Author: Clap Trap Theatre

It was lovely to be back at Thirsk Hall, where the whole let’s do a Halloween ghost story started — early in 2023 they asked if we could put one on and we said yes without really thinking about it. Cue, panic…out of which The Room Upstairs was born — inspired by stories of hauntings…

We did two nights at Burton Constable — another haunted house! Each time we go, they take the audience round the house, telling stories of all the strange and inexplicable goings on. In the past, we have found the acoustic a little echo-y, but we took a stage with us this time and it greatly…

Birdsall House is absolutely stunning; full of surprises, delights and ghosts! Several of whom have reportedly roamed the corridors for generations — some friendly, some less so. The house is owned and run by an extremely warm, enterprising and dynamic family. This was our third production there and it was a joy to perform in…

This is a belated catch up on the Blindfold tour so far. We opened at the wonderful Helmsley Arts Centre. It really is a very special place, and I was lucky enough to be involved in its creation many moons ago. The acoustics and sightlines are perfect, and the stage has such a homely feel.…

Boy, a tough run-up to opening in York to a four show sell out. Cal was hit by food poisoning and so the rehearsal period was decimated. How Cal and the cast made it to opening night was a minor miracle, but they have been incredible. It is so complicated having to learn each other’s…

Just back from seeing the wonderful family show Mr Toad at the Greenwich Theatre, featuring Florrie Stockbridge. What a brilliant and colourful retelling of the classic Kenneth Grahame story by Wise Owl Theatre. Don’t miss the fabulous Vin Weasel and all the others!

We had an extremely helpful meeting with Juliet Forster, the Creative Director of the York Theatre Royal, about our next show The Big Switcheroo. We did a very small, script-in-hand tour of this piece last year under the title of Say Again? Now, under the umbrella of the YTR, we’re going to start in its…

Workshop for Say Again? We gave this play an outing last year. It has a unique premise and we wanted to see how it fared in front of live audiences. It worked way beyond our expectations, but we still felt there was more to be found. I gave the script another lick and a spit,…

Delighted to be putting this on at The Swallow Theatre – Scotland’s smallest theatre. What it may lack in size is more than made up for by the extra-large welcome from its audience and its owners. Where possible, for atmosphere, we tailor the setting of the story to each venue. So this one would be…”a…

Was recently in Northern Ireland visiting the ruins of Mourne Park where my grandfather grew up. It’s still a beautiful and haunting place despite the sad state of the house itself due to a fire in 2013. And thinking of haunting, my cousin suggested bringing the show over. She has put us in touch with…