Retail Birmingham

STUDENT GHOSTS TO WALK AT THE GREAT WESTERN ARCADE

October 31, 2009
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Students from the drama department at Birmingham’s Cockshut Hill Technology College are preparing for a Halloween to remember this year with a series of Ghost Walks at one of the city’s most historical shopping destinations, the Great Western Arcade.

Specially conceived for the arcade and based on its 134 year history, 10 lost souls created and played by the students will be randomly ‘appearing’ on Saturday 31 October from 12noon until 4pm to tell shoppers and visitors their tales of woe and despair.

Gay Faulkner, centre manager for the Great Western Arcade, said:  “We wanted to celebrate Halloween by reflecting on the history of this area of the city and the students have based their ghost characters on the kind of people who would have lived and worked in and around the arcade and the railway all those years ago, specifically during the late Victorian era and World War II when the arcade was bombed.

“We’re always keen to work with local young people and we’re all very excited about the first Great Western Arcade Ghost Walk event.  We hope people will come along to support the students with their performances and enjoy meeting our ghosts – and you never know, as its Halloween we might even be joined by some real ones.”

David Harper, head of drama for Cockshut Hill Technology College, said:  “As well as being a great drama project for our students and meeting many of the requirements and vocational aspects of the syllabus, it has also given them the chance to learn more about the history of Birmingham’s city centre.  We researched the area and the kind of people who would have lived and worked here to give us inspiration for the characters.

“All the ghosts and scripted monologues have been created by the group who are all really looking forward to bringing it all to life on Saturday 31^st October and helping shoppers and visitors to the arcade really get into the true spirit of Halloween.”

The students are all undertaking the BTEC Diploma in Performing Arts course at Cockshut Hill Technology College.  Some of the ghost characters being portrayed include a young couple from Victorian times killed by a horse drawn carriage on their way to obtain their parents’ blessing for their wedding, a boy evacuee still searching for his parents at the station and a penniless girl who died from the cold.

Visitors will be trick or treated to free goodies from Greggs, spooky sweets from Mr Simms Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe and if the atmosphere gets too much for some, they can always take cover in Helen Hulston, the independent jewellers and enjoy a 10 per cent discount in celebration of Halloween.

The Great Western Arcade specialises in providing an independent and unusual retail offer for Birmingham shoppers.  Originally built in 1875, it is located in Birmingham City Centre between Snow Hill Railway Station and the Bullring shopping centre.  For more information on the arcade and its retailers visit www.greatwesternarcade.co.uk