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03 Nov 2022

Dracula’s Guest

WHAT: Dracula’s Guest
WHEN/WHERE: UK Tour
PRICE: Varies depending on event

OUR RATING: Chance It!

This past Halloween night, Storefront City had a decision to make. After a busy and haunt-filled month of reviews, we felt pressure to choose our adventure on the 31st wisely, and thus landed on a bone-chilling tale of the undead creature of the night himself – Dracula. Making our way again to The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington, we ascended the stairs to see Brother Wolf’s production of Dracula’s Guest, which has been on tour in the UK throughout the year. As soon as we entered the dark and cosy space, silent bar the sound of a music box, we were immediately arrested by the intimacy of the environment created pre-show. Before us was a man, his head in his hands, seated at a table carrying a rotting pig’s head. And so the evening began!

Under the helm of James Hyland (actor, writer, producer and director), and inspired by the writings of Bram Stoker, Dracula’s Guest presents an intimate scene between Count Dracula (Hyland) and Renfield (Ashton Spear), who in the classic novel is the unstable and devoted familiar of the vampire, and fully under his control. In Dracula’s Guest, however, we are taken slightly back in time, when Renfield has first been taken hostage by the Count, and has a life-changing decision to make in exchange for his freedom.

This production truly thrust us into the action, the simple yet compelling setting transporting the audience into the centre of Castle Dracula. Notably, compared to some other productions we’ve recently seen, there is deep seriousness about the creative framing of this piece and we soaked up the immersive atmosphere with trepidation. The narrative itself is a clear departure from the original short story by Stoker (which actually served as a draft and later deleted chapter of Dracula itself, and was published posthumously), but nonetheless provides an intriguing alternative interpretation and indeed introduces new material to ponder.

In performances that require a great degree of physicality, Hyland and Spear captivate us with their presence, both commanding and pitiful, respectively, resulting in a transformation of man into beast that seems all too real. Delving into issues that are present from a different perspective in the novel, we learn of how the fates of these two characters, human and undead, have been intertwined for centuries, culminating in a unique insight into Dracula’s past. The psychic interplay between them is arresting and becomes darker as their evil nature is revealed, resulting in a torturous situation that left us rightly uncomfortable.

Final Thoughts: Dracula’s Guest presents an assault on both the emotions and senses. Revulsion and sympathy are felt throughout, along with an unexpected twist that left us with many questions. Notable too was the sheer volume and violence of the piece. That we were left shocked by the blows wrought suggests that the realism achieved was excellent, but also demonstrates that one must have a taste for such blood to partake properly here. We struggled with various other aspects of the piece including that the pacing felt occasionally uneven and from time to time the characters appeared so very different that perhaps they did not belong in the same space. There are currently two more scheduled chances to see Dracula’s Guest in 2022, over at The Blake Theatre in Monmouth on November 24th and then at the Two Sisters Arts Centre in Felixstowe on November 25th. This is a production you can really sink your teeth into!

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Dracula, Halloween, Horror, London, Theatre

01 Nov 2022

Cirque Du Soul

WHAT: Cirque Du Soul
WHEN/WHERE: UK-Wide Tour
PRICE: Varies

OUR RATING: Chance It!

This past Halloween weekend we travelled to the big top! The Clapham Grand was the latest venue for the travelling circus-inspired clubbing event. Cirque Du Soul brands themselves as the 21st Century’s Moulin Rouge, and we can tell why with the level of colour and energy they bring to the table. Granted, Clapham Grand is a smaller venue than they are used to performing in, but it was no less delightful than we expected, and let us dress up in our favourite twisted-carnie-style!

There was a wide range of great music on offer, anywhere from house, to soul and funk, to a bit of disco and hip-hop spun from live DJs on the dance floor. Clapham Grand set up the night in an interesting manner, with the DJ on the ground floor allowing for two different dance areas, one on the Grand’s stage itself, which was fun to experience as we’ve been to the venue many times but have never set foot on the stage before. This also allowed for a variety of perspectives to experience the decor and performers from several vantage points, and we loved the immersive feeling this provided with everything happening all around us.

The performers were definitely our highlight of the night, with circus-themed stilt walkers roaming the crowd and even two giant puppet-like clowns dancing among the revellers. Upon seeing these Killer Klowns from Outer Space-themed creatures we knew right away that Cirque du Soul must work with Area 51, an immersive design and event company who also provide performers and costumes – and we’re well acquainted with these favourite clowns of theirs! All the performers made the night what it was, dancing and interacting with the crowd in these incredible-difficult costumes. They charged up the atmosphere, and brought the circus to life at this incredible venue. We didn’t stay the entire night having already been to some other Storefront City events that evening, so we don’t know if we missed a bigger variety of acts (we thought there would be aerialists, fire or more, but The Grand is too small of a venue for this). Regardless, we were more than satisfied from the floor performers and the delightful and raucous energy they brought to the party.

Final Thoughts: While not as show-stopping as rival event The Dark Circus Party, Cirque Du Soul is definitely a fun themed night out with high levels of entertainment value, and heads above the Twisted Circus events we’ve also attended before. We’d be interested in seeing what Cirque du Soul can do with larger event spaces, especially with their relationship with Area 51 and their expertise in the circus arena – they’ve got a Christmas/NYE event coming up at the Troxy this year, so we’ll head over and try it out. And we can never say no to some Killer Klowns from Outer Space – these wacky weirdos will always have a place in our Halloween hearts!

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Music and Concerts, Nightlife, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Halloween, Haunted, Horror, Immersive Theatre, London

28 Oct 2022

Nightmare on Church Lane

WHAT: Nightmare on Church Lane
WHEN: 22nd – 31st October, 2022
WHERE: The Hellfire Caves (Church Lane, West Wycombe, HP14 3AH)
PRICE: £13.50-15

OUR RATING: Do It!

Deep in the Chiltern Hills, a twisted array of man-made caverns is waiting for its next set of victims. Excavated in the 18th century by Francis Dashwood, a notorious rake and co-founder of the mysterious Hellfire Club, they stretch 300 feet underground and conjure up images of the rumoured dark rituals and hauntings within. Whilst usually a heritage site, on Halloween you’ll find the tunnels populated by a frightening variety of ghouls and devils. Our exploration had started!

The theme for this year’s most haunted attraction is the stuff of your nightmares – quite literally, for dreaming is the name of this depraved game. As we visited much later in the night, no queueing was required and we were immediately greeted by a most well-dressed and spirited poet who whisked us down into this otherworld. The passages were crammed with creatures who were not afraid to run up and get right in our faces, sometimes popping out from the most unexpected crannies.

One of the highlights of the Caves is the actors penchant for following close behind us between the segments, which meant that more often than not you looked over your shoulder and were greeted by continuing terror. Also, bear in mind that there is only one way in and out of the Caves, so if any of the creatures within particularly frighten you, you’ll need to face them again on the way back up! We’d highly recommend you visit at later times so that you can experience the haunt relatively alone – it was exceedingly creepy being locked in the central shrine festooned with eerie masks peering down upon us.

Final Thoughts: The caverns themselves are a huge part of the draw here, with the River Styx perfectly lit to accentuate the uncanny cast of the place. Coupled with a range of sinister actors, from deadly twins to an ominous dream catcher, and some giant and monstrous entities, Nightmare on Church Lane is spooky, fun, unique, and well worth a visit this Halloween.

Posted in Do It!, Nightlife, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Halloween, Haunted, Hellfire Caves, Horror, Immersive Theatre

26 Oct 2022

Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences

WHAT: Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences
WHEN: October 26 – 29, 2022
WHO: Big Telly Theatre Company
WHERE: Touring, currently at Omnibus Theatre (1 Clapham Common North Side, London SW4 0QW)
PRICE: £13 – £16

OUR RATING: Do It!

“He’s been dead for over a hundred years, is constructed from the dismembered body parts of a number of different corpses. He has a sense of perspective.” These memorable lines come from Big Telly Theatre Company’s newest hit show, a crash course masterclass in immersive physical theatre adapted from a short story by Owen Booth. At times comical, at others poignant, this 70-minute whirlwind story of love, loss, community and the struggles of otherness is a beautiful tale that had us enthralled from start to finish.

This was our first time at Omnibus Theatre, the host for this show’s latest transfer. We fell in love with the theatre itself and the cafe/bar instantly, both having a comfortable but buzzing atmosphere. This multi-award-winning independent venue in Clapham, South London focuses on both classics re-imagined and contemporary storytelling, and has a huge programme on offer year-round. Sporting more than one stage, Omnibus is currently scheduled to host everything from poetry nights and monthly musical theatre cabarets, to larger productions such as an upcoming run of Richard the Second and a Norwegian puppet production in December.

Meanwhile Big Telly Theatre Company, based in Northern Ireland, designs professional theatre productions, site specific, immersive games and participatory community driven projects, and this latest production has already travelled to the Belfast International Arts Festival, and will soon transfer to Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in New York from January 2023. The premise? In 1946, Frankenstein’s Monster was discovered frozen in the ice of a glacier, where he had hidden after his Hollywood success came to an end. Once thawed he meets a woman as tall and almost as monstrous as he, and together they forge a life together in a town that struggles to accept them. This provocative tale tells the story of their love, the painstaking process of acceptance in their small community, and their attempts to find their place in the world, both as individuals and as a larger-than-life couple.

The ensemble-of-four is powerful, with the hilarious and engaging narrators Chris Robinson and Vicky Allen keeping the momentum going the whole way through, and with the strong character and physical recreations of the Monster, Rhodri Lewis, and his wife, Nicky Harley. All four actors were perfectly in tune with one another, each bringing a different energy to the stage that flowed effortlessly with the others, and all creating this larger-than-life story full of comedic genius and beautiful storytelling.

Producing an all-encompassing experience, superb sound design by Garth McConaghie transports the audience into the realm of fantasy, with such a memorable score that indeed we continued humming the “theme” well into the evening. Although the set elements were minimal, this worked fabulously, with repurposed items folding seamlessly into the drama and lighting design that both surprises and delights, including a very clever piece of projection work.

Final Thoughts: It’s rare that you see a decent piece of theatre based around such a well-treated subject as Frankenstein. This production not only morphs the known themes of the genre into something entirely novel, but also makes you consider the wider issues surrounding the acceptance of the other, tolerance, and the fallibility of all human interactions. Ending in an incredibly moving manner, Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences is one of the best experiences we’ve had recently in a theatre that traverses the full emotional spectrum in all its beauty and horror.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Frankenstein, Halloween, Horror, London, Theatre

25 Oct 2022

Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights: Horrorworld

WHAT: Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights: Horrorworld
WHEN: 14 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: Whites of Earl Barton (Clay Lane, Northampton NN6 0EP)
PRICE: £21.95 – 40.95

OUR RATING: Do It!

For the past few years, Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights has been our number one scare attraction, so we were beyond excited to see what the haunt had in store for us this year. Dr. Fright’s is known for showcasing completely new mazes every single year, whether they are sequels to past ideas or novel concepts. But perhaps our best memory of this attraction is the perfect mixture of scare and fun they bring to the table – from dancing and laughing with Killer Clowns on a Spaceship, and being absolutely petrified at last year’s Yokai Temple. The actors at Dr. Fright’s are all volunteers, which is ridiculously surprising as they are some of the best scare actors in the UK, and Dr. Fright’s really knows how to set up their talent in the best ways to thrill…and kill!

Dr. Fright’s has certainly grown a bit this year, and their signage and branding is off the charts, with new theming covering all four sides of the mostly-covered event, a large branded map of the park, and a new merchandise stall selling shirts, keyrings, and even branded hot sauce. A hugely creepy nun followed us around, and various food and drink stalls peppered the space. They even have their themed horror bar where you can sit back and watch live scarecams, streaming the faces of terrified patrons from inside the mazes onto a large screen to add another layer of fun to the event. Whilst not as large as Hallowscream or Fear Avon, the level of thought and detail in the space and in each and every one of the haunts is second to none.

Grindhouse in Wonderland: A defunct fairytale village attraction deep in the Louisiana swamps, experience a blood soaked journey through a once magical land of enchantment. Welcome to your deadly never after!

As butchery is usually our least favourite concept, we went into Grindhouse in Wonderland first, and this is where the tongue-in-cheek fun started! Immediately in the queue and throughout the haunt we danced away to song after song of Disney-music-gone-wrong, and every which way we turned we had the most evil of fairytale creatures jumping out at us. These actors are not afraid to get right in your face, but they know exactly where they are in this horrific fairytale and aren’t afraid to have fun along the way.

Killer Clowns of the Caribbean: The notorious killer clowns have commandeered a popular pirate themed attraction, transforming it into the perfect venue for their latest killing contest!

We always leave the clown attraction for the last, as it’s usually the best on offer. Unfortunately, we got stuck behind a large group of slower guests during this maze, so missed out on a majority of the scares, but we still thoroughly enjoyed all of the crazed pirates here. There was even a short segment of the maze which must have had at least five or six clowns coming at us from above, below, and pretty much everywhere one after the other – such good shock values, and all to the tune of ridiculous pirate shanties.

Monsters and Madmen: A reclusive millionaire has spent years building up a collection of live exhibits for his museum. Prepare to come face to face with the worlds most feared killers, creatures and demons that lurk around every corner!

This maze was by far the most heart-pounding scary maze we have attended this year, with the most petrifying of serial killers coming at us from all sides. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a werewolf in a haunted maze, and Dr. Fright’s not only brought a wolf, but also aliens from the X-Files, numerous characters from The Purge, and of course every single serial killer from every franchise you can think of. Another thing Dr Fright’s always does right is their ability to make you question what is real and what isn’t, and you’re never quite prepared for when the real killer comes out to get you! Hands down an amazing, terrifying maze that had our adrenaline spiked for the rest of the night.

House of Wax: Legend has it, the eccentric owner Madame La’trusse, owner of The House of Wax and condemned as a witch, still haunts the house, reanimating the twisted remains of her beloved wax works.

There is nothing more eerie and unsettling than that feeling one gets around waxworks. Lifelike, yet so totally dead, and yet…did we just see that finger move ever so slightly? This maze is packed with them, along with mannequins and dolls that do leave you wondering who’s going to attack you next (as is Dr. Fright’s speciality). Some brilliant effects meant we couldn’t be sure what was real (including simple objects like mirrors) and so fell prey to an array of scares that were cleverly hidden at first glance. And yes, we did scream!

Final Thoughts: Dr. Fright’s did not disappoint this year, and if the attraction had given us the opportunity to ‘top up’ and attend all the haunts twice, we certainly would have – we didn’t want to leave! We attended on a Sunday so the queues weren’t too bad, but fast track passes are always a great deal and a good idea. However, the ambience and soundtracks in the queues make the wait a ton of fun and worth it when you get to go into the attraction as individual groups, another exclusive element of Dr. Fright’s we really love. You’re guaranteed to experience the maze with you and your loved ones and friends and not with complete strangers, so it was just the two of us against these terrors, which made it all the more frightening. Dr. Fright’s is the best value for the best scares and laughs you’ll get, and we can’t recommend this place enough. It’s THE experience of the season!

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Nightlife, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Dr. Fright's Halloween Nights, Halloween, Haunted, Horror, Immersive Theatre

23 Oct 2022

The Bunker Below

WHAT: The Bunker Below
WHEN: 22 – 30 October, 2022
WHERE: Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker (Kelvedon Hall Ln, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood CM13 0LA)
PRICE: £22.50 – £24.50

OUR RATING: Do It!

Built 125 feet underground, Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker in Brentwood serves as the terrifying location for the site-specific haunt attraction The Bunker Below. Built in the 1950s as a potential government headquarters in case of nuclear attack, this decommissioned bunker is now a tourist attraction and museum focusing on its Cold War history. And yet, there’s something sinister lurking in the depths of this bunker – and we here at Storefront City decided to descend into the abyss to see what was on offer.

Starting the night off right, our WhatThreeWords – Scare.works.slice (how fitting!) – brought us to an eerie parking lot overseen by a few creepy statues. After a short walk through the woods, we came upon a large marquee protected by an armed man in camouflage, and it was here we learned the premise of the haunt and what we were here for – we were to be unknowing test subjects! The top secret military organisation we had walked into was conducting research into fear, only to discover an audio recording that drives its listeners mad and shows them their deepest and darkest fears, a recording known as The Signal. And thus, we as subjects were not only exposed to this Signal, but forced to undergo its terrible effects as we tried to navigate the treacherous depths of the organisation’s fortification – three floors and numerous tunnels of absolute terror.

We were struck by how large the space was and how unsettling the nooks and crannies could be. These rooms are deceptive – is that a motionless mannequin or a monster waiting to drag us to our doom? The combination of walkthrough scares and specific scenes was impressive, as was the ability of the actors to shock us one moment (cue intense jumpscare running at our faces from before static performers) and make us laugh the next (circus games anyone?).

Some scenes did seem specific to the bunker itself, such as those highlighting the military credentials of the haunt in which we had to duck and cover, but overall scenes were picked from all genres – butchers, clowns, dolls – you name it, they have it, and you WILL be scared!

Perhaps most unsettling were the complete blackouts, which rendered forward movement almost impossible and made the threat of some ghoul popping out at you from beneath a trundle bed all the more likely. The layout of the bunker also becomes confusing, we think intentionally so, which means extra vigilance is necessary to plot your escape.

Final Thoughts: The Bunker Below is a truly unique horror event, and we loved some of the more slow-burn elements throughout. Its well-timed scares, long moments of intense darkness and silence, and the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t aspects were welcome frights compared to the types you usually get at scare attractions. Granted, the experience only took about half an hour to get through and seemed to fizzle out at the end (also, we really could have done without the sermon against the use of social media), but a majority of the vignettes and highly themed rooms really hit home runs, and we will forever remember the crazed cafe, the terrifying tunnel, and the eerie labyrinths inside this horrifying bunker. We can’t wait to see what The Bunker Below has in store next year!

Posted in Do It!, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Brentwood, Halloween, Haunted, Horror, Immersive Theatre

21 Oct 2022

The Sickness

WHAT: The Sickness
WHEN: 22 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: London Bridge Experience (The Rennie Vaults, 2 – 4 Tooley St, London SE1 2SY)
PRICE: £26.95

OUR RATING: Do It!

It’s been some years since we’ve been to The London Bridge Experience and it appears that the space has undergone a complete and welcome transformation in the intervening years. At ground level, an extensive set of vaulted rooms comprise the Bermondsey Bierkeller, themed as a German-style drinking establishment, complete with long heavy-wood tables, party games, and surfeit flagons of ale.

The foyer for The Sickness is now a historical area with a set of pews. Once you’re ushered downward into the main event, the experience is a set of zones, based around the idea of Dr Natas’ psychiatric institution. Opened in 1939, this facility was said to conduct some fairly “experimental” treatments and it’s your task to escape both the dear doctor and the patients. Vignettes featured the doctor himself, a deranged surgeon (watch out for fluid spray!), the infamous Plague Doctor, and a rather naughty barmaid.

Then, it’s onto the Tombs proper for the true test of terror. While the upstairs part of the attraction are creepy theatrical experiences, the tombs are your classic haunt-style labyrinth. Winding passages and occasional blackouts make this chilling, and the actors are not afraid to get up close and personal with their prey. In fact, one of our editors was grabbed and forcefully pulled aside, so watch out!

In terms of storytelling, we felt that there was little connection between the overarching narrative and the terrors we encountered below. Yet, the brilliant, fun, and committed delivery by the actors meant we soon forgot this as we were dashing towards the exit. One fellow in front of us was so terrified as to collapse in a fit of nerves once he was safely back in the Bierkeller. And what better way to soothe your nerves than to have a drink at their new Monster Bar or have a go at one of the several games downstairs – we love us a bit of shuffleboard!

Final Thoughts: We attended this event as part of the press launch and took the tour with a large group of young influencers – as such we unfortunately spent the tour with a majority of the group talking when the actors were trying to speak, and also waving their phones about and filming the entire time. But while this certainly impacted upon our experience, we did try to make the most of this great event, and the actors did a great job in trying to control and interact with the kind of group we were in. All in all, it’s a super fun venture beneath the streets of London, and is definitely one of the scariest the city has. It offers the perfect group night out, with a solid 30-40 minute haunt followed by drinks, food, and games in a cozy and energy packed venue.

Posted in Do It!, Nightlife, Performing Arts, See It!, Tours and Museums and tagged Halloween, Haunted, Horror, London, Theatre

18 Oct 2022

Fear at Avon Valley Scream Park

WHAT: Fear at Avon Valley Scream Park
WHEN: 14 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park (Pixash Ln, Bath Rd, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1TP)
PRICE: £35-150

OUR RATING: Do It!

We were beyond excited this year to try a renowned scare attraction we’ve never attended before – Fear at Avon Valley Scream Park, which won at the 2022 ScareCon for Best Scream Park UK. Consisting of 5 scare attractions, an extra exorcism experience, a huge entertainment stage, and various carnival rides and food stalls, Fear presents a well-branded and fun scare festival atmosphere, one we’re so happy to have experienced this year!

Fear started the event off amazingly, with a simply done but fun entrance into the park. We went into the gaping mouth of a deranged clown and were spat out of a tunnel and into the festival grounds. Fear is unique from other events we’ve attended as they have a handful of characters throughout the park, the ‘Terrifying Titans’: a group of horrible clowns and creatures whose faces are all over the park’s branding and who come to life in front of you. You notice the extreme care and thought that went into the creation of this park, and how brilliantly threaded together all the characters and stories are. Not to mention the grand and energy-packed fire shows happening every hour or so and the totally creepy stilted scarecrows eying up their next victim – what a thrill!

Besides the five haunts, we participated in a new experience this year, The Exorcism, a short theatrical production of a priest’s attempt at an exorcism. This kind of reminded us of Le Theatre Noir at ScreamFest, but it was far better executed. We’re not sure the extra fee and the long wait were worth it for the short performance, but there were some really creepy effects and a lot of effort put in from the cast, not to mention a nice change from your usual maze-like haunts. Speaking of which…

X4: A complex series of tunnels were discovered deep underground during routine excavation work at site Alpha-Vixen One. Hidden deep within these tunnels, the discovery of a lifetime was made, altering the course of humanity.

Combining clinical and mutational horror, X4 delivered an amazing experience that threw us into unknown territories. Starting in a very convincing lift, science has gone terribly awry, which is clear from the vacant, robotic expressions of the staff you first encounter. Slowly, dizzyingly, you are led to new levels of disorientation, including a total smoke white out, all the while terrified from every direction by ghouls of this unwelcome place. With high immersion levels, this maze is impressively and continually horrifying.

Vita Nova: Omega Industries has initiated its quality of life programme, Vita Nova, restoring order to the Republic of England. Society will be reformed, it will be born anew. All non-conformers will be detected, and they will be ameliorated.

Vita Nova was one of our favourite mazes of the night. The most terrifying part was that each person must go through the maze alone – something we didn’t expect when parks usually bundle people in groups of 7-10! We entered an intake room with another group of people, but then one of the creepy actors pointed at us one at a time to go through the doors, and everything became very real. The actors in this were superb, and the maze’s tactics to keep people separate were terrific. This had so many fun elements, from being locked in an enclosed space with no clear way out, crawling spaces and sliding, and genuinely frightening smiles from all the cast. A great maze!

The Core: After the fall of the UK government and years of national civil unrest, the New World Order has risen and the Republic of England stands victorious. But a rebel alliance has formed, hiding on the edge of society. But unbeknownst to them, a far greater danger lies beneath their feet.

This was the most immersive maze we’ve ever been to. Upon entering the attraction we were instructed to don waders and put all our personal effects in a bag – ready to enter the sewers. Torch in hand, our group was submerged in a subterranean world quite literally underground, with water up to our knees and creatures behind every wall and vent. We didn’t find this maze too scary but some of our group-mates did – we were more in awe of the entire concept and just wanted to continue exploring despite the creatures lurking there!

House of Clowns: The circus has arrived, but murderous accusations have faced the troupe and the inhabitants will do whatever they can to get this house of clowns back on top. And they want you to be the star of the show.

We do love a good clown scare, and House of Clowns does the trick. With a pulsating soundtrack, extremely enthusiastic scare actors, and a confusing series of chambers, you’re likely to lose yourself in the madness of the big top if you’re not careful – especially due to the dazzling use of unexpected strobes. Now, this being said, clown mazes are almost de rigueur in the world of scares, so we’ve seen many of these effects before, meaning our initial shock is somewhat lessened. Nevertheless, clowns are bloody terrifying, and these are no exception.

Malefica: After being destroyed in a mysterious fire, a church is returned to its former glory. But something isn’t quite right; strange noises have been heard deep within the church, and volunteers claim to have seen something moving in the shadows.

We had high expectations for this haunt, having won a ScareCon award in 2022 and been nominated for several others. Granted, we were at the back of a very large group so we missed a lot of the best features and scares of this maze, so for us this wasn’t very hair-raising. The sets were detailed and we loved some of the rooms, and the acting again here was high quality. But we can’t help comparing this one with the similarly themed maze at Dr Fright’s from a few years ago, which was second to none, so while this was an enjoyable maze, it wasn’t our favourite of the night.

Final Thoughts: Fear at Avon Valley is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-executed, and downright scary experience that we loved. If you can, we’d highly suggest you purchase a Fast Track pass, as without this the wait times in line seemed to average 30-45 minutes (helpfully displayed on the main screen). Our only criticism would be to point out that the wait time for The Exorcism was quite long and risked eating into time spent in the mazes. With some of the most intense and creative scares available, if you’re into Halloween you need to get yourself over here right now!

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Nightlife, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Avon, Halloween, Haunted, Horror, Immersive Theatre

16 Oct 2022

Hallowscream – 2022

WHAT: Hallowscream
WHEN: 13 October – 5 November, 2022
WHERE: York Maze (Elvington Ln, York, YO19 5LT)
PRICE: £26-45

OUR RATING: Do It!

Hallowscream at York Maze was our favourite scare attraction in 2019, so we decided it was time for a revisit three years later. The park boasts 5 main haunts under one huge marquee, so creates a lively indoor atmosphere, besides a new indoor stage, a merch stall, and carnival games – not to mention an entire separate outdoor area with carnival rides, food stalls and yet another stage!

One of the best parts of the experience for us back in 2019 was the entrance to the park – we remember being shepherded into a large marquee where a fantastical light-projected talking head told us the story of the park. After this haunted tale we were then birthed out of the tent and into the park itself, complete with a trail of lit pumpkins and skeletons at the entrance.

That, of course, was pre-COVID. This time, we oddly were just let through what effectively is also the exit to the park, so admittedly we were completely thrown off from the start of our journey. No talking head, no intro to the haunted park’s history. We thought we went through the wrong entrance!

But, in fact the park has changed up its offerings due to the changes brought about from the COVID years. Not to fret! They’ve added many food stalls and stages that weren’t there in 2019 – we just wish there was a bit more effort put into the entrance. Nonetheless, we entered the park and were soon greeted by the first stage show, with the devil himself as the emcee. We appreciated the homage to The Devil’s Carnival! On balance though, we preferred this stage rather than the outdoor one.

The park also presents plenty of fun opportunities for selfies, whether it’s with some skeleton pirates, the amazing roaming scare-actors (including the iconic creepy twins), as well as a new smoke-bubble blowing gigantic werewolf!

But now to the haunts. While we don’t have picture-perfect memory, we do remember all these haunts from 2019. We don’t believe there’s been any big changes, so do check out our review from 2019 for newbie-reactions to these.

2073: Society has broken down, and the streets are inhabited by zombie-like creatures, sick with radiation poisoning.

This was one of our favourite and most atmospheric mazes back in 2019, and although very similar in form, we did notice that the references to Trump had been removed. It was notable that some sections of the maze did seem a little empty, but as soon as you thought you were alone along comes a chap with an airgun to give you a good rattling. The sets truly looked as if society had fallen apart!

The Flesh Pot: In Victorian times people flocked to the butcher’s stall, and talked of how eating his meat made them happy – unaware that the meat they were eating was human flesh laced with opiates.

A grisly journey into mad butchery, this maze was replete with energetic ghouls that were persistent in their persecution. The set and ambience was, as before, very comprehensive, but the subject matter didn’t move us towards the sheer terror that it might for some. Again, this is a matter of taste, not quality, and we’re sure that those who enjoy more peculiar cuts of meat will salivate over this offering.

The Singularity: A man’s vision to create a new species that combines the best of man and machine, one true perfect being called ‘The Singularity’. Enter his laboratory and see for yourself, but beware the process is not yet perfected and more human test subjects are needed for his warped experiments.

What a petrifying adventure – you never quite know were a demonic bot will pop out from, even swinging from the ceiling, complete with wrecking ball. Prepare to be scanned, examined, and stunned, with a disorientating white-out part way through in a room filled with blinding fog so thick that one can only see inches ahead of you. There is great attention to detail in this maze that continues to mark it out as an excellent scare.

Barnaggedon 3D: Enter a kaleidoscopic world – put on your 3D glasses to reveal a perplexing, space shifting subterranean chaos, where your eyes can’t be trusted to separate what’s real from illusion.

We loved the colourful world of Barnaggedon, with the 3D glasses creating a difference in our perceptions and making everything dizzying and chaotic. From water effects to subterranean smells, Barneggedon was a world to its own. We didn’t review this haunt very well our first time around, and while we’re still confused in the theming, we did find it a fun and disorienting adventure!

Corny’s Cornevil: Enter Corny’s Cornevil where demonic clowns and mind-bending illusions will have you questioning your sanity and begging for the exit!

Corny’s Cornevil, which is based upon the existing fun maze, is still such a thrill years later, even unchanged. There are so many unique funhouse elements that other clown mazes miss out on, from slanting and tilting spaces, moving floors, and other endless optical illusions. We particularly loved its squishy floors, hidden creepy clowns, and all the interactive elements!

Final Thoughts: We’re probably too harsh on Hallowscream: it’s honestly an amazing attraction with a wonderful atmosphere both inside and outside the main marquee. What’s also important to note is that roaming actors were clearly having fun and enjoying themselves, and it was always hilarious to see the killer butcher shaking his bum or doing the time warp, or the chainsaw-carrying granny dropping it like it was hot in the middle of a dance circle. Sure, it set the bar high for us in 2019 and didn’t quite meet our expectations this time around, but we’re excited to see them in the coming years as they find their equilibrium after COVID and maybe hopefully after a reskin or two of some of their haunts.

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Halloween, Hallowscream, Haunted, Horror, Immersive Theatre

14 Oct 2022

Face Your Fears at Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park – 2022

Credit: Fear Masters Studios Entertainment

WHAT: Face Your Fears
WHEN: 7 – 31 October, 2022
WHERE: Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park (Hell Lane, Heath, Wakefield, WF1 5SG)
PRICE: £21-23

OUR RATING: Do It!

We ventured back to Yorkshire this year to start off our Halloween scare-season, and what a start it was at Yorkshire Scare Grounds’ Face Your Fears. This almost hour-long experience takes you through many scare zones and attractions during a long dark walk through the creepy woods of an historic 24 acre estate in Wakefield. Having given this haunt a ‘Chance It’ back in 2019, we came to see the new and improved haunt this year and were amazed to see what they had in store for us!

Face Your Fears is cleverly designed, with a creepy path in the woods taking you through completely different scare attractions, but all the while feeling like a total experience from start to finish. Whilst we’ll give you the flavor each of these terrifying experiences, we don’t want to spoil the thrills and chills too much.

They | Them: A crazed scientist unveils his latest invention – the teleportation machine.

Less “Beam Me Up”, more “Chop Me Up”, these experiments have gone horribly wrong indeed. Enter a world of genetic confusion, where some of the dear doctor’s subjects have become hopelessly jumbled with others. Animatronics and actors complemented each other well to deliver short, sharp shocks of terror that made this maze a perfect introduction to the world of Yorkshire Scare Grounds.

Human Safari: Deep in the misty jungle danger lies ahead. Hunters are on the prowl for fresh meat to satisfy their bloody thirsty lust.

Run for your life! The hunters are after you in this most dangerous game. Dashing between the protection of hunters-hides, you’ll need to dodge more than just bullets with these wiley adversaries. Warning: prepare to get wet! Whilst perhaps weaker visually than some of the other zones, the uniqueness of the experience was startling (in a good way), with our good-natured group adding more laughs and screams as we cantered towards safety.

Whitechapel: Take the trail of terror through London’s East End on 1888 where crime, murder & prostition is rife. Killer on the loose.

Wending your way through the hidden back-alleys of East London, this intricately designed and long section of maze plunged you into a different world. Integrating outdoor and indoor sections flawlessly, as you pass between the various establishments (apothecary potions or unknown meat butchered to perfection, anyone?) you’re accosted by the denizens of this cursed city. Maybe you’ll even run into the infamous Ripper himself! We really appreciated the sheer numbers of actors, which is a huge improvement from 2019, each one unique, highly enthusiastic, with equal measures of terror and humour. The set dressing was also studied in terms of the Ripper’s crimes, with the designers doing a great job at eerily recreating a crime scene from Hell.

Dollhouse: We dare you to explore the dark hallways of this life size dollhouse. It’s haunted hallways inhabited with tormented toys & deranged dolls.

Dollhouse was one of our favourite attractions this year – who doesn’t love creepy dolls? This was such an intelligent re-skin of their hotel haunt, and we highly admired the makeup and costume elements for the actors in this one. It was a fully realised concept, and many of the actors inside really did give us a scare. We’re still giddy about the horrifying life-size killer teddy bear! What was great in this attraction is one never knew what inanimate creatures were actually going to jump out at you!

Twisted Tooth Fairy: Disgraced Doctor D. Cay, the demonic demented dentist from hell, opens up the appointment book once more.

What a fantastic idea! While we’re not the biggest fans of the blood and gore elements of haunts, this was definitely a theme we don’t think we’ve ever seen a whole haunt based upon, and we saw a lot of new creature and makeup concepts as well. Amazingly, the waiting room also smelled a bit like antiseptic and menthol – astounding levels of immersion here. Again there was great dedication from the actors, and particularly creepy featureless faces with gigantic bloody smiles – the stuff of nightmares.

Along our route through these haunts we also came upon two “scare zones” in the woods, one an area of the undead with smashed vehicles and police cordons, and a deadly circus path complete with clowns who apparently have a love for wooly hats – ours included!

Final Thoughts: Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park have really upped their game with this year’s Face Your Fears, and we were thrilled with the level of quality from the haunts and the actors, as well as the amazing balance between inside and outside scare time. We also love how long this attraction is open throughout the month, as well as their accessible price point, which all culminates in this being a must-do for any haunt season. And if you can’t make it in October not to worry, they also have haunted attractions for Christmas and Valentines day!

Posted in Do It!, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Halloween, Haunted, Horror, Immersive Theatre, Yorkshire

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Face Your Fears at Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park – 2022

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