The community's bravery will be put to the test with The Dark Arts Horror Walk. Photo/File
The community's bravery will be put to the test with The Dark Arts Horror Walk. Photo/File
Locals with self-proclaimed nerves of steel will be put to the test as they wind their way through spooky passages of a Horror Walk.
Nightmare at the Museum: The Dark Arts Horror Walk will run for two nights at the start of next month.
Rotorua Museum events and engagement co-ordinator Tori Williams says groups of six will venture through the dark corridors of The Arts Village at night.
She says the horror walk takes up to 15 minutes - faster if people run screaming through it - and people will witness firsthand as innocent souls are tormented with the bizarre rituals of the dark arts and black magic.
Tori says about 50 people volunteer for the event.
Many of these will be actors, but behind-the-scenes volunteers include make-up artists, AV technicians, lighting designers, prop makers, costume designers, marshals and photographers.
"This is such a unique event which is focused at youth, although we often get work groups and adults along who love to be scared.
A clown in the basement gives someone a fight in the 2016 <i>Nightmare at the Museum</i>. Photo/Mark Coker
"All of your senses will get a fright from talented actors, freakish props, specialised lighting and sound, and the ghoulish storylines by creative director Layla Robinson of Wildside Promotions."
This production continues the partnership between Rotorua Museum and Wildside Promotions.
Layla says the cast, crew and set design will transform The Arts Village, "bringing to life the dark side of human nature so that participants go on a journey that both terrifies and enthrals".
Tori says Nightmare at the Museum began at Rotorua Museum in 2011, where it was run for three years before taking a hiatus and returning for three sell-out nights in August 2016.
She says when Rotorua Museum closed its doors in November 2016 as a result of earthquake damage, the event team began working to find a new venue for the event.
"The historic feel of The Arts Village works well for this event, and the flexibility of the spaces meant there were quite a few options for the route of the horror walk.
"The venue itself also led to the theme of this year's walk - 'The Dark Arts'."
The profits raised from this event will be donated back to the Rotorua Arts Village Trust.
The Dark Arts Exhibition 2018 is giving people the chance to be part of the event by creating ghoulish artworks that form part of the walk at night, and then remain as an exhibition during the day.
Tori says ticket sales are going well, and because it was sold out last time it was suggested that people got in quick.
The event is for people 13 years and over to attend, and people buying tickets need to go to the Rotorua Museum website to look through the conditions of entry first.
For more information go to www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz/darkarts2018.
The details - What: Nightmare at the Museum: The Dark Arts Horror Walk - Where: The Arts Village - When: Friday September 7 and Saturday September 8, first walk starts 6.30pm, last walk finishes 10.15pm - Tickets: $20 at eventfinda.co.nz
