Ghost Tour and Lock-in, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - review

As participants on Saturday's late-night tour and lock-in at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham we were the very first to experience the auditorium in the small hours.

Guests had until 3am to explore the historic building after their group tour - if they were brave enough.

More than five ghosts are said to haunt the theatre, including former manager Leon Salberg, who was found dead in his office in 1937.

Other spirits include the former master of the wardrobe department, a man in a top hat (never a bowler or a beret is it?), a former stage manger who can be heard jangling keys. And a Grey Lady - there's always a Grey Lady, right?

Knocking and tapping noises are often heard, as well as doors mysteriously opening and closing.

I've always kept an open mind on paranormal activity (my strait-laced older brother 'sees dead people') and was secretly hoping to witness something too. Anything for the sake of sibling rivalry.

As we set off at 10.30pm into the depths of the darkened building my heart was pounding a little bit, courtesy of narrow, dim corridors, shadows and the faint sound of Vaudeville music in the smoke-filled auditorium.

The combination whipped up an atmosphere of apprehension, even before our tour officially began in the blacked out Ambassador Lounge.

As the lights were switched off I was starting to wonder what I had got us into. Our softly spoken guide began by telling us how a series of tragedies in the early years are said to be linked to some ghostly sightings within the walls of the building.

The first was in February 1902, a year after the theatre opened, when actress Gracie Housley tragically died on stage mid-song.

Then in 1910 theatre owner Lester Collingwood was killed in one of the first recorded road traffic accidents. He is said to still walk the corridors backstage, where we were guided by torchlight, up and down stairs and into various rooms to be regaled with tales of mysterious sounds and sightings by staff, performers and members of the public. A mute Marilyn Manson look-alike lurched around at the back of the group to usher us along.

As our group made our way down into the deepest depths of the theatre Mark and I heard a few odd things - locks clicking and floorboards creaking behind bolted doors - but we were unsure whether these were tricks of the mind, or theatre staff playing a few tricks of their own.

In one room under the stage I felt ice cold and a little uncomfortable. I was convinced a hand would reach out from the darkness and tap me on my shoulder. Back upstairs, standing on the stage looking out into the darkened auditorium I held my breath waiting for something to happen. But alas, it wasn't to be.

The tour ended back at the Piano Bar where we enjoyed a Halloween cocktail or two and tarot card readings. Classic horror films were showing on a big screen and guests milled about waiting to be let loose. We also checked our camera phone pictures for 'orbs' or anything strange.

After the final tour returned to the bar we were invited to wander around the building on our own. Some guests chose to join author and paranormal expert Marq English in the main auditorium where they formed a circle on the stage and attempted to 'contact the spirits'. Marq called out, asking them to 'make themselves known' assuring them that we were friendly and meant no harm.

It soon became apparent that we weren't going to be able to make a serious stab at seeing if anyone otherworldly was with us - too many people milling around, shutting doors, giggling and disturbing the ambience.

With this in mind my boyfriend and I took ourselves off behind the scenes to the back of house, which contains a warren of supporting spaces.

This was particularly eerie. We're sure we heard a few locks click again and the odd door shut on its own, so my nerves were a little shredded by the time we reached the original entrance on John Bright Street.

It now serves as a refreshment area, and it was here that I received my one and only real shock of the night - when a concierge I hadn't spotted slammed down a wooden counter in the corner of the room prompting a sharp intake of breath and a small cry from myself and a howl of laughter from the member of staff and snigger from my boyfriend.

No ghosts but as Halloween entertainment goes, things have come a long way from fairground ghost trains with plastic skeletons and vampires.

By Rachael Harrison