Blog Posts

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

10/14/2019

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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Vintage Horror Meets Vintage Theatre: Liverpool and Todmorden Theatres Over 100 Years Old To Host The Haunting of Blaine Manor

8/29/2019

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The autumn season is upon us, the nights are drawing in, the leaves are set to fall from the trees, ghosts and demons are set to reclaim the night...and horror is set to return.

After its six week break, the award winning The Haunting of Blaine Manor enters the second half of its 2019 tour, taking in some of the most beautiful and haunted theatres in the North of England. The most talked about haunter since The Woman in Black has two dates in September, and four in October to round out the tour. Check the stunning reviews.

REVIEWS: www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

September finds us in two wonderfully vintage venues, The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool and The Hippodrome in Todmorden are the next stops on the tour. Both venues are over 100 years old and both are beautiful theatres perfect for a ghost story told on stage. Take your seats and feel the presence of all those that have taken that seat before you down the decades, feel their presence join you as they look upon our tale through your eyes...perhaps you'll get to see a little more than the production? Horror is a Place.

If the kids are 12 or above? Take them along. Looking for a good staff night out? This is it. So come, travel back in time to 1953 and enjoy this firecracker of a ghostly thriller, these two venues more than suit the production, but book your tickets fast, both venues are filling up now.

THE EPSTEIN THEATRE, Liverpool, Friday 6th September

This gorgeous venue was built in 1911 and has a spectacularly haunted past. Going through a number of name changes and more than a few hauntings before being named after The Beatles famous manager. Much more on the hauntings within this building at the link:

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/blog/blaine-manor-the-devil-rides-out-and-a-nolan-sister-ghosts-and-the-epstein-theatre-liverpool

So if you're looking for an extra thrill to your viewing experience of this haunting production, why not the thrill of a haunted theatre?

THE HIPPODROME, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September

On the main Halifax Road in the east of Calderdale, the almost 500 seater Hippodrome was built in 1908. Before long silent films were being shown before the main theatre performance. For 111 years The Hippodrome has been an integral part of the community and all in the hands of diligent volunteers for over half its lifetime. There is more on this beautiful theatre's history at this link.

www.todhip.org/history-of-the-hippodrome

If you live in or anywhere near the Calderdale Valley then this is the perfect venue to catch the show in, dripping in atmosphere.

This show is really kicking up a storm, packing out houses, getting fabulous reviews and really thrilling audiences. A tribute to the Hammer Horror films of the 50s and 60s, the ghost stories of M R James, with flavours of Edgar Allen Poe and H P Lovecraft yet it has a voice all its own. The horror is real and it's a ride with chills, thrills, a few laughs, intrigue and the kind of twists that Alfred Hitchcock and M Night Shymalan would kill for. Just the one night in each venue so don't regret it when your friends tell you what a show it was, the reviews tell their story...book your tickets now!

Booking Links:

The Epstein Theatre, Friday 6th September
www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk/events/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

The Hippodrome, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September
www.ticketsource.co.uk/todhip/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/2019-09-07/19:30/t-ngovzm

Other Venues:
https://www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/blog/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-tour-2019-the-venues

Horror is a Place

Joe x

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Blaine Manor, The Devil Rides Out and - A Nolan Sister; Ghosts and The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

8/14/2019

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The Haunting of Blaine Manor's current tour is blazing a trail of horror right across the north and, thrilling audiences so much that many audience members are coming to see the show again in another venue on the tour - this time bringing their friends so they can watch their reactions to the chills, shocks and twists that the story produces. Quite a few of those coming again have chosen the beautiful Epstein Theatre in Liverpool, a theatre over 100 years old and a theatre with a particularly haunted history of its own.

Built in 1911 and originally designed as a music hall, the building was regularly used by theatre and drama groups and so eventually the title of the building was changed from music hall to theatre ran by the Crane brothers. However tragedy struck when in the mid 1920s one of the brothers who suffered badly from depression took his own life by hanging himself in the theatre, from the upper circle. Soon there were reports of a ghostly well dressed man whose head flops onto his left shoulder, being seen in the dark corridors backstage. Those that sighted him would fall foul of a curse that would lead to misfortune, illness or death. One actor, who reportedly saw the reflection of the man in her dressing room mirror died herself a few days later. Her ghost now also apparently haunts the building, with a number of people seeing 'a tall, slim, mournful woman wandering the stage'.

All entirely reassuring for us as a cast who will be using the dressing rooms, looking into mirrors, using dark backstage corridors...gulp.

In 1967 Liverpool Corporation bought the at risk building from the Cranes family. After a £7,000 refurbishment the theatre embraced Liverpool's longtime maritime connections and renamed the theatre The Neptune, named after the Roman god of the seas.

Over the coming years there were numerous sightings of eerie figures in the wings, backstage and around the lighting box but the most interesting and alarming episode was still ahead of The Neptune Theatre. In February 1993 a musical version of Dennis Wheatley's black magic thriller The Devil Rides Out was produced there, and all hell broke loose...

The essential plot is of a satanist wanting to summon the Devil himself from hell, would probably be enough to rouse any ghost there, but this productions seemed cursed from the start. I'm going to skim over the incidents that occurred there, and a fuller description of what occurred is at the link at the foot of this article. Of course any production about ghosts and demons coming to a haunted theatre might help the publicity of the show and sell extra tickets...but the show was already sold out - so none of what occurred had anything to do with attracting publicity.

Part of the story involves a pentagram. Three theatre staff were struggling to get it right on the stage floor, chalking and then painting it down, eventually they got it done - however they had apparently made a catastrophic error that would be discovered later. Almost immediately after this error strange things started to occur.

One of the ushers was a practising white witch, she came in the following day and was horrified to find they had drawn the pentagram upside down and she wanted to know who had cast it that way and why, she was deeply disturbed by it. She said the pentagram needed scrubbing from the stage, cleansing with salt water and repainting as it should be - the right way up. The director refused saying it was too late to do that.

On opening night the technician in the sound box started hearing strange sounds on the stage comms system, and from the lighting box a light appeared to be above the stage with no one being able to identify where the source was coming from. A long corridor under the stage was freezing cold, despite having the heating on - one actress felt so uneasy in her dressing room that she got changed in the backstage toilet.

Over the coming performances lights and tech equipment began to develop a life of its own, lights coming on when they shouldn't, sounds playing when they shouldn't and much louder than they should have. There were random slamming fire and stage doors, odd winds and breezes, cast and crew complained of not sleeping well and one actor in the show awoke one morning to find dark bruises around her throat.

The following is taken directly from the article published by the technician that worked on the production:

'This prompted paranormal investigator, Mark Glover, to turn up the next day. He spent most of the afternoon in the theatre taking photos, measurements and making audio recordings at various locations.  As well as interviewing the cast and some of the crew, Mark made a few Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) recordings. On one of his tapes he picked up a number of anomalous voices that weren’t present at the time of the recording – and in one of his photographs, featuring the pentagram on stage, he captured a strange eerie mist hovering just above the circle that he swore was not present when he took the picture.

Analesha, with the aid of the technicians, performed her ‘purification’ ritual on the pentagram again, and things began to settle down in the theatre. Each night before performances, she secretly blessed the circle with salt water. Save for the odd door slamming, the sinister atmosphere in the theatre died down.  On the last night Analesha didn’t get a chance to ‘bless’ the circle.  As she fretted in the aisles, the unknowing cast went on stage for the final performance …

As soon as we were into the full swing of the show, Jackie started to curse and swear as she once again lost control of the lighting desk. Lights began turning themselves on and off of their own accord. Seconds later, Collette the Stage Manager completely freaked out, shouting down the comms that she had just been pulled into the wings backstage by something invisible that had grabbed her tee-shirt. Then my sound desk went crazy, and sounds began to rise sharply in volume even though I was nowhere near the controls.

While all this was occurring, Brett and other actors on stage spied a sinister third figure in the lighting box that just fizzled out right in front of their eyes. They were so freaked out that they began missing lines. Then, during the final scene, the smoke machine went off during the finale, flooding the stage with dense fog. Technicians had to drag it off stage as they couldn’t stop it. Again, the device had operated whilst unplugged and being stone cold.

At the end of the final performance the actors and non-essential theatre staff went off to the end-of-show party, leaving a handful of technicians in the theatre to tidy up and strip down the set and equipment. The strip-down was the fastest I have ever experienced as we all wanted to get the hell out of there as fast as we could. Finally, we ripped up the tape that marked the pentagram and didn’t feel happy until we had repainted the stage to remove all trace of it completely.'

Here is the full article:
planetpreternatural.wordpress.com/tag/pentagram/?fbclid=IwAR32HP0ZTBkdQUsGQn-fn_P3f89-2m_U8gJceqNhcVancNDu3Pd_vKlb4Mw

So, did the pentagram cause all of this? Did this happen at all or was it all mass hysteria for a tired and stressed cast and crew? Who knows, but perhaps we might find out - the plot of The Haunting of Blaine Manor involves a pentagram! The good thing? You never see it, so there's no danger of it being upside down.  So who knows what we will encounter on our visit to The Haunted Epstein with our haunted production?

in 2011 the theatre was renamed The Epstein, in honour of The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein.

We will see you there on Friday the 6th of September, a haunted date for your diary. Whatever happens we can guarantee you one hell of a show, check the reviews and come join us, but book quickly as tickets are disappearing faster than ghosts at an exorcist's convention.

Reviews:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

Book your tickets here:
www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk/events/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Horror is a Place...

Jx

It's a beautiful theatre, check the images below:

Other venues and ticket links:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/blog/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-tour-2019-the-venues

Check the Trailer

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The Ghost Train is Coming to Town...Follow The Tour

6/14/2019

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Catch the show in one of these beautiful venues...at least two of them are said to be haunted!

We've come a long way. Tonight, on the eve of a fabulous tour that awaits us, I'm reflecting on just how far we have come. Starting out at the the lovely Hope Mill Theatre three years ago, we've played the magical Kings Arms in Salford with three runs over the years - working so well under that famous dome, we played the London Horror Festival (more on that shortly) and sold the venue out two weeks before we got there. We've played the wonderfully eccentric Hermon Chapel Arts Centre in Oswestry (a converted chapel that every performer should play in), we've set new audience house records at The Buxton Fringe Festival, and we sold out Bury Met two weeks before we got there for a fabulous Halloween night. In between the ghost train has visited so many gorgeous and character packed venues from Hebden Bridge Little Theatre to The Civic in Oswaldtwistle.

The reviews have been wonderful, the audiences magnificent - some having seen the production as many as five times and bringing new friends each time so that they can watch them gasp at the horrors, twists and turns the plot spins out before them. I remember the four white witches that came to watch the show at The Carlton in Preston. How they chatted so enthusiastically to me afterwards, and how impressed they were at the witchcraft sections of the plot that I had written - that really was a great shot in the arm for me ladies, so thank you to The Witches of Preston.

REVIEWS:  www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

Then there was that London Horror Festival performance. We were playing The Old Red Lion in Islington, where Oscar Wilde once sat scribbling. The theatre is on the upstairs floor of the building. During the production there was an incredible noise coming from upstairs. The sounds of barrels rolling across the floor, footsteps, the sound of metal being dragged across the floor - all the sounds of a brewery delivering a dray on a wet Saturday afternoon...only...only there hadn't been a delivery.

I mentioned to Kate - who was running the pub and the festival - that the delivery had been a bit loud, she looked at me quizzically - 'I thought it was your sound effects?' I shook my head, 'Nope'. She looked worried. 'Oh God...he's back.' It turns out the pub has a ghost, and that upstairs is a flat - where the owner was away on holiday, there was no one upstairs, it seems the play may have woken something. As we were leaving Kate was getting on the phone to her boyfriend, telling him to come down to help her lock up - there was no way she was going to lock up on her own! Seriously though, what the hell was going on upstairs while we were onstage?

There are more tales to tell of our travels so far and I'll tell some of them over the next few weeks. I'll be blogging about each venue and our experiences there. This tour is so special to us, 13 wonderful houses, all beautiful theatres. This is all a dream come true for me, it's so lovely to have a show that brings out so many people and so many reactions from those people. The show is blessed with a magnificent cast (Jo Haydock, Peter Slater, Ed Barry, Andrew Yates, Phil Dennison) and a brilliant crew (Justin Wetherill, Darren McGinn, Dave Heald) and we're quite the family now. It's all hard work but doesn't feel like it. Yep, I'm living the dream.

So we launch the tour tomorrow from The Playhouse, Halifax.  A converted church, this became a 260 seat theatre in 1949. The theatre is run on the blood, sweat and tears of volunteers and all power to their elbows, if you are in the area you really ought to check out this theatre, it's beautiful. I don't have a date that this grade II listed building was built, maybe someone out there knows? Regardless, a gorgeous space.

Some come join us as we launch the tour tomorrow, bring a friend to hold on to and keep telling yourself;

'It's only a play...it's only a play.'

Book your tickets at the following link:
www.halifaxplayhouse.org.uk/2019_productions/prod_blaine.html

More on the play here:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor.html

More on those venues here:
www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/blog/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-tour-2019-the-venues

So come join us, come see why so many see this as Agatha Christie meets The Haunting, and why we are being called the new The Woman in Black...this is a night and a tale you will never forget.

Horror is a Place.

Joe x

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The Haunting of Blaine Manor Tour 2019: The Venues

4/5/2019

Well we're back, and this year's tour is choc full of beautiful theatres. Those that have seen the play will know how beautiful and grand it looks on stage, and all the venues we have played thus far have their own character and beauty that blended or beautifully juxtaposed the aesthetic for the audience.

Having built such a wave of audience popularity and critical acclaim for the play we're now moving on with the production to mainstream theatres, and wow, we've got some beauty's on the tour here. Check them out below and hope to see you out on the tour.

The Playhouse, Halifax, Saturday 15th June

A converted church, this became a 260 seat theatre in 1949. I don't have a date that this grade II listed building was built, maybe someone out there knows? Regardless, a gorgeous space. In September 1927, two hundred and ten people, who were interested in the arts, were invited to a meeting in The White Swan. By October the Constitution was passed and the Halifax Thespians was formed, after playing several different premises over the years they purchased the church in 1954. More details on their history on the website. We will see you at this gorgeous volunteer run theatre on the 15th of June.

Ticket Link: www.halifaxplayhouse.org.uk/2019_productions/prod_blaine.html

The Waterside, Sale, Friday 21st June

The Waterside occupies the site of the old Sale Civic Theatre as well as part of the former Trafford Council Town Hall. After 10 years of work, the Waterside was able to launch its first artistic programme in November 2004. A beautiful 346 seat theatre, see you here on the 21st June.

Ticket Link: watersidearts.org/whats-on/2520-the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

The Garrick Theatre, Stockport, Friday 5th July

The 151 seater Stockport Garrick Theatre was founded on 24th of October, 1901, by engineer Edwin Heys and his fellow actors: fugitives from the disbanded dramatic society of Stockport Unitarian Church. Meeting in what was then The Church Coffee Tavern on St Petersgate, Heys and his friends resolved to found a new society ‘to perform the best plays by the most capable amateur actors and with the finest scenic effects’. The Garrick Theatre has a particular love of Shakespeare, recently being involved with the RSC's Open Stages project. Sir Ian McKellen is an honorary member. See you here on the 5th July.

Ticket Link:
www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor-stockport-garrick-theatre-tickets/9306125

The Carriageworks, Leeds, Saturday 6th July

Built in 2005, this 349 seat theatre is part of the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Electric Press printing works, The Carriageworks provides a stunning backdrop with a sympathetic meeting of old and new architecture. See you here on Saturday 6th July.

Ticket Link: www.carriageworkstheatre.co.uk/whats-on/ballet/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/4582

Cast, Doncaster, Friday 12th & Saturday 13th July

Cast, Doncaster. Opened in September 2013. The theatre contains two auditoria, the 620 seat main house and the 200 seat adaptable format Studio - both have seats on two levels. We're playing the 200 seater Second Space for 2 nights, see you here 12th & 13th July.

Ticket Link: www.castindoncaster.com/whats-on/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

Batley Town Hall, Batley, Saturday 20th July

The town hall opened in 1853 and is situated in the centre of Batley overlooking the town's Market Square. The concert hall/Theatre can seat 288 people, recently benefiting from new lighting, sound system and a refurbished stage area. See you here on the 20th July.

Ticket Link:
tickets.kirklees.gov.uk/en-GB/shows/the%20haunting%20of%20blaine%20manor/events

The Epstein, Liverpool, Friday 6th September

Since 1913 the Hanover Street venue formally known as Cranes Music Hall, Cranes Theatre and The Neptune Theatre has provided a wide range of live entertainment for over 100 years. This is a 380 capacity grade II listed theatre, and as you can clearly see, very grand. Re-named in memory of Liverpool’s most successful music entrepreneur and Beatles manager Brian Epstein, whose portrait hangs pertinently in Brian's Bar. Brian was renowned for his contributions to the city’s cultural and music scene. See you here on the 6th September.

Ticket Link: www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk/events/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/

The Hippodrome, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September

On the main Halifax Road in the east of Calderdale, the almost 500 seater Hippodrome was built in 1908. Before long silent films were being shown before the main theatre performance. For 111 years The Hippodrome has been an integral part of the community and all in the hands of diligent volunteers for over half its lifetime. There is more on this beautiful theatre's history at this link.

www.todhip.org/history-of-the-hippodrome

Ticket link:
www.ticketsource.co.uk/todhip/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor/2019-09-07/19:30/t-ngovzm

The Albert Hall, Bolton, Friday 11th October

This 670 seat theatre is set within Bolton’s famous Town Hall right at the very heart and this particular gig has a place in my heart. The original Albert Hall served as the heart of the Town’s cultural life for over 100 years, hosting hundreds of concerts, shows, bazaars, exhibitions, and played host to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a man who gets his own mention in The Haunting of Blaine Manor. This is also my home town, so it's great to be coming to such a historic building. I'm really proud to be playing the best venue in my home town. Find us here on Friday 11th October.

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

The Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, Friday 18th October

Housed in another grade II listed building, this 208 seat (88 upstairs, 120 down) was founded by Hungarian Sir Nicholas Sekers in 1959, Rosehill presented many great names from the world of theatre and music including Peggy Ashcroft, Sir John Gielgud, Jacqueline Du Pré, John Betjeman, Benjamin Britten, Joyce Grenfell, Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Laine, David Bowie and Lindsay Kemp. The theatre, which has retained the atmosphere that was acclaimed on its opening in 1959 as a "rose-red silk lined jewel box" was designed by acclaimed stage, costume and film designer, Oliver Messel.

You will find us here on Friday 18th October, ticket link:

www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/the-haunting-of-blaine-manor

Burnley Mechanics, Burnley, Friday 25th October

The Mechanics' Institute was built 1854–55 to a design by Todmorden architect James Green. Sir Charles Towneley opened the institute in 1855.It was a club for 'reading and discussion by an 'earnest few'. A magnificent grade two listed venue refitted and reopened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1986 to present the very best in entertainment, special events and activities. Since that time the Mechanics have hosted some of the world’s finest talent from all realms of the performing arts including The Osmonds, Toploader, Patty Smith, Marillion, Buddy Guy, G4, Eddie Izzard and John Bishop. You'll find us here on Friday October 25th.

Ticket Link: burnleymechanics.ticketsolve.com/shows/873602650

Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, Thursday 31st October
HALLOWEEN

The Halloween performance of The Haunting of Blaine Manor is always a special one for obvious reasons. This year we are in Whitby, in the shadow of Dracula's Castle right on the North Sea coastline...I'd book your tickets well in advance because tickets are already being snatched up by those having attending the annual Halloween Goth Weekend there. The 360 seat Pavilion Theatre was built in the 1870s in West Cliff and has its own ghost, from which we may have a visit from on Halloween. So come join us if you dare, but book ahead...hell, make it a weekend in Whitby, you're only here once!

Ticket Link: www.whitbypavilion.co.uk

At the time of writing we are still seeking further venues and rolling the tour over into next year, if you are a programmer please do get in touch, contact details are in the menu above.

Check out the reviews and see why people are returning to see this show again and again, each time bringing new friends. Described as The New The Woman in Black and Agatha Christie meets The Haunting - this show is not to be missed. Catch us this year at one of these beautiful theatres.

REVIEWS: www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/reviews.html

Horror is a place...

Joe x

The Watcher now on Amazon Prime UK and The Return of Frank Morgan

1/4/2019

We're only four days into the New Year and it's busy, busy, busy here at Paradise Heights Towers, and the good news keeps on coming in!

I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED finished out 2018 by getting nominated for The Salford Star Best Drama of 2018 Award, fantastic news ahead of its return next month when it premiers at The Met in Bury on the 9th Feb. Thanks to Stephen Kingston and Ian Leslie of The Salford Star for the nomination, they have long been supporters of the Salford born Tales from Paradise Heights.

After yesterday's announcement of The Watcher now being available on Amazon Prime in America, I can now announce that the film is also available on Amazon Prime UK. Fans of Frank Morgan will find him emerging from the shadows in this film...and that's great ahead of his return to the stage next month and his first appearance at The Met in Bury - further details below.

Click this link and it takes you to the film on Amazon Prime UK.

AMAZON PRIME UK LINK:  amzn.eu/d/2cQYtaK

Please leave a review when you've watched it and share the link further if you can - reviews really help lay the foundations for future projects in the Tales from Paradise Heights pipeline. Once again BIG THANKS to Mark Reid of Renderyard for his work getting the film out there, the film will be rolled out on over 70 VOD streaming services as throughout this year, I'll keep you up to date as each new territory goes live with the film.

I'm Frank Morgan: RewiRED returns next month to The Met in Bury on the 9th of February at 7.30pm further details and booking here:

themet.org.uk/event/frank-morgan/

You can find more information on the play about the shark, gambler and iconic bad guy of Paradise Heights at this link.

www.talesfromparadiseheights.com/im-frank-morgan-rewired.html

There's an exclusive to The Met new trailer for the play below, please share where you can and hope to see you there...

Much love, Joe x

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

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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

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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

Vintage Horror Meets Vintage Theatre: Liverpool and Todmorden Theatres Over 100 Years Old To Host The Haunting of Blaine Manor

THE HIPPODROME, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September

Blaine Manor, The Devil Rides Out and - A Nolan Sister; Ghosts and The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

The Ghost Train is Coming to Town...Follow The Tour

The Haunting of Blaine Manor Tour 2019: The Venues

The Playhouse, Halifax, Saturday 15th June

The Waterside, Sale, Friday 21st June

The Garrick Theatre, Stockport, Friday 5th July

The Carriageworks, Leeds, Saturday 6th July

Cast, Doncaster, Friday 12th & Saturday 13th July

Batley Town Hall, Batley, Saturday 20th July

The Epstein, Liverpool, Friday 6th September

The Hippodrome, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September

The Albert Hall, Bolton, Friday 11th October

The Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, Friday 18th October

Burnley Mechanics, Burnley, Friday 25th October

Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, Thursday 31st October
HALLOWEEN

The Watcher now on Amazon Prime UK and The Return of Frank Morgan

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

Rushing Headlong Down The Highway of 2019...

Author

Archives

Categories

Doctor Roy Earle

Vivian Ruttledge

Cairo

Adolphus Scarabus

Vincent De Lambré

Grady

Tour Dates 2021/22

THE HIPPODROME, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September​

The Playhouse, Halifax, Saturday 15th June

The Waterside, Sale, Friday 21st June

The Garrick Theatre, Stockport, Friday 5th July

The Carriageworks, Leeds, Saturday 6th July

Cast, Doncaster, Friday 12th & Saturday 13th July

Batley Town Hall, Batley, Saturday 20th July

The Epstein, Liverpool, Friday 6th September

The Hippodrome, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September

The Albert Hall, Bolton, Friday 11th October

The Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, Friday 18th October

Burnley Mechanics, Burnley, Friday 25th October

Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, Thursday 31st October ​HALLOWEEN

Author

Archives

Categories

THE HIPPODROME, Todmorden, Saturday 7th September

Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, Thursday 31st October
HALLOWEEN