Giant pumpkin role for actor in new Lancashire Halloween scare attraction

Oct. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- A 6FT 6INS actor is set to scare audiences half to death after winning a ‘giant’ role as The Pumpkin Man in a new Lancashire Halloween horror attraction.
Neil Hardy, 26, of Crosse Hall Lane, Chorley, ignites fear into thrill-seekers at Scare Kingdom Scream Park playing the creepy role of The Pumpkin Man in the attraction’s 8-acre cornfield fright fest, Dead Alive.
The former Holy Cross High School pupil is one of numerous actors cast to perform in the new scream park located at Hawkshaw Farm Park, home to Mrs Dowson’s Ice Cream, Clayton-le-Dale, Ribble Valley, and featuring three ‘live’ scare attractions and several spooky Halloween entertainments.
Audiences meet Neil’s larger-than-life character as they journey through the terrifying 8ft cornfield maze which is home to mad Mother Strange and a hoard of other gruesome characters.
Once through the maze, visitors creep into Blood Bath, the scream park’s indoor horror haunt which is a rat-run of small passages and tunnels housing frightening characters and scary special effects.
Neil, a professional actor who featured on the BBC's Countryfile programme on Sunday, October 25, at Scare Kingdom Scream Park, said: “Being part of Scare Kingdom is great, the cast and crew have everything perfect for this year’s show. The actors will have people running for the hills.
“Scare Kingdom isn’t for the faint hearted, you come here to be scared and that is exactly what will happen. You may cry with fear while you’re here, but you'll leave with a smile on your face.
“I've seen it in daylight and know what to expect, but I'm still getting shocked each time I go round”
Music producer Neil is a former student at Runshaw College, Leyland, and studied drama under David Johnson at the Laine Johnson Drama School, Manchester, where famous past pupils include Coronation Street's Anne Kirkbride, who plays Deirdre, and the TV and film star, Anna Friel.
Since then he has toured the UK with the Irish drama Borstal Boy following success at the Edinburgh Festival and has won a string of TV and theatre roles.
TV credits include playing Chris O’Brien, in the popular TV soap, Hollyoaks, and roles in Coronation Street, Channel 4’s Shameless and the BBC drama, Cutting It.
Creative producer of Scare Kingdom Scream Park, Jason Karl, said: “We are really delighted to be working with Neil who is one a great group of performers at Scare Kingdom, the auditions proved very competitive and we have picked the very best team to bring our scare attractions vividly to life with terrifying live action!”
Scare Kingdom Scream Park opened at the weekend and runs until Thursday, November 5 inclusive when a bonfire and fireworks display is also planned.
For more information and bookings see www.scarekingdom.com or call Ticketweb on 08444 771000, quoting BLACKSCAR for £2 off evening admission.
ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Neil Hardy was cast in Scare Kingdom Scream Park as The Pumpkin Man following auditions at The Swallow Hotel, Preston, on Saturday, September 26, 2009.
Scare Kingdom Scream Park opened nightly from Saturday, October 24, and runs until Thursday, November 5, with entry every ten minutes. It will be open daily between Monday, October 26, and Friday, October 30, from 1pm. More dates may be added if demand is very high.
Scare Kingdom Scream Park is located at Hawkshaw Farm Park, Longsight Road, Clayton-le-Dale, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 7JA, minutes from the M6, junction 31, on the A59.
The website address is www.scarekingdom.com
Scare Kingdom Scream Park is developed and produced by AtmosFEAR! Scare Attractions, of Lancashire, leaders in independent location-based scare entertainment. See www.atmosfearuk.com for more details about the company.
Jason Karl is the owner and creative producer of AtmosFEAR! Scare Attractions. He is an established presenter of live and recorded television with TV credits including Living TV’s Most Haunted, Discovery Channel’s Ghost Hunters and ITV’s Haunted Halloween Live. He is a published author of nine books covering various genres including history, the paranormal and witchcraft, which have sold over 40,000 copies worldwide.


NOT FOR PUBLICATION:
See the media section at www.scarekingdom.com for the primary press release which includes all the main details about the attraction and contact Jane Willis for all press inquiries and pictures on willisj@live.co.uk or 07952394674.