Tamworth Castle will host a festival week of ghostly, gothic and ghoulish tales exploring dark, mythical and haunted fiction this autumn.

The packed programme for 'Tales fFrom The Dartkside' will run from Wednesday 25 October to Sunday 5 November, with a range of storytelling, readings, and performances, renowned authors, writers, actors, storytellers and visual artists. From family-friendly storytelling to adults only performances, there is something for everyone, ideal for those thrilled by mystery, dark secrets and haunted tales.

A special exhibition of gothic style items from the castle museum collections will also be on display from Saturday 28 October to Sunday 5 November.​

Writers and special guests include well-known British writer and performer Max Scratchmann, 'Max Helsing' and 'Haunt' author Curtis Jobling and Gavin Inglis - who works at the intersection of traditional fiction, digital fiction and games.

Maria Credali will also return to the castle on Monday 30 October with her Introduction to Storytelling Workshop. She will then deliver an evening event of ‘Gothic Tales by Candlelight’ - a candlelit evening of gothic tales on Friday 3 November. 

An art workshop will be delivered by Maria on Sunday 5 November, based on the story of Little Red Riding Hood and how it has changed over the centuries, outlining the sinister elements of the earliest versions of the tale as you paint. 

Carol Davies, a storyteller will offer a drop-in storytelling session for families, included in the normal admission ticket. Gilbert the Grotesque is a story of a grotesque who aspires to be a gargoyle.

Local artist Rosa Brown will be running a free workshop, with her inspired by Halloween and Rosa’s Mexican heritage, on Wednesday 1 November, Thursday 2 November and Saturday 4 November.

On Friday 27 October, the castle will host ‘A Ghostly Murder Mystery’, set in 1930s England, where guests are invited to join the actors and become detectives in this spooky case of murder. 

Meanwhile on Saturday 28 October, visitors will be able to pre book on a private ghost hunter tour around the castle. 

For further information about any of the activities, prices and times, visit tamworthcastle.co.uk.