A spine-chilling new play based on Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying classic The Masque of the Red Death, which comes to Halton Borough Counc’s Brindley Theatre, Runcorn on Wednesday 16 October. 

Prince Prospero and a handful of his nobility shut themselves away in a heavily fortified castle, to escape the terrible plague that is sweeping their land … known as the Red Death, it kills everyone and everything in its path. 

Disdainfully indifferent to the sufferings of his people, the Prince throws a lavish ball, but as the masque reaches its orgiastic climax and the clock chimes midnight, a mysterious, uninvited guest is found in their midst … a guest that wreaks a terrifying revenge!

Theatre company Rumpus uses all its usual “excellent acting, sound and lighting” (remotegoat.co.uk) to take the audience to the Prince’s Palace, the peasants’ villages, the fortified castle and on a last, gloriously grotesque journey through the Masque’s sinister labyrinth.

Last autumn’s The Devil’s Bride was “wonderfully creepy” according to Eastern Daily Press while The Red Room was recommended “to anyone who enjoys sitting on the edge of their seat” by whatsgoodtodo.co.uk. The Masque of the Red Death promises much more of the same.

For tickets and information see www.thebrindley.org.uk and the Brindley box office on 0151 907 8360.