Theatre is one of humanity’s oldest artforms, with a pedigree dating back to ancient Greece. Earlier civilisations also show signs of an interest in performance. Like cinema, the audience sits in the dark, watching magic unfold before them, except, unlike cinema, this magic is live. Anything could happen – and frequently does, with performances either elevated or ruined by a casual mishap. With that live element providing the possibility for chaos, it’s unsurprising that the theatre is filled with superstitions to ward off misfortune, enhance performances, and keep dark spirits at bay. Indeed, many plays themselves are haunted, like the infamous ‘Scottish Play’, so named to avoid bad luck. This talk will explore a range of theatre superstitions, the strange concept of the ‘ghost light’, the specific folklore attached to Macbeth, and even some of the ghost stories of the Tyne Theatre itself.
“All prices include a venue levy and £2.70 booking fee (listed as cmsn during the checkout process) unless otherwise stated. All fees apply whether booking online, over the phone or in person at the box office.
The Tyne Theatre and Opera House box office is open for phone and in-person bookings from the 1867 Café Bar 10am-3pm Mon-Fri (or until show start if there is a performance that evening + an hour before weekend performances).
For information on accessible bookings, please click here”
Dr Icy Sedgwick is a folklore blogger and host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast. She is based in the North East of England, where she was born and raised amid the folk tales and legends of Tyneside and Northumberland. Icy is fascinated by history, cinema, art, and the occult, and griffins will always be her favourite mythical beast.
