Unlocking the Secrets of Carmichael Manor: An Immersive Journey into the Past

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

Maitland, in the heart of the Hunter Region, is set to host its next immersive theatre experience this November. Get ready for a ghostly journey into the unknown as “The Secrets of Carmichael Manor” unveils its mysterious tale within the historic walls of Grossman House. 🏰🌟

This haunting and secretive immersive theatre show will run for four nights, from November 25th to December 10th. With limited seats available, securing your tickets promptly is essential to ensure you don’t miss this charming experience. 🎟️🔒

A Journey Through Time and the Supernatural ⏳👻

They say there’s no such thing as time travel or ghosts, but who are “they,” anyway? In “The Secrets of Carmichael Manor,” a well-intentioned attempt to bring solace to the tormented souls inhabiting Carmichael Manor takes an unexpected turn. An eccentric priest and his companions find themselves transported back in time to the fateful day of October 31, 1919 – the day of Elspeth Carmichael’s impending wedding to her beloved Henry Strallen. Or is it? 🚪✨

A Web of Intrigue and Mystery 🧩🕵️‍♂️

As you step into the world of 1919 with Father Patrick, you’ll find yourself immersed in a web of murder, mystery, and secrets lurking within Carmichael Manor’s walls. Your task? To aid Father Patrick in deciphering the clues that hide the truth behind this mystifying manor. What happened to those who once dwelled here? Can you uncover the secrets before the sands of time run out, or will you remain trapped in the past forever? 🌄🔍⏳

An Adventure Awaits at Grossman House 🏡🌟

Prepare for a memorable journey into the unknown as you enter the past at Grossman House in Maitland. The historical setting provides the perfect backdrop for this experience, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, and secrets long buried come to light. 🌌🌠

Don’t miss your chance to unlock the mysteries of Carmichael Manor. Secure your tickets now for “The Secrets of Carmichael Manor” and be a part of this unique adventure. Remember, with only a few performances and limited seats available, you must act quickly to ensure your place in this mesmerizing journey through time and the paranormal.

Get ready to uncover The Secrets of Carmichael Manor – an adventure awaits! 🎭🌟🎫

A Step Back in Time – The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

When Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage…” he could not have more accurately described a Dark Stories interactive theatre experience. The Secrets of Carmichael Manor does not occur on a singular stage, where the audience sits still, watching a play. As with their previous theatre performances, Dark Stories unfolds in the real world and, in this case, inside several rooms inside the historic Experiment Farm Cottage in Harris Farm, Sydney. The audience moves from room to room alongside the characters.

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor was written and directed by award-winning actress Kate Jirelle, who takes on one of the lead roles as the bride-to-be Elspeth Carmichael in the play. Kate brought depth to her headstrong character.

Gary Leonard Belshaw, who played the role of Elspeth’s domineering father, George Carmichael, was a standout in the show. In contrast to brutish George was his gentle wife, Mrs Ada Carmichael, played by Erica Nelson. In some scenes, these three characters argue over family issues and the audience is made uncomfortable, as though we were intruding on a family squabble. However, witnessing this in the same room was a testament to their believable acting.

Set in 1919 and led by Father Patrick, played by Ben Durham, the audience is initially briefed on the mystery to be investigated outside the bungalow, built in 1835 and thought to be one of Australia’s oldest standing properties. I loved having the opportunity to enter this cottage in the evening. It was the perfect setting for the time period.

Entering the cottage, the Australian colonial furniture and beautifully polished wood floors transported us back in time to just after World War 1. Combined with the scent of wood and the steady ticking of the grandfather clock, one of the rooms created a 4D experience for the performance. Though at first, we were observers, this transitioned into us being integrated into the story.

The cast is joined by the Carmichaels’ servant, Mr Peter Schmidt, played by Matthew McDonald-Kearns. The costumes and hairstyling added to the authenticity of the 1900’s, and Mr Schmidt’s costume was one that particularly stood out to me with the authentic colour shade of his shirt and braces.

Father Patrick is our host and guides the audience through the house, propelling the story forward in a Miss Marple type style. There appeared to be a definite nod to Agatha Christie in this script, and at one point, a character asks who that is. (She had not yet released her first novel, which was due to come out in 1920.)

Amongst the seriousness of unfolding events, Father Patrick brings a comedic levity to the experience.

One unique aspect of the Dark Stories theatre is that it is immersive and unlike any other play currently showing. The characters interact directly with the audience, and we become part of the performance by helping to solve a puzzle or participating directly by asking questions or commenting. All of the cast were able to incorporate audience participant comments and adapt their character to respond with interjections and responses.

I imagine that no two performances of The Secret of Carmichael Manor are the same! I can’t give away anything about the plot because of spoilers, but it was an entertaining experience. It was fun to be a part of the play. Step back in time to help solve this mystery and unravel The Secrets of Carmichael Manor.

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor is showing at Experiment Farm, 9 Ruse St Harris Park.

Performances: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Friday, 13 October 2023 – Sunday, 22 October 2023.

Show times: 5.30pm, 7pm and 8.30pm.

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Meet The Actor – The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

The Secrets of Carmichael Manor is coming to Sydney on the 13th of October, and here we take the time to chat with the Actor, Director and Author of the show Kate Jirelle in our Meet The Actor Series.

Let’s turn our spotlights onto Kate and delve deeper into her and The Secrets of Carmichael Manor production.

Meet the Actor

About Kate

What do you enjoy most about acting?

What I most enjoy about acting is the ability it gives you to explore yourself and the world around you. Whenever I take on a new character, I learn so much about myself and what I’m capable of, but it also makes me consider other perspectives and other walks of life that I’ve never considered before.

Do you believe talent or training is more important to an actor?

I firmly believe it takes both, but I don’t think you need to get an acting degree necessarily. I never had the opportunity to attend a traditional drama school, but I have gained so much by training at places like Sydney Acting Studio, which offers regular and ongoing training with incredible teachers who always support, encourage, and challenge me to do my best. Whether you go to a traditional drama school or not, it’s essential to continuously work on your craft as an actor with people who inspire you and constantly push you to do your best work.

Which acting technique do you think is the best for you?

The foundation of my training has been the Meisner Technique, which is definitely the technique I would say is my foundation. However, as an actor, I’m constantly learning and always looking for new tools to add to the toolbox.

What do you believe is the most challenging aspect of being an actor?

To be an actor, you need to have a thick skin. When you become an actor, you hear “No” a lot more times than “Yes”, and it can be easy to let that get to you. However, I find that if you surround yourself with the right people who understand you, inspire you and can lift you up in the low times, it makes the more challenging times easier to navigate.

What is your favourite film or theatre production?

This changes for me almost daily, but I’m always a sucker for stories that can have me laughing one minute and crying the next. In terms of movies, Jo Jo Rabbit is definitely up there in the favourites list. In the category of plays, The Things I Know To Be True by Andrew Bovell is also a firm favourite. Regarding TV, I’ve recently hopped onto the Ted Lasso bandwagon and am very much enjoying the ride. 

About The Secrets of Carmichael Manor

How did the writing of this show come about?

Having acted in several Dark Stories productions before, I couldn’t help but jump at the chance when I was asked to write one. All Dark Stories shows have a great tone that often mixes history, mystery and humour, which is an absolute ball to write. I also couldn’t resist the opportunity to write for such a great venue as Experiment Farm Cottage. You can’t help but be inspired when it comes to such a beautiful historical building.

What sort of person is going to love this show?

I like to describe this show as Doctor Who meets Knives Out. So, if you like either one of those, I think you’ll love The Secrets of Carmichael Manor.

Who should not come see this show?

People who aren’t prepared to be dragged into the action. No, really – this show is very interactive, and the audience very much becomes part of the show. But, if being involved in the story is your cup of tea, you will enjoy this show.

Who in the show is most like their character?

I must say it’s Ben Durham playing the role of Father Patrick. The instant he walked into the audition, we knew we’d found our Father Pat – and that was even before he started delivering the scene.

Who’s the least?

Definitely, Gary Leonard Belshaw, who plays the role of George Carmichael. I’ve known Gary for a while now, and he is genuinely one of the most kind-hearted and generous performers I’ve met. In comparison, George is a very boorish and ill-tempered character, and it always amazes me how well Gary manages to slip into that energy when it is the very opposite of who he is. Talk about great acting!

Kate Jirelle can be seen in The Secrets of Carmichael Manor, which only runs for two weekends, from the 13th to the 15th of October and the 20th to 22nd of October, in the historic space of Experiment Farm Cottage, in Parramatta.

Meet The Actor – Confessions of a Serial Killer

Confessions of a Serial Killer

Confessions of a Serial Killer is coming to Brisbane on the 6th of October, and here we take the time to chat with Actor/Director Garth Remington in our Meet The Actor Series.

So let’s put the spotlight on Garth and learn more about him and the Confessions of a Serial Killer Production.

Meet The Actor - Garth Remington

About Garth

Why do you want to be an actor?

I love performing in live shows, seeing the audience’s instant reactions or viewing the finished product after filming projects.

What do you enjoy most about acting?

Seeing all the little ways you can help improve a project. It’s incredibly gratifying when you find a way to add something that takes the whole production to another level.

What productions have you acted in before?

I’ve been involved in Dark Stories since its first show in Brisbane, including The Haunting, Female of the Species, and To Hunt a Killer. I am also a standup comedian, improviser, sketch writer/performer, voice-over, and I’ve had a few film and commercial roles.

Do you want to work in film, live theatre or both?

I have been involved in both, and each has pros and cons. With film, you get to create complicated and perfected work, but in live theatre, you make something new every night, tailored to the audience’s needs on any given night.

How do you maintain your physical and emotional health while working on demanding projects?

You must include a decompression after a show run. Celebrate your achievements and take a stress break before taking on the next project.

Are there any particular genres or types of roles that you prefer or feel most comfortable in?

I’ve enjoyed all kinds of roles including thriller, dramatic and even romantic but my favourite is comedy hands down.

Have you ever had to improvise during a performance? If so, can you share an example?

All the time. Anything can happen in immersive theatre, and you have to be flexible. I’ve had a co-star forget their lines on stage, so I dived on the grenade (so to speak) and improvised as my character to give them and the rest of the cast a chance to regroup. It’s a good feeling to know you have everyone’s back.

Are you comfortable with performing stunts or action scenes? If so, what kind of training have you had?

I am; I’ve done a lot of martial arts and feel comfortable with breakfalls and fight choreography.

About Confessions of a Serial Killer

What sort of person is going to love this show?

Any fans of crime thrillers, murder mysteries or spooky things in general.

Why did you want to be involved in this production?

Immersive theatre is a unique format that can’t be experienced anywhere else. Every single session is different as the audience will get involved under actor direction. As an actor you never know what to expect.

Who should not come see this show?

People who are not up for a scare. 

What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?

After the show, I’d expect the audience to go home with lots of food for thought. I’m sure they will question their own morals and consider the nature of good and evil.

How is this production bringing something new to this story?

We have thought through the relationships between characters and found some fun. There will be a few laughs between the thrills.

What’s going to surprise people about this show?

The audience interactions: this show is not on a stage; we will be amongst the crowd, and unexpected things will happen.

Is there something else you’d really like to say?

Every Dark Stories production is unlike anything you will ever experience. There are so many reasons people will like this show, but you will never find another show like this.

Garth can be seen in Confessions of a Serial Killer, which only runs for three nights, from the 6th to the 8th of October, in the secluded sections of creepy Minnippi Parklands.