Pilgrimage at the Old Red Lion Theatre was such a success during last month’s Grimfest that it has been given another short run.
Writer/director Jack Robertson stopped by to talk about the show, which is described as ‘a new and exciting tale of horror’.
Where: Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington
When: 27-30 Nov
Ticket link: https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/pilgrimage.html
Is Pilgrimage a typical.haunted house tale?
Far from it… there’s plenty of twists and turns in this very contemporary tale.
Whilst the setting is an allegedly haunted cottage in Norfolk which dates back to Medieval times, there may be more going on then initially meets the eye.
American Cody and London-born Nel have journeyed to this “paranormal Meccah” to uncover the truth behind a hit podcast.
It’s a great setting that provides a creepy atmosphere but the human drama really shines through, with plenty of funny awkward moments that offer a touch of relief from the darker elements.
It is certainly a good old fashioned horror story – but where the terror truly lies might surprise you.
There’s a lot packed into this tense hour long performance that had audiences chuckling, gasping, and squirming!
How are you including the tech aspects like the podcast in the production?
The story is about two amatuer paranormal investigators who have been inspired by the popularity of podcast ‘Pilgrims Unrest’ to blag their way into the old house.
Its current owners want nothing to do with the cottage’s newfound infamy and seem to prefer their rural isolation.
Maggie has recently suffered a stroke and her estranged daughter Faye is forced into playing nursemaid as the house crumbles around her.
Extracts from our fictional podcast have been peppered into the narrative as it unfolds to provide slim chapters of the intricate backstory.
Along with some simple but effective lighting choices, this also heightens the mounting sense of dread as things fall into place.
You have plans beyond this run. Can you tell us anything about that, yet?
Not quite yet. This second run should help us to decide what the future holds for Pilgrimage.
One thing we are particularly excited about is the potential to make an entire series of ‘Pilgrims Unrest’ and release it as an actual podcast for audiences to enjoy.
There’s so much detail in the backstory that could be explored and having a play that works in tandem with another form of media is quite exciting.
As ever it will come down to funding and availability but I know the team behind this show are very passionate about expanding the world of Pilgrimage and bringing it to a wider audience if we get the chance.
The Old Red Lion is a perfect home for it, and we would be very happy to do a longer run there in 2025.
Pilgrimage is a breakout hit from your GrimFest horror festival. Were you happy with how that turned out this year?
It came as a very nice surprise! To be painfully honest, the script and cast all came together at the last minute but they truly turned it around with passion, dedication and a lot of talent.
It was an idea I’d had for a long time, partially inspired by podcasts such as ‘The Witch Farm’ by Danny Robins, but it took some sleepless nights to get it all in a workable script.
If it wasn’t for the amazing efforts of the cast and co-director/technical manager Benedict Esdale, the idea simply would have fallen apart.
We had no idea what to expect from audiences and reviewers but the response has been overwhelmingly positive which made it all worthwhile.
So we were very excited to bring the show back again when the opportunity arose.
There were lots of brilliant shows at GrimFest this year, and it seems likely that a few more may resurface in the near future, too…
What makes Pilgrimage something special in its genre?
From what people have said to us after seeing the initial performances, the script and atmosphere really suck you into the world and keep you on your toes.
It strikes and good balance of humour and suspense that audiences can really enjoy.
Although it is very much set in the here and now, reflecting on the current trends of popular paranormal and true crime podcasts, there’s also something quite old fashioned about how the story is put together.
That mixture of classic chills and thematic innovation is what really makes it something special in the genre – there is simply nothing quite like the immersive experience of live horror on stage.
A perfect evening’s entertainment on a cold winter’s night. We hope people continue to enjoy the show as much as we do.