Competition Winner: Tell us a Ghost Story

At the start of October, we asked young people from across Bristol to send us their best spooky stories inspired by Bristol Old Vic’s first female manager and resident ghost Sarah Macready.  

We received 84 amazing entries, each focusing on a different aspect of Sarah’s life and legacy. Our heritage team narrowed the entries down to a final shortlist of 5, which were chosen for their creativity, originality and use of language.

A Ghost Friend by Sayyidah Fatima Rizvi  

Alone in the Darkness by Rudy Turp 

Sarah Macready by Harry Hopkins 

The Ghost in the Theatre by Arianne Reynolds

The Ghost of Bristol Old Vic by Tilly Marlow

We’re thrilled to announce that, having read these 5 stories, our Artistic Director Tom Morris selected Rudy’s story as our winner.  

He loved its vivid economic storytelling and how it made him feel as though he was right there in the darkness alongside the narrator, which is the true gift of storytelling.

You can read Rudy’s winning story below. Be prepared, it isn’t for the faint hearted…  

Alone in the Darkness by Rudy Turp  

It was late and the sun was melting behind the horizon. The clouds rolled over, drenching the streets and buildings with rain. I was alone in the Theatre, or so I thought… 

The rain was heavy now, too heavy for my liking, and the wind was howling and tearing plants and trees up from their roots. It was a normal night but something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones.

I tiptoed through the dark damp corridors, the pathetic light of my candle illuminating the darkness. Suddenly, a shrill shriek pierced the silence. I spun around. A cat was screaming, not with anger, but with terror. I crept closer to examine it, it was black and its eyes were bulging out of its sockets. But the worst thing was the expression of pure horror stamped across its face. Then, it toppled over stone-dead.

At the very same moment, my candle flickered and died.

That’s when I knew I wasn’t alone.

I felt a cold clammy hand touch my skin, my blood turned to ice and fear stabbed me in the chest. I ran blindly and clumsily through the darkness and felt for the door. The thing was coming closer and closer. I tried to scream but I just let out a weak cry.

Then I saw her face. It was beautiful and horrific at the same time. She had hair the colour of an endless pit of darkness, her lips were stained with blood, and her skin was the palest white. I stood still, rooted to the spot and completely transfixed.

‘Come’ she whispered, beckoning her long bony finger.

Well done to Rudy, and thank you so much to everyone who took part in the competition!