The 4th Annual Brighton HorrorFest Returns Oct 15th-27th

15th – 27th October 2019 (Times may vary)
At Sweet Werks & Sweet @ The Welly

Returning for its 4th year in 2019, Brighton HorrorFest is the annual festival of horror themed theatre, magic, storytelling, comedy, cabaret, immersive gaming and more. Running for 13 days in the run up to Halloween….Are you Brave enough?

The Horror Festival will have an exquisite programme full of new and established horror production companies taking over our two site Sweet Werks and Sweet @The Welly between 15th-27th October respectively.

This year’s programme sees the return of popular cabaret group, the Foo Foo Fighters, who are bringing three evenings of burlesque to the first week of the festival with Nightmare on Middle Street, Dr Frankenbubble’s Spoopy Soup Cabaret providing the late-night variety shows in the second week. Popular local entertainer Professor Elemental also makes an appearance with his Tales of Wrong for one night only.

Theatre is a strong feature of 2019’s Horrorfest, including the debut performances of several new horror-themed plays, such as Suicide Notes; a psychological thriller from new local playwright David Wells; a one-woman version of Jekyll and Hyde; and Unquiet Slumbers; The Haunting of Emily Bronte, from award-winning playwright Sam Chittenden.

The theatre offering continues with Different Theatre’s Sary (critically-acclaimed at Brighton and Edinburgh Fringes), Hermetic Arts’ ANTHOLOGY, and Paragon Theatre Collective’s The Signalman, based on a Charles Dickens story. Danse Macabre Productions return with their newest offering, Clown, and multi-award-winning Emily Carding revisits Quintessence; a piece set in a dystopian future where AI has been given the responsibility to restart humanity when the time is right. Katy Schutte also returns to Brighton with her sell-out Brighton Fringe hit show Let’s Summon Demons.

There are also opportunities to enjoy some storytelling from Jason Buck, with Call of Cthulhu: A Cold Case, and Rachel Levy and Jon Mason’s ghostly Norse tale, The Saga of Hervor and Heidrek. Magic and storytelling collide in both Stories from the Dark Side from Tracy Wise, and Ava Beaux’s Mysterious Tales of Poe, which drew large crowds at Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Comedy comes in the form of Isa Bonachera’s The Evil in You, and Fright Wig’s The Curtain Twitcher Cometh. If you prefer to dictate the style of horror you’d like to see, there’s the opportunity to Choose Your Own Nightmare, or, for a series of short horror stories written and performed by local comedians, visit Professor Nordstrom’s Compendium of Terror.

For the serious horror fans amongst our audiences, Griffin & Jones return to HorrorFest with their genuine séance experience Talking to the Dead. Face your fears, and join them as they use techniques from Victorian séance rooms to peer into the Great Beyond, and ask the question “Is anybody there?”. Sceptics and believers welcome.

As it’s half-term, there’s even a couple of family-friendly workshops, including physical theatre fun with Make Yourself a Monster, and Made-Up Mayhem: Silly Spooks and Ghastly Goings-On, where the kids can create their own show and tell their grown-ups what to do!

Artistic Director, JD Henshaw, said, “It’s amazing to be embarking on our fourth HorrorFest. The opportunity that it gives us to not only welcome our amazing Brighton audiences to some fantastic work, but to greet performers from around the UK to our beautiful city to share their work with us. It’s thirteen days of mayhem, with new technologies in immersive theatre, family fun with our workshops, magic, comedy and some simply nasty horror to leave you worried to turn the light off.
Brighton HorrorFest 2019 is going to be bold, exciting, and full of thrills for all tastes! We can’t wait to see you all there….”

Full Show Listings:

The Other 1%:
TBC Audio
16th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet @ The Welly
Age Guidance: 16+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8)

‘Stories with Attitude. The Other 1% brings cutting-edge story-telling directly to your ears, wherever you happen to be. Smart, edgy, contemporary fiction, that defies convention.’

Boo-tique Cinema:
Sweet Productions
17th & 24th October 2019 – 7:30pm – Sweet @ The Welly
Age Guidance: 18+
Ticket Price: £5

‘A collection of horror shorts from local upcoming film-makers. Watch the films, meet the makers, go to the bar, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all this to blow over.’

Let’s Summon Demons:
Katy Schutte
17th & 18th October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 16+
Ticket Price: £12 (£10 Concessions)

‘Is it wise to ask the questions you always wanted to ask? Let’s Summon Demons is a semi-immersive folk horror play in the round. It examines our attitudes to ritual, to revenge and to the uprising of female power. Can community lead to mob mentality? What are ghosts and demons and do they come from below or from within? If you stare into the abyss, can you come back?Join our coven for one night to encounter comedy, folk horror and – perhaps – some demons.’

The Saga of Hervor and Heidrek:
Rachel Levy & Jon Mason
17th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 12+
Ticket Price: £7 (£5 Concessions)

‘Walk in a world of heroes, gods and vengeful magic. Hervor and Heidrek, mother and son, strive to carve a place in life; but their family bears a tragic curse, and fame has a terrible price… Storytellers Rachel and Jon weave this haunting and bloodthirsty Norse saga of warrior-women, ghosts, and the fates of kings.’

Nightmare on Middle Street:
Foo Foo Fighters
17th-19th October – 9:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance : 18+
Ticket Price: £12.50

‘Following the successful sell-out run of shows for last year’s Horrorfest, the Foo Foo Fighters return with a new ass-ortment of tit-ilating tales of horror; told through the salacious medium of burlesque! A macabre and seductive alternative cabaret show based around some of your favourite Horror characters! Brand new material! Brand new guest acts! Brand new show! Get tickets early, as they will go fast!’

The Evil in You:
Isa Bonachera
19th-20th October 2019 – 7:30pm – Sweet @ The Welly
Age Guidance: 16+
Ticket Price: £8 (£6 Concessions)

‘We all have some evil in us: there is a Mr Hyde to our Dr Jekyll, a yin to our yang, a fig roll to our jaffa cake. Embrace your dark side and come to our evil lair for an hour of horror comedy you will never forget.’

Call of Cthulhu: A cold case
Jason Buck Storyteller
18th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘Dark dreams, voodoo cults and undying gods from the forgotten deeps! Lovecraft’s classic gothic horror tale is brought to life through performance storytelling as a cold case investigation, narrated by the unfortunate nephew of a recently and mysteriously deceased Professor of Archaeology, and resulting in the narrator’s sinister predictions of his own doom … and that of mankind.’

The Signalman
Paragon Theatre Collective
19th-20th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 12+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘A signalman is haunted by a mysterious figure standing at the mouth of a train tunnel. He’s sure it’s a warning – but what is it warning against? The Signalman is a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s final completed work, written after the writer himself had survived a train crash. This production is presented by Paragon Theatre Collective.

“Fake News” – **** The Guardian, The Express

The Curtain Twitcher Cometh
Fright Wig
19th October 2019 – 9:25pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 18+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘Between the ceiling and the skirting board there lies a truth so terrible it straightens pubes and blinds the fly on the wall. These are our neighbours. Murderers, monsters, bloodthirsty bigots and preening perverts – resident evils of Fright Wig’s broken Britain, and they’re dying to meet you!’

“The stuff of which cults are made”- Chortle

Make Yourself A Monster!
Sweet Productions
20th & 27th October 2019 – 1:30pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 6+
Ticket Price: £8 (Accompanying Adult Fee)

‘Do you have what it takes to be the most ghastly ghost, the weirdest werewolf, or the zaniest zombie? Then this is the event for you! Dr. Frances Tyne can’t wait to help you make yourself into the biggest and best monsters in this physical theatre workshop full of games and fearsome fun to get you in spookiest of moods this Hallowe’en!’

Choose your own Nightmare
Sprout Ideas
20th October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘You want zombies or ghosts? You got it. You want serial killers or devil worshippers? You got it. You want invasion of the killer bananas? You got it. This is comedy horror on demand as the experienced Sprout team create a whole improvised horror play based on audience suggestions.’

Jack the Ripper: Facts, No Fiction
Lucky Dog Theatre Productions
21st October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £8 (£7 Concessions)

‘London, 1888. Jack the Ripper is killing Whitechapel prostitutes. 130 years later, all most people know about the serial killer are myths and theories. Philip Hutchinson is an author, guide and lecturer on The Ripper Murders and regarded as a world authority on the case. He’ll tell you just the facts, with some added unexpected laughs.’

***** – Broadway Baby

Jekyll & Hyde: A One-Woman Show (Work in Progress)
Sweet Productions
21st – 22nd October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 18+
Ticket Price: £5

‘”You must suffer me to go my own dark way…” Stevenson’s classic science-horror is reborn, with award-winning performer Heather-Rose Andrews taking on the titular roles. Class, terror, and hypocrisy collide in Victorian London, as the lure of the sensuous and murderous takes its toll on all around Jekyll & Hyde.’

Talking to the Dead: A Séance
Sweet Productions
22nd-23rd October 2019 – 9:50pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 18+
Ticket Price: £13

‘Is it possible to communicate with the dead? Griffin and Jones intend to find out. Face your fears, and join them as they use techniques from Victorian séance rooms to peer into the Great Beyond, and ask the question “Is anybody there?”. Sceptics and believers welcome. Sold out Brighton Fringe 2016 – 2019 & Edinburgh Fringe 2018.’

Suicide Notes
Atomic Force Productions
23rd-24th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £8 (£6 Concessions)

‘Sam and Ali have been tasked with clearing out the house of their friendly elderly neighbour after his death, but what secrets is he hiding? And what really happened to his wife all those years ago? This psychological thriller will have you second-guessing throughout, as the mysterious circumstances surrounding Ellen’s death are unravelled.’

Dr Frankenbubble’s Spoopy Soup Cabaret
Dr Frankenbubble
23rd-24th October 2019 – 9:30pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 12+
Ticket Price: £12 (£10 Concessions)

“A mad scientists work is never done, but with a helping (disembodied) hand or two, can Dr Frankenbubble create the perfect concoction to bring her newest creation to life? Filled with spooks, sillyness and comedic horror, join us for a storytelling adventure including a variety of cabaret acts including bubbles, burlesque, magic and more.”

Professor Elemental’s Tales of Wrong
Professor Elemental
24th October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 12+
Ticket Price: £8 (£6 Concessions)

‘Professor Elemental has a tale to tell. And it’s not very nice at all. Creeping out of the depths of the attic, Brighton’s own Steampunk Professor invites you to the launch of his brand new book of comedy horror stories. There will be songs, suprises, stand up and storytelling, as he unleashes some of his weirdest tales, performs strange songs and chats about the difficulty of using horror as an escape, in a world that is more than horrible enough already. Accompanied by art from Kim Parkhurst, let the Professor take you to the dark corners of his ridiculous mind. Copies of the book will be exclusively available afterwards.’

Professor Nordstrom’s Compendium of Terror
Aidan Goatley/ Sweet Productions
25th October 2019 – 7:30pm – Sweet @ The Welly
Age Guidance: 18+
Ticket Price: £6

‘Join Professor Nordstrom (the worlds foremost authority of murder, deception and European cheeses) as he opens the door to his asylum and welcomes several guests to share stories that will chill you to your very core!’

Unquiet Slumbers – The haunting of Emily BrontË
Different Theatre
25th October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £9 (£8 Concessions

‘Haunt me then. Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad.’ A psychological thriller in which Cathy Earnshaw meets her maker Emily Brontë. Based on Wuthering Heights and Emily’s own story, it is a moor-bound exploration of identity, sexuality and our obsession with death, ghosts and romantic heroes. By award-winning playwright Sam Chittenden.
(Work in Progess)’

Stories From the Dark Side
Crime Scene Illusion
25th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 16+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘Spine chilling stories of ghosts, murder and mystery mixed with dark magic by award winning magician Tracy Wise. Immerse yourself in the DarkSide and discover what hides in the shadows. Not for those of a nervous disposition. Join us, if you dare. After all, they only stories and they come to an end eventually – don’t they?’

Under the Pyramids
Atomic Force Productions
26th-27th October 2019 – 5:45pm – Sweet Werks Cafe (Werks Central – please see ‘Werks 1/2 for address)
Age Guidance: 12+
Ticket Price: FREE

‘HP Lovecraft’s short story, Under the Pyramids (aka Imprisoned with the Pharaohs), tells the tale of Harry Houdini becoming trapped in an Ancient Egyptian tomb, and the horrors he experiences during this traumatic event. A short work-in-progress piece combining elements of live performance and escape rooms with VR and digital technology. Arrive early for your show and join us for a few minutes while you wait!’

Clown
Danse Macabre Productions:
26th-27th October 2019 – 6:05pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘In a world where clowns were born to scare, one (accidentally) discovers what it means to make someone laugh. Previously vessels for comedy, tragedy and social commentary; horror has turned red noses into jump scares and Hallowe’en costumes. Clown is here to take them back.’

Quintessence
Sweet Productions:
26th October 2019 – 6:45pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 16+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8 Concessions)

‘Humanity’s extinction leaves behind an AI being programmed to recreate the human race when the time is right, with the complete works of Shakespeare as a guide to the human spirit. Humanity must thrive… but at what cost?’

Winner – Fringe Review Outstanding Theatre Award (Brighton Fringe 2019)

Anthology
Hermetic Arts
26th October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 12+
Ticket Price: £10 (£9 Concessions

‘Three hauntings, from the past, future, and present. Three ghosts in the machine.Three uncanny stories, from the creators of UNBURIED, APRIL, and BADD. An evening to remember. Created by Hermetic Arts Performed by Carrie Thompson Written and directed by Chris Lincé’

Ava Beaux: Mysterious Tales of Poe
Ava Beaux
26th-27th October 2019 – 8:00pm – Sweet Werks 2
Age Guidance: 16+
Ticket Price: £10 (£8.50 Concessions)

‘Enter the macabre minds of Beaux and Poe. Follow Ava into a web of Gothic tales brought to life through magic, dark humour and thrillingly captivating storytelling. With Beaux’s quirky, slick and enchanting magic, and mischievously creepy humour, you’ll become immersed into a world where nothing is impossible.’

‘Delightfully creepy… Darkly comic’ (WorldMagicReview),

‘slick patter… skilled presentation’ (TheList).

Made-Up Mayhem – Slily Spooks and Ghastly Goings-On!
Made up Mayhem
26th October 2019 – 3:00pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 6+
Ticket Price: £8 (£12 for 2 Children

‘The spooky improvised story-telling adventure where the kids are in charge of the thrills! Watch your imagination creep and crawl to life, and tell the grown-ups what to do!’

Sary
Different Theatre
27th October 2019 – 7:45pm – Sweet Werks 1
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Price: £12 (£10 Concessions)

‘They call me witch. A teeth-gnasher. A shape-shifter. When they say I turn into a hare, it means I am too quick for ‘em!’ Based on a Sussex legend, this feminist folk-horror explores female sexuality, ageing and loss as alchemy. By award-winning playwright Sam Chittenden.

Fringe Guru *****;
‘Pick of the fringe’;
Nominated for The Infallibles Award.

The Other Realm Lectures:
Adrian Jameson
– 22nd October 2019 – Canewedon & Other Mysterious Places – 3:00pm – Sweet @ The Welly
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Prices: £6
– 23rd October 2019 – Veneration and Execution – 3:00pm – Sweet @ The Welly
Age Guidance: 14+
Ticket Prices: £6

Canewedon & Other Mysterious Places:
‘The Other Realm Lectures are presented by Adrian Jameson; Author and Artistic Director of The Other Realm Theatre Company. Lecture iii: Canewedon & Other Mysterious Places – an exploration of some of Britain’s most mysterious locations. Canewedon, with it’s long history of witchcraft; Borley Rectory, reputed to be the most haunted house in Britain; and the fateful Goodwin Sands are just some of the subjects that will be covered. These lectures are aimed at beginners and intermediates.’

Veneration and Execution:
‘The Other Realm Lectures are presented by Adrian Jameson; Author and Artistic Director of The Other Realm Theatre Company. Lecture iv: Veneration and Execution – a brief history and exploration of the two extremes of man’s regard to his fellows; veneration and execution. Why are some given sainthood while others are ruthlessly and brutally executed? These lectures are aimed at beginners and intermediates.’

Brighton Horrorfest
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