Experience – The Dread House

The Layout

As you can see from the plan, it consisted of five sections, entrance, dining room, nursery (bed chamber), living room and tunnel of terror. The entrance was small, I had originally designed a small box office to sit along the wall but, I decided it would be too much work for too little gain. It ended up being the right decision, a lot of people struggled to enter the dining room as it was. It would have caused a much larger bottle neck with people spending far too long trying to get into the first room. The dining room worked, most people didn't see the window and didn't notice the flashing of lightning, the Ouija board spelt out 'come closer' then an actor jumped out of the fake table. This was good design and idea. An actor in a white mask orchestrated, this process, once the jump scare had finished, the actor lifted up the curtain and directed people into the next room. The second full room, was the Nursery, inside were two actors, one with a black mask and the other wearing a white one. The white rocked the cradle and black mask came out of the dark. The white mask opened the wardrobe to allow people to exit in to the next room. A white mask upside would crawl towards them in the dark, on the screen a another character runs towards the screen from behind the pumpkin patch and points towards the picture on the wall. Once the attention is focused on the picture, it drops revealing a character who attempts to grab them. All remaining masks direct people towards the exit and into the tunnel. Inside the dark tunnel a white mask waits for them to pass and the last 3 masked characters follow them out of the house onto the field.

There was a 2m holding area that could fit 20 people comfortably and standing in the entrance an actor or usher would share the rules and expectations with the crowd. Once clearance was given, they made their way into the 'Tunnel of Terror' a smoke filled walkway with lights. At the end of the tunnel was a screen with a floating ghost. Turning right, they approached the box office where an usher greeted them asking for their tickets. On the left hand side was a character, sometimes human based, sometimes not, staring as they walked past. The far corner to the right, was the boy in the cupboard. Once round the corner the neglected child came into view writing messages on the wall. Children were invited to write their own messages on the final wall. The last section, included two poor souls sitting at a table for their final meal called the feast of the deceased. A sign on the far wall says exit and a door leads out but, just before on the right is an suitcase, sitting alone and out of place. A character one of many throughout the week jumps out and that completes the Spookarium.

The Diabolical Circus

Once through the green door, you are greeted by the Ring master, who invites you to meet one of the four characters, the Magician, the Strongman, the Medium and the Mime. Each performs an engaging interactive set for 10 minutes. A photo opportunity at the end to share your experience with your friends and meet your favourite character.

Mr Martin Banks informed the crowd of what to expect and how to manage a ghost if and when you came across one. They entered the DRed Room and were greeted by MR Sam Hain who invited them to sit down on the ~~Coffin~~ table that was positioned in the centre of the room. He told of a story of the Dread House and lost well Women who came before them. He granted everyone a protection spell to guide and protect them as they walked through the house. Suddenly a scream came out from the inside the table and a voice could be heard asking to be released.
All enter the Dread House, as Len holds back the curtain. Once round the corner they intercepted by the notorious Matthew Hopkins who is looking for the Witch. Moving through the insect ridden curtains they are greeted by Tarquin De'Sheer int he dark and finally stopped in their tracks by Amelia the Witch. She introduces them to Dave her cauldron, who smokes. A brief interaction with Hopkins and the group are on the move again through the Tunnel of terror and into the Spookarium.
A Boy Rufus appears inside a picture, he had been trapped by the Witch, he tells the group of his story and how they best leave as soon as possible before the Witch comes back. The Witch Elizabeth Sawyer jumps out and chases them out.

An outdoor experience with six stations, the story was about Eddie Hawkins a chimney sweep employed by the Warren family to clean the manor. He got stuck up a chimney and was said to haunt the grounds and could be seen walking with his brush. To add to the presentation, there was a witches station by the fallen tree and a playground of the paranormal. Participants could also have their pictures taken in our stocks. The last section was the dreaded pirate Bertrum, who was looking for smelly children to recruit tor the Dread House pirate ship.

Visitors enter the waiting room were greeted by MR Sam Hain, who invites them to look round the room and take photos. Once they were finished, he told them the story of Elizabeth Sawyer the Edmonton witch, who was hung for witchcraft int he 1600's. Now she's back and is trying to get into the house. In each room was a clue to a letter that made a word. To find out if anyone was a Witch, they had to sit on a broomstick and if they flew around the room, they were a witch. No witches were found at this time. After this room, they moved into the bed chamber, where they were greeted by Eddie and Tarquin and given another clue. The next room, they joined in making a spell with witches to warn off evil. The last room upstairs was hosted by Mr Martin Banks the groundsman, who caught the witch in the chimney and banished her. Moving down the stairs they came to the last room, the dining room where they met Amelia Bertrum and her hungry zombie children who came out from behind curtains for the final jump scare. The completed word at the end read BRAVE.

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