Here’s something a little unusual for a Sunday Evening.
Enchanted Parks has been taking place in Gateshead’s Saltwell Park and Leazes Park in Newcastle.
In short it’s a kind of haunting. The parks, which seem more than a little spooky at night, are made all the more strange with the addition of sounds, lights, costumes and performers.
In Saltwell Park we were treated to bandstand waltzes, war time memories, ghostly beyond-the grave miners and a load of stuff that went whoosh..right over my head.
Was it any good? Yes and no. With the organisers requesting we got tickets first and being marched around the site it didn’t really live up to the preparation nor anticipation.
Before we knew it we were back in the car headed home.
But there is the nucleus of a tremendous idea in there. Next year? More, more, more. More ghostliness, more music, more lights, more people, more drama.
I don’t to be stewarded around. Let me wander. Let me get spooked. Let me discover details for myself. I want people to tap me on the shoulder and make me jump. I want some of it to be uplifting too – a perhaps dash of Christmas. I want choirs.
All in all though, a fabulous concept. I hope it’s back next year. This is definitely something to build on.
Update: 
3 comments
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December 17, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Brian Haworth
But, amidst the surprise and spooky and delight and jumpy factor… you would, surely, like some reassurance that the tap on the shoulder was from a) a real spook, b) your lass, c) a steward spook, or d) the mad hatchet mardy-spook from NUFC coaching staff?
December 17, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Diehard Geordie
Saltwell Towers, my fairy castle all my life from earliest memories to 69 year young.
(I nicked a copy of it).
December 18, 2007 at 12:44 pm
ourman
Nah Brian, spooky is good. The spookier the better. Mrs Geordie – I must admit I had never been to the park before – it was strange going for the first time at night. We resolved to return in the daylight sometime soon.