Chilling tales and music from The Book of Darkness and Light at Margate’s Theatre Royal

Haunting tales from the Story Teller and the Music Maker Photo Jon Foxley-Evans

Tales and music to chill and thrill will be performed in Margate next month (November).

The Book of Darkness and Light stops at the Theatre Royal as part of its 26-date tour of the country.

Adam Z Robinson and Ben Styles are the Story Teller and Music Maker introducing the audience to chilling tales set to the haunting strains of the violin.

But before peeling open The Book of Darkness & Light to recount three of its dark stories, the duo will get a little closer to home with spooky insights into isle hauntings.

Photo Jon Foxley-Evans

And they will be in the perfect place – the Theatre Royal. According to tales former theatre manager Sarah Thorne, who had been at the helm of the venue until 1894, is said to have first appeared as an apparition in the early 1900s – some say protesting at the use of the theatre for gambling.

But she is not the only spirit to wander the 18th century playhouse. Past stories tell of witnesses seeing the curtain move and then crashing as though a body had fallen. Commentators say it is the spirit of an actor who took his life at the theatre after being dismissed from his touring company.

The theatre is an ideal spot for Adam who writes the ghost stories in the show.

The 33-year-old, who lists M R James, Hugh Walpole and Simon Armitage among his influences, said: “I love ghost story writing and I love reading them. I have a tradition at Christmas to read a different one every day of advent.

“I discovered Simon Armitage the year before my GCSEs and was totally taken his writing. I loved that he took every day experiences and made something magical in the way he wrote about them. I started writing poetry, it was dreadful, but I wrote all the way through college and then in university I wrote for theatre. It is a great way to get reaction to your writing.

“It is my passion and I am delighted it’s my job.”

Photo Jon Foxley-Evans

Adam, who also teaches creative writing sessions and works in schools, says the team is looking forward to their Margate visit and hoping to stay on and explore for a bit after the show.

He added: “The Theatre Royal looks incredible, and it’s haunted! At the top of our show we will do two or three local stories so the closer to the (ghost) action we are, the better.”

The Book of Darkness and Light, produced by Little Mighty, is at the Theatre Royal on November 4 at 7.30pm. The show is suitable for those aged 12 and over.

Tickets
Full Price £12
Concessions £10
Booking fees – 50p per ticket in person/phone. £1.50 per ticket online

To book call 01843 292795 or click here