Ghostly advent calendar will chill West Sussex online theatre-goers

As Suse says, theatre may be closed at the moment but multi-award winning Wick Theatre have been thinking well and truly outside the box.

“There had been plans to end the year with a run of live performed ghost stories for Christmas, but with the latest lockdown in place and reopening uncertain, Wick Theatre’s tenacious and indomitable Guy Steddon decided that, instead of cancelling it, we could move online and go bigger and better.

“Christmas time and ghost stories may seem odd bedfellows but the combination has proved a winning one since the 1700s; perhaps the end of autumn and the arrival of winter sends our minds to ponder the dark and the strange?

“With Covid continually throwing a spanner in the plans of theatres worldwide, Wick Theatre wanted to see what we could do to engage our members and our audience.

“A carefully curated selection of some of the greatest creepy tales and poems of all time, delivered in advent calendar style seemed a great way to reach out and spread some festive fun.”

Guy added: “There are those that may question the choice of spooky stories in this climate but, as the saying goes, it is always darkest before it’s dawn.

“Members who have been bereft of talking part in theatre as well as being able to attend a show have rallied eagerly to the call.”

Suse continued: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support for this. So many people have come forward to take part. It really is a labour of love, and our way of giving back to our members and audiences as a thank you, and we will be back at the Barn Theatre performing live as soon as we can.

“Each day during December you can expect a little film of a creepy story or selection of chilling poems brought to you by different Wick members, filmed during this latest lockdown.

“Expect a peppering of classics by renowned authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, M R James, H P Lovecraft and Edith Nesbit; famous titles such as The Monkey’s Paw, The Raven and Tell Tale Heart.”

There are also contemporary offerings from authors that include award-winning material from Suse herself.

“I think most of us will be glad to see the end of this year” said Guy.

“And I hope that counting down to 2021 will be more fun with our video advent calendar that celebrates the macabre, the ghosts and the ghouls.

“We can then focus on our dearest hope that we can return to the stage in the New Year.”

“It’s important to us to show that although there are no lights on at the theatres, the light continues to shine inside all of us” said Suse.

All films will be free to view on the Wick YouTube Channel and Facebook page. Previews and links will also be on Instagram and Twitter.

www.wicktheatre.co.uk

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