Phantasmagoria Events are a historical drama company with a strong track record in working with local authorities, historic sites and houses and historical public engagement. Each of our performances are specifically written and devised for individual locations or communities, and we are committed to creating interactive promenade performances for non-theatre locations. Laden with factual historical stories, and with an essence of horrid histories, our productions aim to engage the public with local heritage and historical locations through innovative and engaging community theatre events.

The company was founded in 2007 by Ian John Shillito and originally called Ghost Hunting with London Paranormal. It was inspired by his recent ghost hunter role in Series 8 of the hugely successful TV programme, Most Haunted, his 20 year career in the theatre industry, and his fascination with social history and community values

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GUARDIAN OF THE TOWER: an event of historical performance

Phantasmagoria Events presented in association with Hackney Museum and Hackney Historic Buildings Trust

Guardian of the tower, archivist, and occasional time lord, Mr Laurence knows a secret about St Augustine’s Tower in Hackney. Whilst maintaining the 16th century clock, he accidentally discovered that Hackney’s oldest building is an ecclesiastical wormhole, in fact a time machine.

It is Hackney Stories month and for one evening only, he will open up the tower and share his secret. To those who dare to join him? He also has a surprise in store; he wants you to meet a few friends from the past. Travel through time with the Guardian of the Tower and encounter some of Hackney’s past residents as you uncover staggering tales of how we used to live.

"What an adventure ! Loved it all. A journey well worth making and an unforgettable living history play that I would love to be continued. We need more of this sort of thing"

"Great use of the space. fantastic acting. Excellent theme. SPELLBINDING."

" Very effective stories - a real connection with history. Context was fantastic and performances flawless. Would love to learn more about England's history in this way."

"Absolutely amazing. brought history to life in an unforgettable way. didn't want it to end. presented in a unique and at times upsetting manner (real life and real times). SO GOOD. WELL DONE!"

“Working with Phantasmagoria was a fantastic experience for Hackney Museum, and of course, for the participants and audience. Professional, creative and with immaculate attention to detail, Ian Shillito far exceeded his brief in bringing an ancient building and some former Hackney residents to life, through thorough research, excellent creative direction and production skills. I couldn’t recommend him and his team highly enough for all they did for us.” -

Emily Jost, Hackney Heritage Officer

CAMDEN'S MOST HORRID: a performance of formidable endings

The invite reads, “You are cordially invited to a historical meeting by Professor Gary Cranks who will enthral us with the details from his latest discovery found hidden in the depths of the Camden Catacombs”. Curious to learn more about one of London’s labyrinth of tunnels, you turn up with note book and pen, however the meeting takes a turn for the worse when the speaker recites the unusual inscription and unleashes...... well let’s just say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”

In May 2011, we discovered the darker side to Camden’s past and its plethora of unsavoury characters as Phantasmagoria present a specifically devised play at Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre.

The show which cleverly blends 90% fact and 10% fiction, uncovered many of Camden’s formidable characters from Mary Shelly to the Highgate Vampire, Old Mother Red Cap to Dr Crippen in an ingenious dramatisation of their life stories.

This unique performance was also produced to highlight the potential for cultural organisations like libraries and theatre to work together, the importance of local history and most significantly to emphasize the importance of the libraries services as one of the last centres of community as they face closure due to ‘cuts’

 “I thought it was an excellent show. Well done to you and to the cast. I laughed out loud once or twice which for a gloomy Welsh archivist worried about the future, was no mean feat”

“I can say with 100% honesty that the history the actor/tresses taught us and the amazing way in which is was produced had a profound effect on not just myself. JAW DROPPING STUFF!! Well done everybody involved.”

“A fine performance.”

“It was great.  I was crying with laughter”

"We all have had a great deal of fun and it was a topic consistently being discussed late that evening. Please keep doing this great job. It is very important" - Carlos.

“ Phantasmagoria put on a fantastic event for us in Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre. They put together an original dramatic show based on the darker side of Camden's history and gave two performances of it. The show was original, dramatic, well-structured, brilliantly acted, highly entertaining and often uproariously funny. It was also a great introduction to Camden history and legend. I would highly recommend both the show and Phantasmagoria”  -

Tudor Allen, Senior Archivist

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