It's going to get creepy at the Newmarket Public Library next week.
The library and Shadowpath Theatre are inviting adults to a haunted library event Oct. 28, when performers will present scary local ghost stories and scenes from classic horror tales, like The Shining, Poltergeist and the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
Shadowpath Theatre producer Maissa Bessada said libraries can be pretty scary in general.
“The library is full of stories,” she said. “There’s so many spooky stories in there. If you’re going to bring a spooky story to life, the best way to do it is in a library.”
The one-hour event, which is returning after several years of hiatus during pandemic lockdowns, will have patrons exploring the library's three floors on a horrifying walking tour.
“We wanted to go with classic spooky stories,” Bessada said. “We researched a lot of different stories, and then we settled on the ones we thought were the most spooky and regionally appropriate.”
The experience will seek to create immersion using sounds, lighting and performers, Bessada said. Groups will be split up to go through everything they will offer in the space.
“We’re setting up the scene for scaring,” she said. “We’re not going to hurt anybody, but it’s very, very immersive … Sort of like a campfire scare in the library.”
The show has two time slots, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Space is limited and you can sign up through Eventbrite. Organizers ask those attending to arrive 10 minutes in advance.
“It’s going to be so much fun, and it’s different. You couldn’t usually get so up close and personal with the storytellers and their stories,” Bessada said. “It’s fun to be back out with your family and your friends and experience live theatre again.”
