As the highly anticipated outdoor spectacular The Witching Hour descends on Birkenhead Park this weekend, Wirral Council have released final details to help visitors plan their experience.
The Witching Hour is a brand-new show created by renowned theatre company Periplum for Wirral’s Borough of Culture year in partnership with Hull-based Absolutely Cultured. The show runs from Friday 17 – Sunday 19 May. Performances start at 9.45pm each night and last approximately one hour.
The Witching Hour draws on the locations of Wirral and Hull with a performance weaving between the two places and highlighting local legends and stories – both imagined and real – associated with East Park and Birkenhead Park. It brings to life memories and myths in an exciting, mysterious and dramatic performance which will feature live performance, a specially commissioned soundtrack, theatrical lighting, fire, pyrotechnics and promenading action taking place in and around the audience. Local residents from each location were invited to share their stories and memories which have been incorporated into the story.
Seen in Hull’s East Park from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May, The Witching Hour received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public who commented on the spectacle, scale and storytelling of the performance, and many made repeat visits to the show over the weekend.
The Witching Hour – Event Information
- The Witching Hour is free, and no booking is required.
- The Witching Hour takes place in Birkenhead Park’s Upper Park. This map to shows the location of the performance and entrance locations: bit.ly/TheWitchingHourMap. Entrances to the event will be via the gate on Park Road North adjacent to Birkenhead Park Rugby Football Club and the gate on Ashville Road adjacent to Highgate House. Please follow signage.
- Please arrive for a 9:45pm start.
- Parking is limited, so the use of public transport or travelling by foot is recommended where possible. Please respect the local residents by not parking in the streets around the park.
- The Witching Hour takes place outdoors in a park after dark. Please dress for the weather and wear sensible footwear. There may be areas of the park that are muddy or uneven under foot.
- Entry to the event is on a first come first served basis. In the unlikely event that attendance is oversubscribed, the organisers reserve the right to refuse entry.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- There is limited parking available for blue badge holders which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This is located inside the main park opposite the main entrance gate on Ashville Road.
- There is a viewing platform with a limited number of spaces available for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. Spaces on the viewing platform must be booked in advance. Please contact cultureteam@wirral.gov.uk to book your place.
- With the exception of assistance dogs, animals will not be admitted.
- The Witching Hour will go ahead in most weathers. If you are concerned or unsure please check @ImagineWirral and Wirral Council Facebook pages in the first instance.
- Visit the FAQs page on the Imagine Wirral website for more information.
- Don’t forget to share your pictures on social media using #TheWitchingHourWirral
Lucy Barrow, Assistant Director for Culture & Visitor Economy at Wirral Council commented: “With only days to go before The Witching Hour arrives in Birkenhead Park, we’re thrilled to welcome residents and visitors to step inside this exciting world and really looking forward to seeing how the history and heritage of this very special park has inspired Periplum’s ground-breaking show.
“We know that audiences can expect an awe-inspiring experience which will be something entirely new for Wirral, and we’re delighted to be able to present this kind of large-scale spectacular during our Borough of Culture year with the support of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.”
The Borough of Culture initiative was introduced by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is designed to encourage cultural activities across the region.
The Witching Hour is free and no booking is required.
Wirral’s Borough of Culture programme is supported through funding from Arts Council England. The Witching Hour received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £100,000 to help deliver this exciting project. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will capture the stories and legends passed on through generations in two areas of the country.
For further information about The Witching Hour, visit imaginewirral.com.
