So I’ve really enjoyed sharing some of our interests here on WordPress. Thanks to all of you for supporting us here and taking an interest in the posts on our site. However, due to a recent facelift to our parent site alterego-fancydress, we now have a blogsite embedded onto it. As such we will be making all further blogs here.
For those of you who have followed our blog then please please please join us on our new page here.
See you all on the other side!
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
So the first teaser trailer for the new Star Wars film has finally dropped, signalling the beginning of what will become the third trilogy in this long-running (and well loved) saga. Now the trailer has divided opinion among some online, but I LOVED it – and can’t wait for the film to come out…I’ll be first in line at our local cinema on opening night!!
If you haven’t yet seen it, check out Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakenshere:
Just seeing the Millennium Falcon shooting across the screen being chased by Tie Fighters made me nostalgic for the originals and, to a far far lesser extent, the prequels. On top of that it’s pretty obvious that costume parties and conventions are going to become Star Wars crazy again for the next 10 or so years!!
Because of this, just to wet the appetite a little more, I think it’s worth us…no, necessary for us to re-live some of the best moments from a Galaxy far, far away…
10. The Darth Maul Lightsaber Battle
Now don’t worry, this is one of only two prequel moments on this list. There was no way I was going to leave this out though. This scene has it all: Two Jedi and a Sith fighting, a double-ended lightsaber, a kick-ass death sequence and no Jar Jar Binks in sight!
9. The Cantina Scene
We first meet Han Solo and Chewbacca in this bar – so it’s place is well deserved on this list. We hear the most catchy tune in the entire saga here and meet a band of thugs and outlaws that take an instant dislike to Luke and Obi-wan. Who can forget the Han/Greedo stand-off? We all know who shot first, right?
8. The Final Battle on Mustafar
This was the moment we had waited 30 or so years to see…how did Vader become Vader? Anakin and Obi-Wan go head-to-head on the fiery, volcanic mining planet in the culmination of the prequel trilogy. It’s an emotionally charged fight, Anakin fighting to both prove a point to his former master and to continue exterminating the Jedi from the galaxy. Obi-wan is desperately trying to bring Anakin to his senses, to convince him that he is on the wrong path….neither really achieve what they wanted unfortunately.
7. Master V Apprentice round 2
Episode IV saw very little in the way of lightsaber duels up until this point where Obi-wan and Darth Vader come face to face for the first time since Mustafar. The fight has far less flair than the battle before, but more than makes up for that with poignant speeches and foreshadowing.
6. Lifting the X Wing
Luke has searched out Yoda in order to complete his training to become a Jedi master. His journey leads him to the Dagobah system and unfortunately lands him in a bog where his ship swiftly sinks. During his training with the diminutive Jedi Luke learns to face his inner demons and control the force but perhaps the coolest moment comes towards the end of his time here. In order to leave the planet and come to his friends rescue Luke must get his ship back. He is promptly shown just how powerful the force can be…
5. Vader’s first appearance
When the rebel ship is infiltrated by stormtroopers and mayhem ensues a dark, mysterious figure emerges through the air lock. On top of that we hear this incredibly dark and forboding music that has become synonymous with the franchise. I know that I was immediately amazed by both the look, and sound of Darth Vader.
4. The Battle of Hoth
Here we see the first real battle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. A rebel outpost on the ice planet of Hoth has been discovered and the Empire attacks using one of the most iconic vehicles of the franchise; the AT-ATs. These seemingly unstoppable forces are eventually taken down thanks to some ingenuity from the Rebel pilots – using rope to tie together the AT-ATs legs.
3. I Love You…I Know
One of the saddest and emotionally-charged moments of the franchise. Han is captured and encased in Carbonite to be delivered to Jabba the Hut. Luke and Leia are held captive and all hope seems lost as Darth Vader has the upper hand. In a touching moment between Leia and Han seconds before he is encased, Leia finally expresses her love for Han, to which he reciprocates fantastically wiith an improvised line from Harrison Ford that will live long in movie fan’s memories.
2. Blowing up the Death Star
How cool was this scene? It was just awesome! X Wings being chased by Tie Fighters whilst a massive battle goes on overhead. Luke flys through tight gaps around the edge of the death star as he is chased by Vader. He’s got to hit that tiny target with those photon torpedo’s in one move…can he hold his nerve??? Spoiler: Yes, yes he can!
1. I am your Father
“No, that’s not true…that’s impossible!!!” Luke wasn’t the only one shouting that line when they first heard the revelation at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. How can this monstrous villain be Luke’s father?? And after he’s just chopped his hand off as well? This scene has become so popuar it is regularly referenced and parodied – almost to the point where you can’t watch the original and not find it a bit funny…or at least recite the words along with James Earl Jones.
So there you have it….how did we do? What did we miss? How excited are you for the new movie? Tell us in the comments below.
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
2015 is looking to be a big year for Elvis fans! January 8th 2015 would have been his 80th birthday and there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate this fact in the UK this year. I am going to highlight 5 big events that are taking place over the next 6 months for Elvis fans across the country. Most of these are annual events but will take on extra significance this year because of the King’s upcoming birthday.
We at Alterego Fancydress have a lot of love for Elvis Presley and his fans – always making sure that we have a variety of costumes available. We are the only fancy dress retailer in the UK selling a plus size Elvis costume. So this is a reminder to those of you who might be attending one of these events – make sure you’re kitted out appropriately (or you might end up being the only rhinestone-free fan around!!)
European Elvis Championships, 2nd – 4th January 2015, Hilton Birmingham Metropole
This event is held annually on a weekend around the time of Elvis’ birthday. The weekend itself is recognised as the No. 1 European Elvis Tribute Artist Convention. Tribute acts travel from around the world to compete to become ‘European Champion’.
There is plenty here for both die-hard and casual fans alike: Live bands, Elvis showcases, rock n roll, Elvis Merchandise, Elvis Disco, Elvis Video, Elvis Gospel Contest, Elvis Novice Contest and of course the main event The European Elvis Championships.
Elvis Easter Spectacular, 4th & 5th April 2015, Hilton Birmingham Metropole
Another event now from the same company at the same location. However his time instead of the focus being around a competition the event will instead showcase some of the best Elvis performers from the UK and USA. The organisers promise 100% Elvis day & night, along with the Best Bank Holiday Elvis Event of the year…no pressure there!!
Elvis Party Cruise 13th – 18th April, Harwich to Aarhus, Denmark
Celebrate Elvis’s 80th birthday year on the Elvis Party Cruise, featuring award-winning Elvis tributes Ben Portsmouth and Ben Thompson as well as Elvis discos, film shows and a great Elvis party at sea! Plus there’s an optional visit to Graceland Randers where you will see some amazing original Elvis related artefacts and there’s an American Diner for that authentic lunch.
There is an optional excursion available during the cruise to Graceland Randers, Denmark. It is inspired by Elvis Presley’s Graceland home in Memphis and is the ultimate tribute to the King. Graceland Randers sees itself as helping to nurture the Elvis legacy, his life, music and memory. As well as the Elvis Museum and Elvis Shop, there’s also Highway 51 (an American Diner), Ballroom, and Mini Movie Theatre. The collection of original artefacts from Elvis’ life is truly amazing and worth a visit. These include all the Sun records, the trousers that Elvis wore during the I Want You, I Need You, I Love You recording session, a jacket that Elvis wore in 1959, one of Elvis’ guitars from 1975, shoes, documents, letters, concert belt and so much more.
Europe’s Tribute to Elvis 3rd – 5th July, Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Visit this for an amazing festival honoring the life, music and fans of Elvis Presley. The third annual Europe’s Tribute to Elvis Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest preliminary will be held here. The event will be hosted by Tees Events Ltd and will feature the Ultimate Elvis preliminary contest, the winner of which will represent Europe’s Tribute to Elvis in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest finals in Memphis in 2015.
The festival will also feature Elvis themed shows, including some of the world’s best Elvis tribute artists on stage in the The Empress Ballroom. Plus there are special guests, merchandise stalls, after-show private parties, raffles and much more.
Porthcawl Elvis Festival 25th – 27th September, Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales
Claiming to be one of Europe’s biggest gathering of Elvis artistes and their fans, this event offers three days of fun and music all over the normally sleepy seaside town of Porthcawl, roughly halfway between Cardiff and Swansea, near to Bridgend.
The feature events are the Official Shows taking place in the Grand Pavilion. These include The Elvies the World’s premier event for Elvis Tribute Artists. In addition, The Hi Tide host over 100 shows over the weekend, many with free admission. Additionally over 20 venues in and around the town form the fringe festival.
The O2 Arena, London is hosting an exhibition honouring the life and legacy of The King entitled ‘Elvis at the O2’ alongside these events and birthday celebrations. Britain will get personal insight into the life of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, through the largest Elvis retrospective ever mounted in Europe.
The nine month exhibition will showcase over 300 artefacts direct from the Presley family’s treasured Graceland Archives, some of which have never been exhibited outside of Graceland in Memphis. It runs from 12th December 2014 to 31st August 2015 and is a must-visit!!
So there you have it – plenty of Presley going on in 2015!
Oh, and if you were considering dressing up for them then check out our exclusive plus-size Elvis costume in action here when it was used in Emmerdale last year:
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
Whenever you might be stuck for ideas as to what costume to wear for your fancy dress bash, the movies are always a great place to start! In fact there are number of films that have become synonymous with homemade and store-bought costumes and are now a staple at most fancy dress parties you will attend.
Today I am going to highlight those films that have spawned a thousand poorly-made costumes!
For this list I am going to rule out Star Wars and Star Trek, along with superhero costumes because…well, because its just far too easy. There are international conventions for these films & TV shows and they are so abundant it really doesn’t take any imagination to go to a do as one of their characters. I am also steering clear of Halloween mainstays such as Frankenstein and Dracula for the same reason.
So lets begin!
8. The Harry Potter Franchise
Ever since 2001 and JK Rowling’s incredible series of books was brought to life on the big screen the world has been hooked on Hary, Ron & Hermoine and their many adventures at Hogwarts. Likewise, ever since 2001 its been difficult to go to to any fancy dress party without seeing someone wearing a cloak and wielding a small wooden stick about with a scar on their head.
7. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
“Groovy baby!” Seeing someone at a party dressed in a plush sixties suit with fake teeth and medallions around their neck are instantly recognizable as the British spy originally brought to the screen by Mike Myers in 1997. Two sequels and a slew of catchphrases followed.
6. The Three Musketeers
There have been countless iterations of these French swashbucklers on the big screen. I’m not a fan of the 2011 version, but I loved the 1993 film with Kiefer Sutherland & Charlie Sheen as well as The Man in the Iron Mask from 1998. Plus you always look damn cool with the hat and moustache!
5. Top Gun
This film effectively defined over-the-top 80’s action movies. Tom Cruise in his prime, those planes and that soundtrack!! Stick on a grey jumpsuit, leave the zipper half un-done and stick on some Ray-Bans and you’re ready to go! There are always plenty of Mavericks on hand at most costume bashes.
4. The James Bond Franchise
Probably the most famous and iconic single character on this list. Whether your favourite Bond is Connery, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig or that Austalian model guy (heaven forbid) there is only one way you need to dress. Party-goers need only dig out their old tuxedos and strike some dangerous poses with a gun in their hand.
3. Grease
1978 saw the release of the first of three musicals on our list (probably not too hard now to guess the top two). This film has a generous choice of costumes for any taste. Whether you want to be the star and go as Danny (John Travolta) or Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) or just as a T-Bird / Pink Lady, there’s plenty of choice to be had.
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Now this choice is a cult classic! You don’t always see them at a lot of smaller fancy dress parties but fancy dress is a big part of this film’s legacy. Cinema showings or live stage productions often see audience members turn up in costume and sing along with this Richard O Brian musical. Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s iconic drag get-up is iconic and easily recognisable.
1. The Blues Brothers
This costume gets everywhere! 1980 saw Dan Akroyd and the late great John Belushi dress up in black suits and belt out some killer blues while trying to save the boarding school that they were brought up in. These iconic black suits, sunglasses and trilbys are synonymous with these characters and this movie. It helps that if someone is looking for fancy dress at short notice this one is pretty cheap and easy to replicate. Just remember; it doesn’t matter if it’s dark and you’re wearing sunglasses!
How did I do? What did I miss off the list? Tell me in the comments section below…
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
On the 1st November 2014 six of us from Alterego Fancy dress attended the annual Spooktacular scare event at the Heart of England Centre, Meriden. The event itself consisted of a three course meal, disco and games, along with a unique themed scare attraction set within the forest-land surrounding the site (more details on that later).
Many of our team had been to one of these shows before however this was my first time. I, along with my wife, have been to ‘scare-fests’ before so had some idea of what to expect….and yet we saw none of it coming!
We all kitted ourselves out with top costumes….as did everyone who was there. When we arrived it was obvious that no expense was spared – the centre lavishly decorated with Halloween staples such as cobwebs, tombstones & ghouls along with horror props and characters from films. All tables surrounded a stage which was book-ended by two large movie screens showing iconic scenes from classic horror films whilst all of the ‘victims’ mingled and meandered their way to the tables. A mixture of Death & Heavy Metal boomed through the speakers to complete a ‘Horror-Assault’ on the senses!
I find Halloween parties a surreal experience at the best of times, due to the experience of seeing so many people in-character as something generally frightful or unpleasant. The feeling of fun and freedom is addictive and contagious – and there was no lack of it here! The atmosphere that was created was palpable! Where else would you see an 8 foot animatronic spider drop from the ceiling to dangle above the stage throughout the celebration?!
So…the scare event was structured to take enough people from two tables at a time. This means that throughout the night two tables at a time disappear for half an hour whilst the others have their delicious food served. This kept the flow of the evening going nicely (however we were all very glad that we weren’t on the last tables that finally got their turn at nearly midnight).
We were on table 12 which was pretty much bang in the middle. When our number was called we were led outside to a large truck (or, as we were told, an amphibious vehicle). We were driven deep into the forest towards an unknown building.
At this point its probably apt for me to set the scene!! At the start of the evening a compere, dressed as a Military official, stood and introduced the night’s festivities. We were all attending for a specific reason. In 1944 a number of brave soldiers died in this area of the forest due to the war – but their deaths had only recently been unearthed. We were all descendants of these soldiers and were legally obliged to pay our respects to them. The compere was brilliant, shouting at people from the stage and generally setting the tone of the evening “Be quiet! Treat this evening with dignity and respect, dammit!”
So we were on this truck to see where our loved ones departed this earth, so many years ago. The compere accompanies you as your guide…again shouting for order and quiet – very believable! Once off of the truck we were led into the compound, and this was where the fun (and fright) really began! Zombies begin bursting through doors and windows as we meandered our way through twisting corridors and rooms, frantically trying to find an exit. Towards the end we encounter the mastermind behind the undead – Dr Vivian Mortus. He explains that our dearly departed never really died – and that we were next in order for him to create an undead army of super-soldiers….no thanks!!
A mad dash to the exit ensues – everyone screaming as zombies advance on our position. Finally we got back on our truck and head back to the party although its not quite over. The zombies burst through the doors to the compound and ran after the truck almost all of the way back…phew!
When we got back to the centre the evening was in full swing with the disco up and running – so we were able to dance the night away….safe in the knowledge that the zombies were securely locked outside!
Everyone had a fabulous night. It was clear that no expense was spared for the scare event and the theme / story line really padded out what can sometimes be quite a repetitive affair. The compound was chock full of really believable zombies and scary moments. Absolutely loved it! I would recommend this evening to anyone who fancies immersing themselves deeper into Halloween, so next year watch out here for details of the upcoming event!
Thank you to the Heart of England for having us there, although we will be happy if we never have to go back to that compound ever again!!
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
Ok, Halloween is tomorrow night. You’ve got that fancy dress party in the evening…how did it slip your mind? You don’t even have a costume yet! Take it easy, deep breaths, it’ll be ok. You can MAKE one! Yes, great idea – there’s got to be something around the house that can be turned into a fancy dress masterpiece. Nope, not that empty television box; too obvious. How about an apron and gloves an…no, that’s boring. What can be done at such short notice??
If this is you before Halloween then get ready for our guide on how to ‘Zombify’ pretty much any clothing and have a great costume ready in no time. Prepare for the Home-made Zombie Apocalypse!
Step 1 – Choose your clothing
First things first. You need to decide the look of your zombie. If its easiest then raid your wardrobe for a selection of bits and pieces that you no longer wear (you are going to have to do some pretty permanent modifications to it!) and choose an ensemble that won’t look out of place worn together.
If you have time to get hold of some uniforms or old costumes then you can theme the fancy dress further. There are endless ideas here – I mean anyone can get bit by a zombie! Here are some great possibilities:
Army surplus
Doctors / Nurses
School Uniform
Party / Night out
Work Uniform
Boiler Suit
Step 2 – Rough it up
Once you’ve got the clothes chosen it gets really fun! Now zombies are well known for being clumsy and un-coordinated. As such they fall down and scrape their clothes or catch them on bushes and walls. You need it to look as though you’ve been buried and risen from the grave so – get out that Stanley knife!
Start by fraying as many edges as possible. Work on the cuffs and ankles.
Get the knife and cut random slits across the bulk of the clothing. Make it look hap-hazard, it’s not about making it look fashionable! There’s no harm in using your hands to make the slits bigger!
If you are feeling particularly imaginative then you could grab some matches or a lighter and add some burn marks on the clothes.
Step 3 – Gore it up!!
Zombies are all about blood. They are generally covered in it, dripping from multiple wounds across the body and face. As you will be doing this from home then you might have to play around with different ‘blood’ recipes (or you can just use red paint).
Start by clearing an area that you can get messy in. Splatter some blood drops across the items, have lots of the stuff collected around the collar where it has dripped from your mouth! Pop over a couple of cool looking hand prints across it and you’re all set.
You might also want to dirty it up by rubbing in some dirt / mud. If you are one of the unlucky zombies that’s had to climb out of their own grave then you’re going to be a bit of a mess!
Step 4 – Make-up
Not everyone is going to have this around the house so you’re going to have to work with what you’ve got. Find something to pale your face – no blood pumping through your body can really ruin your tan! Use some more of that ‘blood’ around your mouth if you can. If you don’t have any of this then some dirt will do the trick. Just make sure you look a wreck – dirty, bloody, pale – it’s all good.
Mess your hair up as well. Get some gel and run it through your hair. Then just throw your fingers through it, don’t look in the mirror! Even better, roll around on the bed to make your hair a real mess!!
Step 5 – Go ‘Full Zombie’
The costume’s now done and you’re wearing it right now. Your jobs not quite done yet though. You’ve got to sell this costume now – make people believe that you’re a member of the un-dead. Remember the ‘Shaun of the Dead’ crash-course in walking like a zombie? You need to shuffle along, painfully slowly whilst swinging your arms as though they are out of your control. Maybe drag one of those feet along the ground as you walk.
Get your practice in here (be mindful though, the video does contain some bad language):
Don’t forget the moan!! Urrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!! Braaaaaaiiiiiinnnnnssssss!!!!
So that’s it. You should have yourself a pretty nifty costume right there – and far more believable that a store-bought costume! You’ll be the life (or death!) of the party!
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
Halloween is nearly upon us yet again. The pressure is well and truly on to find that costume that’s going to put you ahead of the rest this year. Last month we highlighted the incredible Ani-motion mask as a top costume choice, however, there really is so so much more on offer from us at Alterego Fancydress!
What I am going to do today is showcase some of the best Halloween choices for you this year. Enjoy!
For Women
Royal Vampiress
She is the empress of the night and she will get what she wants. The Royal Vampiress costume includes an elegant black and white dress with attached corset and collar, and cameo choker.
Dreadful Doll
She wants to play. The Dreadful Doll costumes features a sequined dress with lace up trim. Also includes mop cap, stripped thigh highs, and frilled collar.
Naughty Jester
She just can’t help but get into trouble. The Naughty Jester costume features a checkered dress with a laced detailed sweetheart neckline and attached sleeves. It includes a two toned eye mask, a frilled collar, thigh highs and a miniature jester hat.
Dark Alice
On the other side of looking glass there is only her dark smile. The Dark Alice comes with a dress with attached apron, glovelettes and thigh highs.
For Men
Jack The Ripper
This infamous murder carved out his grim legacy in blood.
Night Fiend
Not all vampires care to be suave. The Night Fiend costume comes with jacket, character hands, hood, and ani-motion mask with moving mouth action.
Evil Jester
This guy is not joking around. The Evil Jester costume comes with: shirt, waist sash, jester hood/collar with skull trim and mask.
Big Frank
Still one of our favourites…He is an experiment made to party! Jacket, Pants, Inflatable Shoulder Components, Socks, Character Mask & Hands included.
Plus Size
Lady Reaper – Magnificent Witch – Dark Red Riding Hood
Evil Unchained – Vampire B Slayed – Jokes On You Jester
Best of the Rest!!
This section showcases some of our best costumes for those of you who might not want to ‘go scary’ this Halloween!! Sometimes it really doesn’t matter what the theme is…just dressing up is half the fun, right??
Lady of Camelot – Twilight Fairy – Sequin Flapper – Spanish Pirate
Blackbeard Pirate – Electric Mad Hatter – Massive Mobster – King Arthur
So there you have it, just a taste of some of the fantastic fancy dress costumes we have on offer this year. I hope that we have given you plenty to think about this Halloween! Just remember – enjoy yourselves!!
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
So, Halloween is a little over two weeks away. The time has come to decide how best to celebrate this event. Most eventualities will involve costume dress-up, getting scared out of your skin or having a party. What better than a combination of the three, right? Halloween scare events have become increasingly popular in the UK over recent years with over 100 organised fright-fests taking place in October 2014, not even including murder mysteries and parties/discos. The concept of being able to immerse yourselves in an interactive horror experience plays to our primal fears to a far greater degree than simply watching a scary film and, speaking from personal experience, its way more fun!!
The history of such events is difficult to pinpoint, however they originated from – yep, you guessed it – the United States. They have evolved from the classic premise of a Haunted House where guests would walk through it’s rooms and corridors, being scared by actors and sound effects. Visitors may experience intense animatronics, bloody and frightening set pieces, rustic antiques, scary music and sounds, dynamic lighting, fog, costumed actors with elaborate make-up or masks, and other special effects used to create scenes of terror. Haunted houses can be located in hospitals, grocery stores, shopping malls, warehouses, semi trucks, factories, boats or ships, dilapidated homes, etc.
Another evolution of the Haunted House that I’m sure a large number of people have experienced at one time or another, whether at a theme park or local fair, is the Ghost Train. These would generally be set within a house like before, or sometimes a cemetery. Visitors would once again encounter actors in make-up along with other environmental scares. The beauty of these rides are that because the speed of your movement is controlled, there is little chance to properly brace yourself for the next scare! A dark ride does not have to be dark. They are enclosed, so all illumination is artificial, and most use special lighting to achieve theatrical effects. Selective use of darkness helps hide the ride mechanisms and increase the visual drama of the experience.
So these scare attractions attempt to combine the very best of what works with conventional Haunted Houses or trains, before taking them a step further. Usually set within a specific theme, these attractions generally involve visitors walking though a themed maze of sorts or travelling from one enclosed room to another.
Spooktacular – Heart of England Conference & Event Centre, Meriden
This Halloween we at Alterego Fancydress will be attending the Spooktacular, at the Heart of England event centre. These nights of horror are the brainchild of Stephen Hammon, Managing Director of Heart of England, and feature seriously spooky live Halloween entertainment with a cast of terrifying characters, a host of evil props and a trip to the hauntingly scary woods.This will be our third outing here – its that good!
The Heart of England have been running these events for many years now. This year’s theme is ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ – and is described as follows:
“Shortly after the end of WWII, a team of scientists operating under the command of Professor Vivian Mortuus began work on a top-secret experiment designed to create a new breed of super-soldier. Professor Mortuus’s formula was said to heighten physical abilities, phenomenally increasing muscle growth.
Military volunteers referred to as ‘candidates‘ were sent to a location so secret that its whereabouts was kept from all but those few working there. Work was extraordinarily successful at first but before long, disturbing reports began to emerge.
Last communication received mentioned the appearance of unexpected and apparently frightening side-effects. Massive deformities in certain subjects, before the onset of sudden death. Strangely the bodies, although showing no signs of life, appeared in some cases to continue ‘growing‘. The decision was made to bury the cadavers within the secure compound, and evacuate immediately. But it appears that all contact was lost before this task was ever confirmed as completed. And none of the base personnel ever reported for duty again, presumed AWOL.
The location has remained a mystery…until now…”
Have a look at a video of last year’s event, ‘The Possessed’
We are extremely excited about this year’s event, and for good reason. People travel from all across the UK to visit this scare-fest and with the reputation that it has garnered, the ante is upped each time.
Please check back in 3 weeks for our review of ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ and click here for tickets, but be quick, there is only limited availability now!
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
Not everyone wants to go out on Halloween…sometimes its easier, and way more fun, having everyone round for a kick-ass party right at home. Halloween can be so easy to do with a few interesting decorations and fancy dress costumes. However sometimes a specific theme can just make everything way more fun! Even the preparation!! In this blog I’m going to outline some images and videos that encompass the three main sections (decoration, food & drink and fun games) and how to have some fun with it!
1. Decoration.
This is the area that I would probably have the most fun with. It lends itself to people with a penchant for artistic flair!
There are literally loads of common themes that are used for decorating houses and rooms like cobwebs, pumpkin jack-o-lanterns, bats, cats, skeletons….the list goes on and on!! The main thing you need to decide is whether its going to be silly or scary! You don’t want the theme to clash with the mood you are trying to set. You should be looking to put up bunting on the walls, perhaps lighting in the front or back lawn, and bucket loads of nonsense decorations everywhere….the key is to be excessive!!
2. Food and drink.
If you’re having people over for a party, then you probably need to cater it. And as far as I’m aware, people need to drink to survive so thats a definite!! Lots of fun can be had with this though, just watch this video below!!
How to make Halloween Gummie Worms
Putting on a fun food & drink spread can really take your party to the next level but it can be really easy to make it interesting. There’s plenty of halloween themed sweets and candy about (especially at this time of year) so you only really need to put effort into the presentation. That doesn’t mean that homemade food won’t go drown a treat too! Go crazy with the Jack-o-lanterns…they’re a classic.
3. Fun games.
Apple bobbing.
You will need:
large bowl or bucket
large towel or plastic sheet
apples
towels for drying off
Fill your bowl or bucket to 3/4 of its capacity with cold water and place your towel or sheet under the bucket. Put about 4-6 apples in the water and let each child have a turn at getting as many apples as possible – hands must remain firmly behind backs! The easiest way to get the apples involves getting very wet (you need to push the apple all the way to the bottom of the bucket) so have a towel to hand to mop up wet faces!
Dress the mummy.
You will need:
a big supply of toilet paper or kitchen towel!
Split the party guests into groups no smaller than two and give them a substantial supply of toilet paper. The object of the game is to try and turn one of the group into a mummy by wrapping them entirely in the loo roll! Prizes go to the quickest or the best attempt.
Pass it on ghost story.
Try this simple Halloween game. Fun and simple party or class game!
Turn off or dim all the lights and have all your guests sit in a circle. Start out by holding a flashlight so it illuminates your face and start telling a ghost story. At an exciting point in the story, pass the flashlight to the person on your left. They can then continue the story where you left off. Keep going for as long as you choose, it can be once around the cirlce or even longer. You can also set a timer for each person.
The devil is in the details.
Feeling like your guests haven’t fully appreciated the amount of detail you’ve put into your party atmosphere? Devise questions that deal with your decorations and watch them explore your haunt.
It’s simple, really. I created handouts with questions like “List the different types of vermin in the room” and “There are a total of 5 items in the lounge that are often used as weapons. List them”. I’ve created questions that had people checking the labels on prop bottles. Use your imagination.
I hope that you have been suitably inspired as to how to put on your very own Halloween party…remember, just enjoy it and have fun with it!!
I hope that you have found some inspiration here and have chosen the theme will make your Halloween night…however, if your plan is to go out then check out our Halloween cinema choices blog instead.
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
So, its Halloween, you want to get out of the house and you need something to do…why not go scary yourself silly at the Cinema this October? There’s going to be plenty on this year so here are a few of the ones we’re looking forward to.
1. Horns
A very quirky twist on a Horror film this year. Daniel Radcliffe, all grown-up, plays a man accused of brutally murdering his girlfriend – and as everyone starts seeing him as a devil, those horns begin to grow…
2. As Above, So Below
Deep under the streets of Paris, a group of friends begin to explore the miles of mazing catacombs hidden below. Unfortunately for them there are secrets beneath that should not be uncovered.
3. Dracula Untold
I know what you are thinking…is there really anything left untold about the Dracula tale? Well, as this movie attempts to focus on how the man became the vampire, then perhaps…
4. Annabelle
This film is a spin-off to last year’s breakout hit “The Conjuring'” however this movie is focusing on a crazy doll with supernatural powers. If it is even half as good as it’s parent movie, then t will be worth a watch!
5. Tusk
Not your typical Kevin Smith film, although, from the trailer, its clear there will be plenty of his personality in this comedy-horror that both lampoons horror-film stereotypes and genuinely scares you in places.
6. Ouija
Ouija boards are just plain scary….fact! Why do kids keep insisting on playing this stupid game in films?! Honestly, when does it end well?? Looks like a lot of jump-scares in this horror movie.
7. Oculus
Two teenage siblings are orphaned by the murder of their parents. The brother is accused and convicted of the crime but the sister is unconvinced…could something scarier and more sinister be behind it?
8. The Pyramid
This is my personal favourite trailer….can’t wait to see it in cinemas! A team of U.S. archaeologists get more than they bargained for when they discover a lost pyramid unlike any other in the Egyptian desert. As they unlock the horrific secrets buried within, they realize they aren’t just trapped, they are being hunted.
I hope that you have found some inspiration here and have chosen the movie that will make your Halloween night…however, if your plan is to stay in then check out our Halloween house party blog instead.
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events. And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter. Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.
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