Witchfinder General - Screenage Kicks and Newcastle Castle event: Newcastle Castle

As part of Screen Demons, the North East horror film festival coordinated by Screenage Kicks, Newcastle Castle will screen Witchfinder General (1968) in the Great Hall of the Castle Keep. The classic British horror film, directed by Michael Reeves, stars Vincent Price as the notorious Matthew Hopkins, whose career flourished during the English Civil War. With its gothic architecture and history of grisly punishments, Newcastle Castle makes a suitably atmospheric setting for the screening. As Screenage Kicks audiences expect, Witchfinder General will combine immersive elements and state of the art sound and vision. Screenage Kicks Kristian Atkinson will introduce the film and place it into the context of British horror films of the 1960s.   Afterwards, audience members can stay for a panel discussion about the film. Horror fiction writer Stephen Laws will discuss Witchfinder Generals production and legacy, alongside Mark Iveson, author of Cursed Horror Stars. Jo Bath (Dancing with the Devil and other True Tales of Northern Witchcraft) will talk about the real-life Newcastle witch trials of the 1650s.