craigee
Crab On The Rampage
Posts: 28
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Post by craigee on Jul 23, 2016 15:22:25 GMT
Hi
I hope everyone is well. Each year I run a Ghost Stories for Christmas charity fundraiser, where actors tell classic and modern tales in aid of charity. This year we are raising funds for a local Sussex Cancer Charity and I am looking for inspiration for stories. In previous years we have read The Ash Tree, Lost Hearts, Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, The Lost Ghost, The Signalman, The Judges House, Wailing Well, The Face, The Room in the Tower, The Snow and Woman in the Green Dress. AS you can see we have mostly done "classic" stories but we are also open to modern tales too. So - any suggestions? The criteria is a) scary b) approx 20 - 25 minutes long c) ideally not too many characters d) not necessarily "ghost" stories in the classic sense - lets face it many MR James stories aren't ghost stories at all! This year I want to really scare people - so any ideas for good stories that fit our brief?
Many thanks!!
Craig
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Post by dem bones on Jul 23, 2016 17:17:39 GMT
Hi Craig I hope last years event was a success? Ideally, one of our authors will volunteer a story, but in the meantime have you considered H. R. Wakefield's 'The Red Lodge'? I think that one meets your criteria. Unfortunately, I can't find the full text on-line, but the story has been anthologised several times, and shouldn't be too difficult or expensive to find. You can listen to Morgan Scorpion reading it HERE.
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craigee
Crab On The Rampage
Posts: 28
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Post by craigee on Jul 23, 2016 21:59:05 GMT
Hi, many thanks I will have a look at that one. Yes last year's event raised £500 for a local food bank, which was great. Hoping to raise about 600 this year for Sussex Cancer Fund. Thanks again for your suggestion!
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Post by dem bones on Jul 24, 2016 6:14:12 GMT
Very well done! If you want to post an ad for this years event, please feel free to do so. I believe we have at least one Brighton-based author contributes to this forum and others scattered along the South Coast so ... you never know.
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Post by ripper on Jul 24, 2016 7:21:41 GMT
I would like to suggest 'The Red Room' by H.G. Wells. A longer tale is 'Thurnley Abbey' by Percival Landon.
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craigee
Crab On The Rampage
Posts: 28
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Post by craigee on Jul 24, 2016 7:31:15 GMT
Very well done! If you want to post an ad for this years event, please feel free to do so. I believe we have at least one Brighton-based author contributes to this forum and others scattered along the South Coast so ... you never know. Thanks, I start promotion in October so I definitely will! Thanks again :-)
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craigee
Crab On The Rampage
Posts: 28
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Post by craigee on Jul 24, 2016 7:31:47 GMT
I would like to suggest 'The Red Room' by H.G. Wells. A longer tale is 'Thurnley Abbey' by Percival Landon. Great thankyou!
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Post by ripper on Jul 24, 2016 8:45:54 GMT
Just a few more suggestions:
Smee by A.M. Burrage
Waxworks by A.M. Burrage
Mrs. Lunt by Hugh Walpole
The Shadow by Edith Nesbit
The Clock by W.F. Harvey
The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen
The Squaw by Bram Stoker--not a ghost story but classic horror
An Account of some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street by J.S. Le Fanu--don't know if this might be a bit too long but it's very good
The Open Window by Saki--scary until the last few paragraphs
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Post by ropardoe on Jul 24, 2016 11:50:03 GMT
Just a few more suggestions: Smee by A.M. Burrage Waxworks by A.M. Burrage Mrs. Lunt by Hugh Walpole The Shadow by Edith Nesbit The Clock by W.F. Harvey The Crown Derby Plate by Marjorie Bowen The Squaw by Bram Stoker--not a ghost story but classic horror An Account of some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street by J.S. Le Fanu--don't know if this might be a bit too long but it's very good The Open Window by Saki--scary until the last few paragraphs The Clock is a brilliant suggestion - one of the scariest, succinct little spooky stories I've ever read. The Crown Derby Plate is another good one (and The Red Room). I wanted to add L.T.C. Rolt's The Mine to the list, but there may be copyright considerations there.
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Post by ripper on Jul 24, 2016 13:45:48 GMT
'The Clock' is one of my favourite of Harvey's stories. He builds up an impressive amount of atmosphere and tension for such a short tale. There's just something unnerving about it and it gets me every time I read it.
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Post by Shrink Proof on Jul 24, 2016 21:13:26 GMT
If you want a modern take on the traditional ghost story, try "Addendum to a Confession" by John Gaskin. It's in his collection "The Master of the House". Seriously spooky... In any case, good luck with what is a great action for a worthy cause. (Edited for spelling and to say that a brief summary of the tale is in the posting at the bottom of this page.)
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craigee
Crab On The Rampage
Posts: 28
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Post by craigee on Jul 25, 2016 4:45:30 GMT
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, please keep them coming! :-)
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Post by ramseycampbell on Jul 28, 2016 13:54:25 GMT
You're welcome to use something of mine if you like.
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Post by ropardoe on Jul 28, 2016 15:11:22 GMT
You're welcome to use something of mine if you like. How about something like "Call First"? Seems like the right length. I once heard you read it (a good many years ago) and it made quite an impact.
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Post by ripper on Jul 29, 2016 9:56:16 GMT
I am a big fan of Ramsey's 'The Guide' but not sure if it would be considered a tad too long for this particular event.
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