Scary, isn’t it? But delighted to report that tickets are already selling well for Picton’s Magical Family Christmas this year. Last year’s launch event went brilliantly and we are building on that success this year by asking Santa to join us for four weekends throughout December. As far as the planning is going . . . well, we’re making a list and checking it twice at the moment!!
The entrance to Picton Castle’s Mansion of Mystery escape rooms looking lovely in the autumn sunshine today. Loads of work still to be done on the inside – and on the outside bits you can’t see here – but everything is taking shape beautifully. Is there a more stunning entrance to an escape room business anywhere in the UK?
Three months’ to go until Queen Elizabeth High stages this year’s production of “Grease”. The school’s production values are always amazing and I know they have got a terrific cast so we are all in for a rocking and rolling musical ride. And, of course, Moli is going to be an incredible Sandy!! Tickets on sale soon – please form an orderly queue!!
A fantastic night at Crazy Coqs Cabaret in Piccadily on Friday celebrating a decade of amazing musical theatre from Jake and Pippa. No photos of the performance (we are all waiting for the video) so here is a still from the rehearsals showing Pippa on the piano with the night’s stunning guest stars Matthew Barrow, Katie Birtill, Callum Howells and Kirsty Goldthorpe. It made a wonderful showcase of their utterly brilliant songwriting (I am just a little biased!) but everyone was blown away by the awesome Rosemary Ashe singing “Nobody’s Home” from their latest musical. Cannot wait to see what they do in the next ten years.
Tickets are now on sale for two events that are highlights in my autumn calendar. I’m back at Newton House, the National Trust’s “most haunted” mansion, for Halloween Ghost Tours and a performance of “Strange Tales” on Friday 19th October. For all the important details, including how to book, please follow this link to their website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr/whats-on. By the way, the child-friendly Halloween tours are called “Twilight Tours” while the most adult version is titled “After Dark”.
Had a great time entertaining the sixth form at their social evening at Llandovery College last night. The Old Library made a terrifically atmospheric venue and audience was amazing – they really got involved in the stories. I was just a little puzzled by one of the little “experiments” I tried last night which went a little awry. Both the students responses seemed to get a little mixed up – they appeared to be sharing the same thoughts, something I hadn’t come across before. It was only after the performance that their teacher told me that the two girls were actually twins – although physically unalike. One of those wonderful little aberrations that makes working in the field of mind-reading so fascinating.
And talking of things-to-come, Picton Castle’s new Mansion of Mystery is taking shape. The Mansion is an escape room suite situated deep in the heart of the castle’s Bachelors’ Quarters. Accessed by a spiral staircase leading to an exquisite welcoming parlour it has to be the most stunning setting for any puzzle room in the UK. More details soon!
Strange Tales from the Darker Side returns to the National Trust’s most haunted property this autumn. Looks wonderfully peaceful in the photo, doesn’t it? You’d never guess it hosts a spine-chilling selection of ghosts, ghouls, troubled spirits, murdered beauties, and spooks of every shade from white through grey to the blackest of black. I’ll be performing my weird and enchanting evening of magic and bizarre storytelling in the dining room where the benevolent phantom of Walter watches over all the visitors. More details of the performance to come soon along with news of this year’s Halloween ghost tours which begin on Friday 26th October.
A couple of great new reviews for the Creepy Carmarthen Tour on Trip Advisor this week. One reviewer wrote “Nick presents a very interesting overview of the history of Carmarthen. Our two grandchildren said to give it 5 stars, I could sense initial scepticism when we embarked on the surprise event we had booked for us all last night. I felt sure if I told them what we were going to do they would have moaned ‘no that will be boring!’ But they learnt a little about the tough reality of life in the past and had a fun scary experience. Enjoyable night out providing value for money.”
Robert added: “Great fun with ghost stories. macabre history, Jokes and a few magic tricks. Our guide was certainly an expert on his subject and very entertaining. Excellent value for two hours of great entertainment.”
Delighted to be a part of entertainment for last night’s HwylNos event at the Gwili Steam Railway just ouside Carmarthen. I hosted the evening and told a few stories along the way as we dined on a selection of Welsh delicacies (including the most enormous and tasty bowl of Cawl) in the comfort of the very atmospheric dining car. Harpist Lucy Jones and Cor Seingar provided the musical entertainment while the stunning “Welsh Guardsman” steam locomotive provided the magical transport! There’s another HwylNos on September 14th at Llanelli House – for details visit hwylevents.wales for more on our “real Welsh experience” events.
Nick Brunger 