Halloween season is once more upon us and the London Horror Festival has plenty of macabre productions to satisfy the most dedicated aficionado. One show that stands out from the rest online is Blind by Ryots Productions.
‘Edgar Allan Poe’s original texts are honoured in a solo tour de force’: ONE MAN POE – Online & touring
Stephen Smith of Threedumb Theatre is something of a Gothic horror aficionado, especially when it comes to the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
‘Lots of fun!’ REVENGE: The Horror Cabaret – Pleasance Theatre
A fun-filled hour of horror-themed musical theatre numbers comes wonderfully unstuck as its creator can’t bring herself to share the spotlight with the other cast members.
Theatrical tricks & treats for Halloween
There’s plenty of Halloween treats to choose from all across London, so if you fancy doing something a little bit spooky this week then here’s a selection of highlights…
WATCH: In rehearsal for Skin Deep, about history’s most bloodthirsty female serial killer
SKIN DEEP, Lee Anderson’s new play which returns to London for this summer’s Camden Fringe Festival, explores what drove one of history’s most prolific female serial killers. The Attila Theatre production has a strictly limited at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre from 31 July to 6 August 2017, with nightly performances at 9.15pm. Watch what happens with the company in the rehearsal room…
London Horror Festival: HOWL – Rosemary Branch Theatre
The London Horror Festival is bigger than ever, new scare attractions appear all over the country every year and independent events like Frissonic’s Howl expand the otherworldly and terrifying offers for thrill seekers this time of year.
PAYNE KILLER – London Horror Festival
Any theatre festival programme is hit or miss if you aren’t familiar with individual shows or participating companies. So far, the productions I’ve seen at the London Horror Festival have ranged from ok to quite good, until Payne Killer. Lack of direction and a hackneyed story concept caused rushed, hammy performances and poor technical choices. There is also some awkward stage combat, no subtlety and a twist at the end ruined by the final moment. Phil Newman’s detailed set design helps provide some relief from the experience, as do a few moments in Rowan Dixon’s script that are probably quite funny if delivered well, but these two features aren’t enough to save the production from inflicting the horrors of bad theatre on its audience.
IDEOMOTOR – London Horror Festival
There’s nothing quite like sibling rivalry, and the hatred you feel for your brother or sister is only matched by one thing. The hatred you often feel for your flatmates. It doesn’t matter how much you love them, there are times when you just want to kill them.
INFECTION – London Horror Festival
Sam, Dominique and Will don’t always get on with each other. It doesn’t help that they’re under a lot of stress due to a zombie-alien invasion, and can’t work out if any other people survive in their town. Dom and Will are brother and sister who don’t have much in common, and Will has no patience with Dom’s bestie Sam, a vegan, weed-smoking student.
FRED STRANGEBONE’S FREAKSHOW – London Horror Festival
I’m watching Ben Whitehead play a socially inept Victorian playing a half-walrus/half-man creature, indicated by the wearing of a hooded grey sleeping bag, blue swimming flippers on his hands, and paper tusks precariously attached to his face with a false moustache.
HOME FREE! – London Horror Festival
Siblings Joanna and Lawrence live in 1950s New York City, a place brimming with promise and excitement for its younger residents. They don’t take advantage of it, though. Lawrence never leaves their little apartment; instead he lives vicariously through Joanna’s “adventures” to the market and her encounters in the corridor with their landlady “Pruneface” who has said they need to move out soon. Pruneface doesn’t like that Joanna’s pregnant, and with good reason.
THE DEVIL WITHOUT – London Horror Festival
Hiding in a room above a pub in Camden, John is on the run from an archdemon that he initially believed was the angel Madimi, with whom he did a dodgy deal for his soul. This archdemon is so powerful that being in his presence is enough to kill a mortal. But don’t worry, everyone […]
THE SANDMAN – London Horror Festival
The sandman doesn’t throw sand in your eyes to help you sleep, oh no. That’s just what parents want children to believe so they aren’t scared of the real sandman. The real sandman is horrible. If you’re still awake, he steals your eyes and puts them into his little bag and takes them up to his little, bald bird-children who live on the moon. Then they eat them.