Posted on August 15th, 2023
We’re delighted to announce a further 12 venues for the East of England tour of Ghost Stories by Candlelight to include performances at non-traditional theatre spaces including atmospheric pubs, museums, and historic buildings aiming to preserve and celebrate the tradition of storytelling in these buildings.
Karen Goddard, Associate Producer: “There’s something special about seeing theatre in your local community space. That feeling of coming together with friends and neighbours to see a performance that takes you on a communal journey. When the venue is steeped in local history and a place where people have gathered to swap stories for hundreds of years, it makes the experience even more memorable.
Pubs, churches, and civic buildings have always been at the heart of rural towns and villages – landmarks that loom large in the local psyche providing a framework that holds communities together. It seems fitting that we are upholding the tradition of telling ghostly stories by popping-up in some of these beautiful and historic places.“
The East of England has a large rural population, with the percentage of those living in rural areas in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk all approaching 50%, and public transportation links lacking outside of the larger towns and cities. Our aim is to reach these rural areas, by touring new writing directly to local communities.
This is the first tour from Clare, our new Artistic Director, which begins previews on 13 October at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, and will now conclude at the Station Hotel Pub, Framlingham on 12 November, before a London run at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe from 23 -25 November.
Clare Slater, Artistic Director: “I’m beyond thrilled that we’ve been able to extend the tour of Ghost Stories by Candlelight this autumn. This production is now not only playing main-stage theatre spaces in cities across the East of England, but also visiting gloriously spooky non-theatre spaces in towns and villages too. From pubs in Manningtree, Framlingham and Woodbridge, to museums in Leiston, Thetford and Stowmarket – and more besides. These buildings have always been at the heart of rural towns and villages – landmarks that loom large in the local psyche providing a framework that holds communities together. It seems fitting that we are upholding the tradition of telling ghostly stories by bringing this dramatic evening of contemporary retellings to audiences, wherever they live, across the whole of East Anglia.”
In line with our renewed commitment to champion writers from the East of England, Ghost Stories by Candlelight is the combined effort of four authors from our region. Nicola Werenowska – an Artistic Associate of HighTide – (Colchester) is joined by Kelly Jones (Dagenham) and Shamser Sinha (Ipswich). Music and songs written by Georgia Shackleton, of the Norwich-based Shackleton Trio, bind the piece together and enhance the atmosphere. Directed by Elayce Ismail, this collection of contemporary tales will prove that ghosts’ don’t always stay in the past.
Click here to find a venue near you and book tickets.
Ghost Stories by Candlelight is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, generously supported by East Suffolk Council, and sponsored by Adnams.
