The Edinburgh Horror Festival, or EHF as all the cool kids call it, is one of the most popular Hallowe'en events in Edinburgh. Incorporating theatre, comedy, magic, spoken word, movies, games, improv, workshops, interactive events and more. So there will be plenty of things to do in Edinburgh during the Haunting season of Hallowe'en and Samhuinn.
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Edinburgh Horror Festival is a programming and hosting organisation, we do not generally produce shows ourself though we may co-produce some. In the overwhelming majority of cases shows are entirely self contained with no input or control from us.
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Any restrictions that apply to the Banshee Labyrinth, apply throughout the year for our regular events too.
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FAQs FOR EVERYONE
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When is it?
The main Edinburgh Horror Festival 2024 event will run Thursday October 31st to Sunday November 3rd 2024. But we also run regular events throughout the year.
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When are tickets on sale?
Tickets will go on sale in Summer 2024 for the Main Festival, and are on sale year-round for our regular events.
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Where is it?
Venue 1: The Banshee Labyrinth, Niddry Street, EH1 1LG
Venue 2: Lauriston Castle, 2 Cramond Road South, EH4 6AD
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Are there age restrictions?
Unless specifically stated, all of our events -both attending as an audience member, or participating as part of a show - are over 18 only and ID may be requested. Do not try and sneak a child in wearing a costume after already being told it was an over-18s event (Yes, this has happened. No it was not convincing).
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What type of I.D is accepted?
As a general rule, in-date passports are accepted, as are U.K and E.U Drivers Licenses. These should be the physical items, not digital. It is the venue that decides what is an acceptable form of I.D for them, not us. We would recommend if there is any doubt that you contact the venue directly. The Banshee Labyrinth does not accept "Young Scot" cards.
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What is the Banshee Labyrinth's accessibility like?
People with walking aids should be able to access the Banshee Labyrinth but do bear in mind there are spiral stone steps and straight steps within the venue, and to access some performance spaces.
Wheelchair users may find there is limited access to some areas of the Banshee Labyrinth. It is best to contact us directly if you have any concerns about mobility and access. This applies to all shows we host, produce and stage and not exclusively those during the main EHF runs in the Autumn.
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It is a functioning, busy bar in the old town. Outside of the performance spaces will be other customers, music, and the associated noise. It is likely to be very crowded. Shows in the Vault and Cave can experience noise bleed from the pub for those sat at the back, and later in the evening.
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The main areas of the pub are brightly lit, there are accessible toilets on the main walkway from the main entrance, and there are non-gender specific toilets - cubicles are closest to the venue entrance, and urinals closer to the rear. There is Wi-Fi in the venue and there will be members of the EHF on hand throughout.
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You can read the venue's accessibility statement here: https://www.thebansheelabyrinth.com/disabled-access-and-facilities-statement/
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What is Lauriston Castle's accessibility like?
Lauriston Castle is an old listed building, as such it has a number of restrictions on alterations that can be made and period features that are not universally accessible. There is a complete, and thorough, breakdown of the venue available here: Lauriston Castle Accessibility Guide
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Are there any Covid or Disease related restrictions?
There are no official rules, however each act may make their own entry conditions. Feel free to wear a mask if not drinking, or test before coming along to events.
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FAQs FOR AUDIENCES
How early should I arrive, and will you admit late arrivals?
You should aim to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of any event. This is especially important for shows at Lauriston Castle, and busier events elsewhere. Whether or not you can get into a show late is determined by the acts themselves. As a general rule, we do allow late admissions to our year round events at The Banshee Labyrinth. Events at Lauriston Castle are difficult to admit late arrivals as once the main doors are closed, you can't get access. We will usually have a team member at the front for a further 10 minutes, but admission is at the discretion of the act. If you are definitely attending but will be late, you should contact us immediately so we can be aware and advise you as arriving after the start time even by a minute may be too late to admit you.
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How do I book tickets?
Shows can be booked via our website. Head over to the "What's On" tab in the menu and click on the show you want. You will be taken to a page where ticket sales can be made- in some cases this may redirect to a secondary website if tickets are handled by a third party. This is usually only the case with certain shows at Lauriston Castle.
We'd advise you to arrive no later than 10 minutes before to ensure you get a good seat for shows as the seating position is not allocated- the earlier arrival, the more choice in the exact seat you'll get.
All events that are part of the main Edinburgh Horror Festival weekend in October are ticketed, and tickets must be purchased before entry is permitted. You can buy tickets on ourwebsite, on the door, or at the box office. Our year round events vary between ticketed and donation entry (Though you can pay to reserve online even for these)
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Can I get a free carer/press/industry ticket?
The availability of "comp" tickets is determined by the individual act. Most acts do allow a certain number of comps. To discuss "comp" tickets please get in touch via our contact form.
Do I need to reserve tickets or can I just turn up?
As our venues are smaller, intimate spacs it is advised to book tickets ahead of time. Some shows can sell out quickly, so if a show really interests you, then you should consider buying online. The on-site Box Office will only be open during the October Festival.
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Can we buy drinks at the venue and take them in to shows?
You can buy drinks from the bar at the Banshee Labyrinth before and after the show and if you buy before you can take them in to the space. During opening hours at Lauriston Castle you can purchase teas, coffees and soft drinks from Mimi's Bakehouse on-site, but you cannot take them into the castle.
How do I find out what shows are live streaming and how to I watch?
On the page for each show, it will say whether that performance will be doing a live stream, if there is a fee to watch, and how to watch it. Not all of our shows are live streaming, and shows will generally only stream one performance. The stream will be available to watch until the end of the festival, and you may be able to purchase a ticket to watch even after the live stream.
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I've bought a ticket, but now can't attend a show, can I get a refund?
As with many event companies we do not offer refunds unless a show is cancelled. Sales are final. It may be possible, however, to switch your tickets to a different event.
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Do you offer a full festival pass?
Not yet, but it is something we are looking in to.
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FAQs FOR PARTICIPANTS
How can I bring a show to the Festival?
Submitting your show to the EHF for consideration in our annual event involves completing an application form. The form is open until May 1st for the 2024 Festival and acts will be notified if we can offer them a space or not by mid-May. There is a small participation fee ranging from £13 - £50 depending on how many slots you opt for. We try to keep this as low as possible so it's within everyone's budget.
Are there any restrictions?
Some. You, and anyone who will be physically in the venue, must be aged 18 or over. There is also limited wheelchair accessibility as listed above in the "For Everyone" section. Shows can't be under 40 minutes, nor over 60 minutes. If you have a shorter show we advise seeking a similar act and putting together a double bill show submission or cabaret show. Also we don't currently accept live bands or films, and our venue cannot feature fire based acts (flash paper, candles, lighters permitted)
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I have more questions...
We'd be surprised if you didn't! But to save space and avoid repetition it's probably best we direct you to the full participation terms and conditions for those wishing to bring a show to us, so you can find out everything you need to know. They can be found here: SHOW SUBMISSION PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES 2024
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I'm a trader, do you have stalls available?
Yes! This year we are introducing stalls to our Festival weekend. Stalls will be in the Banshee Labyrinth on Saturday November 2nd and Sunday November 3rd. We're just finalising all the details and should have them up by Friday January 26th. You'll be able to apply for a stall via the PARTICIPATION PAGE
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I want to volunteer, how can I do that?
We're a fully volunteer-led Festival. None of the trustees draw a wage from running the Festival, and each year we take on a number of volunteers to assist with the Festival weekend. Perks include free entry to shows, merch, free soft drinks on duty, plenty of socialising, and taking part in an exciting grass roots theatre festival. Previous volunteers have gone on to bring shows to the Festival, and even join as full organising trustees. Volunteer applications are now open and you can find them, and full guidelines, on the PARTICIPATION PAGE
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