After the horror show of 2020, it’d be tempting to think nothing could terrify us humans as much as normal, everyday life any more. But then, you know: vampires, zombies, witches. Motherfriggin’ Dracula. There’s a heck of a lot of bone-chilling shit out there, and Halloween is here to remind us all about it. Great.
This year, trick-or-treating is a very much a no-go. Most street processions and demonstrations have been called off. Halloween-themed club nights – obviously not. All of which makes for an unusually quiet October 31, and means we’re going to have to find new and frightening ways to entertain ourselves as the big day nears.
Fortunately, our old pal and lockdown saviour the live-stream is here to help once more. From drag bingo to Shakespeare via some seriously gory slasher spoofs, we’ve rounded up the best virtual Halloween events and activities you can stream live this week. Just remember to dress up, yeah?
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Feed your dance-floor cravings with this virtual DJ night streamed live from Dracula’s Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania. Immersive-night-out specialists Elrow have teamed up with Desperados to create a ‘House of Terror’ filled with dancing zombies, laughing clowns and ‘dance-floor monsters’. The UK’s Eats Everything headlines.
Saturday, October 31 from 5pm GMT (1pm EDT, 4am AEDT) on Facebook and YouTube. Free.
British troupe Big Telly’s timely take on snappy, witch-heavy tragedy ‘Macbeth’, performed live by a cast of five: Nicky Harley, Lucia McAnespie, Dennis Herdman, Aonghus Og McAnally and Dharmesh Patel.
Monday, October 26 to Saturday, October 30, at 7pm and 9.30pm GMT (3pm and 5.30pm EDT, 6am and 8.30am AEDT). Tickets £20 ($26, A$37) per screen.
This one-night-only Halloween art ball will bring together 20 emerging artists who will be exhibiting their creepy, curious and surreal works during an exclusive broadcast. Expect the words of Edgar Allan Poe set to live music, live painting, an interview with Lianna Oestricher, and so much more.
Saturday, October 31, from 10pm EDT (2am GMT, 1pm AEDT) via this website. Free.
London drag pioneers That’s Drag invite you to ‘unleash your inner freaks and monsters’ this Halloween’ as they host their inaugural ‘Haunted Hoes’ party. Don your most terrifying ‘scary, hairy or barely there-y’ costume, and join as an individual or a team of up to six for lip-syncs, dance-offs, bingo and more.
Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, from 10pm GMT (6pm EDT, 9am AEDT) via Zoom. Tickets £6.66 ($9, $12).
Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre is streaming two performances of the 34th edition of its famous ‘Splatter Theatre’ show – a spoof of the cliché-ridden slasher movie genre. Joe McDaniel directs the gore-tastic show, which stars a veteran of the original production.
Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, from 2am GMT (10pm EDT, 1pm AEDT). Tickets from $1 for Friday, $20 (£15, A$28) for Saturday.
In lieu of an in-person Halloween party, New York’s legendary House of Yes is teaming up with Artery and Bramble for a ‘psychedelically seductive’ virtual spectacle within a spooky cyber realm teeming with immersive live performances, a fancy-dress costume contest, and intimate experiences including tarot, astrology and sound healing.
Saturday, October 31, from 8pm EDT (12am GMT, 11am AEDT). Tickets are available for the price of Patreon membership, which starts at $5 (£4, A$7).
A critically-acclaimed horror film, selected by Raindance Film Festival this year, which you can see being performed, shot and edited live. The cast comprises a group of actors who dial in from across Australia. You can watch alone or with a group of mates via Scener.
Saturday, October 31, from 10am GMT (6am EDT, 9pm AEDT). Tickets A$10 (£5, $7).
Join the queen of kindie music for a virtual performance of frighteningly fun jams like ‘Monster Boogie’, ‘The Cat Came Back’ and ‘Choc-o-lot In My Pock-o-lot’. A meet-and-greet ad-on package is also available.
Saturday, October 31, from 4pm and 9pm GMT (12pm and 5pm EDT, 3am and 8am AEDT). Tickets $20 (£15, A$28).
Mike Marbach, the former director of Philly Improv Theatre, leads a cast a ten in this virtual series of on-the-fly horror movie spoofs that last around 45 minutes each. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-like basis.
Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31, from midnight GMT (8pm EDT, 11am AEDT) via their website.
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