Hallowscream 2022: Inferno
WHO IS YORK MAZE?
Hallowscream at York Maze is an award-winning Halloween attraction that takes place each October and November on selected evenings. Frequently recognised as one of the top scream parks in the country, it offers visitors a thrilling night of scares and entertainment. Guests can expect five large-scale haunted mazes, a dramatic fire and light display, a high-energy stage production, live DJ sets, roaming street performers, plus a wide variety of food and drink options.
This marked our third consecutive year producing stage shows for York Maze’s Halloween events, covering both Hallowscream and its family-friendly counterpart Hallowtween.
Stage One: The Brief
After our “Freakshow” production for York Maze in 2021, along with its shorter and toned down Covid-19 production for York Maze’s Hallowtween back the year prior, it was time for a change. A BIG change.
This year we wanted to take York Maze’s guests on a journey to Hell where they would meet the Devil himself, along with his collection of demons. We wanted to keep a freakshow and circus element in the show that guests had enjoyed previously so opted to still utilise these type of acts, however we also wanted to emphasise the journey to Hell.
We did this by increasing the amount of fire used in the show; not only with the size and amount of fire props the performers used but also by including external pyrotechnics.
Stage Two: Welcome to Hell
For this Halloween season we opted for a complete reimagining of the show, including a brand new set. Our in-house creative team designed the bespoke two-storey “hellscape” concept artwork for the stage. The structure featuring jagged rockwork, an imposing central archway of skulls framing the gates of hell—brought to life through a cascading smoke screen and atmospheric backlighting—and a giant Hallowscream branded skull mounted above the higher tier of the stage.
To heighten the spectacle, the show also incorporated multiple fire cannons synchronised perfectly with the soundtrack and lighting.
Stage Three: The Acts
We introduced a new host for the show: The Devil, accompanied by his entourage of demons. Together they set the scene for a line-up of specialist acts, including fire performances, daring danger performances, LED hula hooping routines, magic illusions, and a spinning cube act.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. The twenty-minute shows were tightly packed with short, dynamic acts, making it easy for visitors to dip in and out across the evening. A custom soundtrack blended classic rock anthems with instantly recognisable pop hits, striking just the right balance between Halloween atmosphere and upbeat party energy.
Stage Four: The Reception
In 2022, our ‘Inferno’ stage show stole the limelight at both Hallowscream and Hallowtween, earning widespread acclaim for its high-octane performances and imaginative staging. The combination of the Devil surrounded by a dazzling array of talent — fire performers, hula hoop artists, a spinning-cube performer, and magic illusions — singled it out as a highlight of the evening. With Thrill Nation noting how “it was a long and entertaining show which visually looked impressive as well as keeping you entertained as each act didn’t last too long.”
Audiences especially appreciated the show’s brisk pace and variety of acts, which allowed guests to sample different performances throughout the night without feeling they’d missed out. As ScareTOUR blog noted, the blend of pyrotechnic flair and creative staging elevated the festival atmosphere: “the fire performances… gave a great festival atmosphere… the shows give a great festival atmosphere to the indoor part of the event.”
“Loved it. I loved the danger and the fire. Couldn’t have asked for more!”
– TOM PEARCY
York Maze, Business Owner
If you are interested in including Halloween entertainment at your next event you can find out more information on our Halloween Theme page, or you can check out our Halloween Entertainment Ideas page. Alternatively if you have your own ideas in mind and would like to discuss a custom package created just for you, just like York Maze did – feel free to drop us a message on our Contact page.