Newsham Scream Park - 2023
When we first arrived at the site of Newsham Scream Park, the building was casting a dark shadow! Newsham Hospital has an incredibly dark history - it was an orphanage, hospital, then a psychiatric hospital! The huge daunting building would fill anyone with dread, but especially those waiting outside wondering what monsters may lurk within.
Newsham Scream Park is a brand new event for 2023, produced by Asylum Entertainment, and creatively directed by the AtmosFEAR! Team, we were set to explore the mammoth building and be terrorised by the scare actors within. It’s safe to say we were incredibly excited, but did the event live up to our hype?
Upon entering through the gateway, a vast courtyard spread out in front of us. An impressive food and beverage offering encases seating and a huge screen and stage. The atmosphere was electric! After an introduction speech from the events creative lead, Jason Karl of AtmosFEAR!, we had the opportunity to visit three attractions: The Orphanage, Insanitorium and Helluminati (an 18+ experience).
We opted to visit Helluminati first, and only having a throughput of two guests per three minutes, we’re glad we did. We only had to wait for two groups before heading in ourselves, but within half an hour, the queue had already exceeded an hour! At the entrance, we were given our safe word, and entered the experience. What promised to be an intense journey to join the Helluminati saw us visit four rooms with highup members of this secret society, setting us tasks to become one with them…
We won’t give you any spoilers, but what we will say is that the scenes differ, from interacting with live performers in uncomfortable ways, through to completing mini tasks. On paper, this should have been the strongest of the experiences, the scariest and most-intense. Sadly, we felt it was our least favourite. It felt like it was between an ‘extreme’ experience, and immersive theatre, but didn’t really succeed at being either of them. We love the idea of this event, in it’s first year, trying something new and quirky - something you wouldn’t have seen before, but feel that the experience should have relied more on cult tropes and ritualistic interactions over the pseudo-sexual elements. Also - the park could have done with one more full experience, and the storyline with the hoods and masks could easily have been utilised for a dark/rope maze with a higher capacity
Onwards to the next attraction and we chose to cross over the courtyard to The Orphanage. The Orphanage is set around The Blessed Sisters of Mercy, a Satanic religious cult that have questionable beliefs. From the get-go, this attraction utilises the hauntingly beautiful venue to it’s absolute advantage. As you walked through the stunning setting, a horde of demonic nuns and demons crept out of the shadows and terrified us. The cast were brilliant - working their spaces to their potential. We loved how haunting this attraction was - it felt like a ghost story brought to life in front of our very own eyes. The finale is a ‘show’ set within one of the darkest parts of the entire building, if you know the history of the spaces - you’ll appreciate why the team have ended the experience by the very real ‘naughty cupboards’ that featured as part of the real orphanage. Following the attraction you exit at the highest point, overlooking the entire site as you navigate your way down the fire escape to the floor - the views are truly breathtaking.
Our only slight critique with this storyline was the slightly confusing narrative at the beginning of the attraction - the story is offered about it being turned into a guest house, and you’re staying there, but after you enter, the story goes out of the window. We feel a more simple narrative set around just The Sisters of Mercy would have hit better.
Following The Orphanage, the team mustered up the courage to visit the final attraction of the evening - Insanitorium. On the other side of the building, a winding stair case took us up to the first floor, where we waited to enter the building. We cannot express how atmospheric the building is, lit up in it’s blue and green hues which really sets the tone of what’s to come. Upon entering, we’re greeted by a matron, who was by FAR, the best performer of the night. She was truly excellent. The story is that we’re visiting the ‘Goodwell Institute’ where they’re testing out a new treatment known as ‘The Invasia Procedure’, which tries to find out once and for all what happens after death? The scene was plunged into darkness and we had to feel our way around a dark room as we were attacked by several patients and nurses. Being in complete darkness in the first scene was a brilliant way to truly throw your audience in at the deep end - we wish this would have carried on a little longer as it was really impactful.
Throughout the attraction the nurses and patients stalked, taunted and terrified the audience through theatrical scenes and jump scares. It’s brilliant to see the use of real equipment and theming that has been discarded within the building being used throughout this attraction - especially the real electro-shock machine we saw! All in all, it was a fun, chaotic and fast-paced attraction that had us screaming and laughing in equal measures. The cast throughout were energetic and went out of their way to invade our personal spaces and entertain the whole audience.
Overall, this event was incredibly entertaining and scary. We had a great time. After speaking with their team, it was brilliant to hear the plans for the future with the expansion of new attractions, so we’re very excited for what’s to come. We would love to see more attractions in line with The Orphanage and less down the route of Helluminati, but know that their team are willing to take on new ways of working in the future. We’d like to thank Newsham Scream park for inviting us down to check it out.
Newsham Scream Park is a brand new event for 2023, produced by Asylum Entertainment, and creatively directed by the AtmosFEAR! Team, we were set to explore the mammoth building and be terrorised by the scare actors within. It’s safe to say we were incredibly excited, but did the event live up to our hype?
Upon entering through the gateway, a vast courtyard spread out in front of us. An impressive food and beverage offering encases seating and a huge screen and stage. The atmosphere was electric! After an introduction speech from the events creative lead, Jason Karl of AtmosFEAR!, we had the opportunity to visit three attractions: The Orphanage, Insanitorium and Helluminati (an 18+ experience).
We opted to visit Helluminati first, and only having a throughput of two guests per three minutes, we’re glad we did. We only had to wait for two groups before heading in ourselves, but within half an hour, the queue had already exceeded an hour! At the entrance, we were given our safe word, and entered the experience. What promised to be an intense journey to join the Helluminati saw us visit four rooms with highup members of this secret society, setting us tasks to become one with them…
We won’t give you any spoilers, but what we will say is that the scenes differ, from interacting with live performers in uncomfortable ways, through to completing mini tasks. On paper, this should have been the strongest of the experiences, the scariest and most-intense. Sadly, we felt it was our least favourite. It felt like it was between an ‘extreme’ experience, and immersive theatre, but didn’t really succeed at being either of them. We love the idea of this event, in it’s first year, trying something new and quirky - something you wouldn’t have seen before, but feel that the experience should have relied more on cult tropes and ritualistic interactions over the pseudo-sexual elements. Also - the park could have done with one more full experience, and the storyline with the hoods and masks could easily have been utilised for a dark/rope maze with a higher capacity
Onwards to the next attraction and we chose to cross over the courtyard to The Orphanage. The Orphanage is set around The Blessed Sisters of Mercy, a Satanic religious cult that have questionable beliefs. From the get-go, this attraction utilises the hauntingly beautiful venue to it’s absolute advantage. As you walked through the stunning setting, a horde of demonic nuns and demons crept out of the shadows and terrified us. The cast were brilliant - working their spaces to their potential. We loved how haunting this attraction was - it felt like a ghost story brought to life in front of our very own eyes. The finale is a ‘show’ set within one of the darkest parts of the entire building, if you know the history of the spaces - you’ll appreciate why the team have ended the experience by the very real ‘naughty cupboards’ that featured as part of the real orphanage. Following the attraction you exit at the highest point, overlooking the entire site as you navigate your way down the fire escape to the floor - the views are truly breathtaking.
Our only slight critique with this storyline was the slightly confusing narrative at the beginning of the attraction - the story is offered about it being turned into a guest house, and you’re staying there, but after you enter, the story goes out of the window. We feel a more simple narrative set around just The Sisters of Mercy would have hit better.
Following The Orphanage, the team mustered up the courage to visit the final attraction of the evening - Insanitorium. On the other side of the building, a winding stair case took us up to the first floor, where we waited to enter the building. We cannot express how atmospheric the building is, lit up in it’s blue and green hues which really sets the tone of what’s to come. Upon entering, we’re greeted by a matron, who was by FAR, the best performer of the night. She was truly excellent. The story is that we’re visiting the ‘Goodwell Institute’ where they’re testing out a new treatment known as ‘The Invasia Procedure’, which tries to find out once and for all what happens after death? The scene was plunged into darkness and we had to feel our way around a dark room as we were attacked by several patients and nurses. Being in complete darkness in the first scene was a brilliant way to truly throw your audience in at the deep end - we wish this would have carried on a little longer as it was really impactful.
Throughout the attraction the nurses and patients stalked, taunted and terrified the audience through theatrical scenes and jump scares. It’s brilliant to see the use of real equipment and theming that has been discarded within the building being used throughout this attraction - especially the real electro-shock machine we saw! All in all, it was a fun, chaotic and fast-paced attraction that had us screaming and laughing in equal measures. The cast throughout were energetic and went out of their way to invade our personal spaces and entertain the whole audience.
Overall, this event was incredibly entertaining and scary. We had a great time. After speaking with their team, it was brilliant to hear the plans for the future with the expansion of new attractions, so we’re very excited for what’s to come. We would love to see more attractions in line with The Orphanage and less down the route of Helluminati, but know that their team are willing to take on new ways of working in the future. We’d like to thank Newsham Scream park for inviting us down to check it out.
Very scary. This was absolutely brilliant. I got my tickets bought for me for my birthday (31/10). Me and my 14 year old son attended and he was scared alot which he loved, and you actually got a scream out of me. It really was fab. Please come back next year.
On another note, the medic Louis was so lovely as where the other staff.Thank you for an unforgettable time
On another note, the medic Louis was so lovely as where the other staff.Thank you for an unforgettable time
Bit boring not much thought gone in to it.the sets are good but needs way more interaction if your at the front of the que u get the jump scares but all the people behind know what's coming as u see the people in front jump the best part is the darkness as adds a little fear but mazes are not long enough for how fast they end and considering only 2 mazes and have pay extra for helluminati definitely not worth the travel or the cost and food is terrible would not recommend visiting we attend a scaremaze every year and this is the worst one
Links:
Newsham Scream Park website
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