 October
hblt.co.uk/diary/shazia-mirza-2-2

The New Continental, Preston 24/25 October
Tickets On Sale Soon

The Met, Bury - Halloween Special - 31 October
themet.org.uk/event/haunting-blaine-manor/

Hermon Chapel Arts Centre, Oswestry - 1/2/3 November
Tickets On Sale Soon

More updates soon...Joe x

Image by Darren McGinn

Blaine Manor Autumn Tour: Agatha Christie meets The Haunting - Climb Aboard the Ghost Train...

7/24/2018

First and foremost a huge and hearty thank you to Buxton Festival. We really enjoyed our time at The Arts Centre Studio, part of the magnificent Opera House. The Front of House staff were superb, bending over backwards to help ours and all the shows there, they were a great team and it was a pleasure to get to know them over the short time we were there.

We're delighted to know that we set a new house record there for audience attendance, there was a real buzz around the show and each performance we felt the energy from our audiences so a very special thank you to them. We picked up further fantastic reviews there, and it was great to rub shoulders with so many talented production companies and shows - no doubt we'll see you again soon out there in festival land.

Well done to the festival organisers, the helpers, the venues, the venue staff, the reviewers, the bar staff and anyone we may have left out. Bye for now and maybe see you next year.

Keep up with our REVIEWS PAGE here:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

The Ghost Train Thunders On Down The Track...Autumn Tour

We're shaping up to have a very haunted autumn, and there are some fabulous venues to catch the show at across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and a return to Oswestry. We're looking for further venues as we go and will be popping up in more theatres in the new year. In the meantime the poster above indicates where we are booked in so far, and below are the ticket links. Some venues are already getting a number of bookings so get in there fast - we set a new house record in Buxton and we sold out in London two weeks before we got there, so make sure of your ticket.

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre - 22nd Sept
www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/227032

Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax - 27/28 Sept
www.squarechapel.co.uk/whats-on/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Hebden Bridge Little Theatre, Hebden Bridge 19/20 October
hblt.co.uk/diary/shazia-mirza-2-2

The New Continental, Preston 24/25 October
Tickets On Sale Soon

The Met, Bury - Halloween Special - 31 October
themet.org.uk/event/haunting-blaine-manor/

Hermon Chapel Arts Centre, Oswestry - 1/2/3 November
Tickets On Sale Soon

More updates soon...Joe x

Buxton Buzz: Blaine Manor Buxton Festival Fringe Update

7/14/2018

Some of the Blaine Manor cast and crew making themselves comfortable.

We're halfway through our performance schedule at Buxton Festival Fringe, two of our performances of The Haunting of Blaine Manor played so far at The Arts Centre Studio, adjoining the magnificent Buxton Opera House. The play is going down a storm, thrilling new audiences and once again garnering wonderful reviews, our remaining performances coming up in the coming week, details below.

We're having a fantastic time at the Fest, the audiences, front of house staff, the festival organisers, the fellow acts and artists, the townsfolk and local businesses, everyone is really friendly and there's a real buzz about the place. I'm happy to report there's a fair bit of buzz around us too, and judging by bookings for next week it's clear there are a lot of audience recommendations doing the rounds, we strongly recommend you book at we are filling up fast for those two remaining shows.

Whilst the Manor may be chilling, the reviews are HOT!

Darren McGinn has been producing some wonderful artwork for Tales from Paradise Heights for a number of years now - including the poster for the show, you'll find a lot of his work through this site. He has also created some wonderful trailers to support the show, including the Review Trailer below. This week he has released some further imagery in support of the show. This set of fabulous Tarot cards featuring the characters of the play. The 'review' trailer also features the haunting music and sound effects created by the brilliant Justin Wetherill.

I noticed on the Buxton site that a lady called Isla had left us a nice review. I was in Buxton earlier this week and noticed a shop named 'ISLA' and wondered...so I popped in. It was indeed her as she recognised me from the play. She runs a fabulously unique gift shop and I ended up opening my wallet in there (I challenge anyone that goes in there not to) so I'll always have a memory of Buxton Fest and I think it's an appropriate one...what d'ya reckon? I have a thing for mugs, and this hit the spot for some reason.

If you want to check out her art gallery and gift shop while you're in Buxton (and I really recommend it) the address is 4b The Colonnade, Buxton SK17 6AL

The management at The Underground Venues (The Arts Centre Studio and The Club House) have been absolutely brilliant in their support of all the shows here, and a special mention to Jack the lighting technician at The Arts Centre Studio, who performed miracles on the opening night when the lighting deck seemed to develop a mind of its own - this did not affect the show thanks to his skill) and Dylan - part of the fabulous front of house team who are all doing a cracking job.

So yeah, two dates left at this fab fest, details in the poster below, and I've included links to book those tickets. A couple of trailers are below too. After Wednesday we are gone, but will be touring over the coming months - keep an eye out here for details.

Buxton Festival Fringe is a fabulous festival and we are really proud to be part of this, hope to see you at the two remaining shows. We're the play festival goers are describing as 'Agatha Christie meets The Haunting', come and check our award winning play out, the most talked about haunter/chiller since The Woman in Black.

Enjoy the remainder of the Festival,

Joe and The Blaine Manor Cast and Crew xx

REVIEW TRAILER

Black and White Trailer - Made in 1953

If you're in or around Buxton don't miss the award winning The Haunting of #BlaineManor, the most talked about haunter since The Woman in Black.

Book your tickets:
https://underthefringe.com/book/blaine-manor

Horror is a Place...Blaine Manor

THE DEMON RETURNS: The Haunting of Blaine Manor - Buxton Festival Fringe 2018

6/15/2018

We are absolutely delighted to be part of the Fabulous Buxton Festival Fringe. We will be performing at the Arts Centre Studio, part of the Buxton Opera House complex, the opera house being a classic Frank Matcham building. Playing in a building within the grounds and situated behind the Opera House who knows what ghosts our ghosts might disturb there?

Come and see this show that reviewers love and that audiences are coming to watch more than once, it's a twisty turny chiller thriller. Some of the reviews are below, along with some stunning imagery - booking details and more information at the links. Show dates and times are in the poster above.

Booking: underthefringe.com/book/blaine-manor

There is more information on the origin of the production here.

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor.html

TRAILER:

The Fabulous Imagery of Darren McGinn

Darren designed the trailer (with the wonderful music and sound effects of Justin Wetherill) and has produced some stunning imagery to support the shows, just some of his work is below in these wonderful portraits of the characters.

This is one of the best haunted house stories you will ever see on stage, the reviews tell their story. Bring your friends, workmates, make it a night out - it's a story that will stay with you...we look forward to meeting you...Joe x

FEELING PUNCHY - I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED

6/14/2018

It's been a couple of weeks since my last performance (on that run) as Frank Morgan. I've had further time to reflect on what I did with him. The revival/remodel/reincarnation was more than worth the gamble as most of you who saw it will agree.

Audience reaction, reviews etc mean that he won't be put back in his cage for long. I'm going to be doing the show wherever I can nation wide, should be cheap enough with it being a one man show, travel light. I'd like to put it on somewhere every couple of months or so in a build up to take the show to Edinburgh next year as an introduction of Tales from Paradise Heights to new audiences. He's already booked in for The Met in Bury for January but he may be back as early as August if I have my way, watch this space. A BIG THANKS to the audiences who have just been beyond amazing, to the reviewers that give shows legs, to Justin Wetherill (music and sound design) to Darren McGinn (Posters) and to Karen McBride and Shay Rowan (Photography) Some more of Shay's shots can be seen above and below, over the coming weeks I will post up galleries of Karen and Shay's work.

So yes, I'm celebrating, and absolutely delighted that I dusted off that old Frank Morgan script, tore it apart and created a new Monster for today - Frank(enstein) Morgan, rose from the slab and pretty much smashed his way out of the laboratory...it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!

REVIEWS:

So that's Frank for now...and next it's back to more haunting times as The Haunting of Blaine Manor comes to Buxton Festival Fringe in July, can't wait. See you out there...Joe x