I sat down with artistic director Harry Fitzpatrick about Temporal Horizons Productions’ new show, Skeleton Sam’s Spooky Theatre Nights!, coming to the Golden Goose Theatre this October.
Skeleton Sam’s Spooky Theatre Nights brings together variety, cabaret, drama, and storytelling under one roof. What can audiences expect from the lineup, and how did you curate the mix of artists for these two nights?
Audiences can expect a culturally rich and diverse lineup from national and international companies and artists; Artists from Ireland, Romania, Latvia, Ukraine, Italy, India and the UK, including artists from London, Essex and Brighton. All bringing their unique experiences, heritage and cultures with a wide range of acts. Acts ranging from Improv, devised theatrical pieces based on the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, Romanian folklore about the Evil Eye, haunted dolls, stand-up comedy from a zombie, body horror involving plasticine and Wallace & Gromit, folk horror, possessive love thrillers inspired by hit films like Obsession, fun cabarets involving the end of the world, ghost story based on true events and a finale which is a tribute to the late Tim Curry and something fans of Rocky Horror Picture Show would love!
The lineup of artists/companies will be the same on both nights, so if an audience member isn’t able to come one night, they’ll get the chance to see it another night.
Now, how I discovered and curated these different acts was through a callout on social media for artists and companies, and being open to submissions from not just professional artists but also those currently studying drama and those who’ve just graduated from university/drama school as I believe great ideas come from everywhere. I had also seen a couple of acts work in the past, like the company VolYa Theatre (Maria Stana, Dariia Kuznetsova, Una Reitere) and the act Armageddon Outta Here, which I saw at the Palace Theatre Southend before its highly successful run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, as well as seeing a wide range of artists at local fringe festivals like the Camden Fringe last Summer. One act in particular I saw was from the highly talented Rudra Bharadwaj in a one-person show they wrote and starred in; I knew they’d be perfect to perform as the co-host of the evening, playing the character of Mephistopheles, a demon that the host Skeleton Sam (Who I will be performing as) summons through a chant involving a skull, the Witches’ chant from Macbeth and Ozzy Osborne.
The show places a strong emphasis on providing a platform for early-career creatives in an increasingly tough industry. What has been the biggest challenge, and reward, in bringing this ambitious collaborative event to life?
The initial challenge was in the beginning was in finding a venue in London that was ideal towards creating the perfect immersive Halloween atmosphere, but after several conversations with the welcoming Michael Kingsbury, the director of the Golden Goose Theatre, it was the perfect choice as its layout offered a great way of connecting with audiences and of course it is one of the few fringe theatres in London with disabled access, as I believe with theatre that no one should be left out from participating and experiencing it.
As a creative practitioner on the Autistic spectrum, often the one challenge I have is management as alongside producing, selecting acts, I’m also performing as the host Skeleton Sam, singing, writing one act and directing it, selecting cast for that act, creating the marketing materials, assembling a creative team around me and making sure, I’m communicating clearly with others, I don’t mask or have a sensory overload or risk burnout, but I have a fantastic support network from my parents and sister, family, friends and groups like Andy’s Mans Club which has helped in managing my mental health, wellbeing and keeping me grounded.
Knowing that I am helping give creatives who are at the beginning stages of their careers, or those just graduating, a chance to let audiences see and discover their talent, take feedback from audiences in their development and give materials that can help them, potentially next year, apply for funding or various fringe festivals, as well as giving the public work that’s entertaining, informative and spooky.
With content elements ranging from strobe lighting and jump scares to fake blood, how have you used sound, lighting, and stage design to construct that immersive Halloween atmosphere at the Golden Goose Theatre?
I worked closely with Essex filmmaker Jamie Pascoe in designing a soundscape and AV footage, which would be used throughout the evening, especially with the final act, which I wrote and directed myself, that takes inspiration from works like The Woman in Black and Andy Nyman’s and Jeremy Dyson’s Ghost Stories in order to create an atmosphere that is guaranteed to engage with audiences. The evenings would also feature during the interval live piano playing, as when the Golden Goose’s director Michael mentioned during our initial meeting they had an out-of-tune piano, a lightbulb turned on in my head as rather than just using a playlist of chosen songs on a speaker, audiences would get something live and in the foyer whilst they’re having a drink, chat and seeing what else is on at the Golden Goose.
Ghost Stories in order to create the atmosphere that is guaranteed to engage with audiences. The evenings would also feature during the interval live piano playing, as when the Golden Goose’s director Michael mentioned during our initial meeting they had an out-of-tune piano, a lightbulb turned on in my head as rather than just using a playlist of chosen songs on a speaker, audiences would get something live and in the foyer whilst they’re having a drink, chat and seeing what else is on at the Golden Goose.
Several acts will involve audience participation and with the improv act Film Club, meaning they’ll get a chance to shape its story and what the performers do.
If you could sum up the spirit of Skeleton Sam’s Spooky Theatre Nights in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
The phrase I would best sum up the spirit of SKELETON SAM’S SPOOKY THEATRE NIGHTS would be “A perfect evening for tricks and treats!“. Because you’re in for acts that range in different ways within that phrase, and on the nights if you sit in the correct seat, you might win a free packet of wine gums. Plus if people come on the last night (31st October) they’re welcome to come in a Halloween costume!
Skeleton Sam’s Spooky Theatre Nights! runs at the Golden Goose Theatre, London, on 30 – 31 October. Tickets available at https://www.ticketsource.com/temporal-horizons-productions/skeleton-sams-spooky-theatre-nights/e-ljgzpo
