Doomsday South - Everything you wanted to know and more!
The time has come for the much awaited Doomsday South update! Here you will find the fully confirmed lineup and timetable of events, recommended accommodation and details on how to get your tickets if you've not already got them!
This is the first ever Doomsday South event and it promises to be two days of mystery and magic set in the Gothic splendour of Simon Drake's Victorian Mansion. The eclectic selection of lectures for the Saturday will cover topics ranging from hypnosis to Vampires, ancient mysteries to mentalism and urban legends with a dash of Bad Acid.
Set in the heart of Jack the Ripper territory at Dirty Dick's Pub and Simon Drake's 200 year old Victorian Mansion. Experience an autumnal gathering of guests and performers from the world of horror, paranormal investigation and cult stage and screen!
The weekend kicks off on Friday afternoon and into the evening with a private tour of the Ripper murder sites, a Victorian operating theatre as well as other strange and unusual locations around the dark streets of London.
For a first time event we have an stunning selection of lectures given by equally mesmerising guest speakers. Lecture and performance timings are listed below.
Printable tickets for the event and directions for Simon Drake's House of Magic will be sent 4 weeks before the event via e-mail.
Event Timings
Friday 11th November
For those who like to start the weekend early we will be meeting at Dirty Dicks Pub located just outside Liverpool Street Station for a wander around London's stranger locations including The Cross Bones Graveyard, The Old Operating Theatre and Apothecary, The Wellcome Collection and even a wander down Diagon Alley.
We will then meet back at Dirty Dicks for The Whitechapel Murder Trail. Walk in the shadow of the Ripper; investigate the mystery of the Whitechapel murders and learn about FBI profiling techniques. A 2 hour walk exploring the victims of Jack The Ripper and criminal profiling, interlaced with magical experiences to entertain and enhance your investigation. This walk is limited to 20 people only so please e-mail me here to reserve your space.
Saturday 12th November
We will meet at Simon Drake's House of Magic (the secret location will be confirmed to all ticket holders a few weeks before the event but it is very close to Waterloo Station), doors open at 0930 with refreshments on arrival for a 1000 start. Timings and lecture/performance order are subject to change.
1000-1100
Gavin Murphy - A Brief History of Hypnosis - from madness to the macabre... pseudoscience to neuroscience'
The history of hypnosis is rich in strange and remarkable incidents: a captivating world populated by enthusiasts and skeptics, mystics and scientists, and studded with the unexpected. A Brief History of Hypnosis looks into the origins, development and contemporary applications of what remains a controversial practice, setting out to expose the truth behind the myths, and taking participants on a mesmerizing journey through the untapped regions of the mind. Drawing upon his background as a teacher, counselor and clinical hypnotherapist, Gavin Murphy delves deep into human behaviour and psychology to explore what hypnosis might tell us about the powers and further reaches of human thought. Scintillating and thought-provoking, this lecture provides an engaging study that brings the individuals, the science and the psychology, the drama and the dreams compellingly to life....
1100 - 1200
Matteo Borrini – The Plague Vampire Exorcism
What may have been an exorcism of a vampire in Venice is now drawing bad blood among scientists arguing over whether gravediggers were attempting to defeat an undead monster.
Matteo Borrini, a forensic anthropologist from the Liverpool John Moores Universityand star of The National Geographic documentary series made a disturbing discovery on the small island of Lazzaretto Nuovo in the Venice lagoon that supported the medieval belief that vampires were behind the spread of the Black Death. Matteo gives his personal account in a lecture not for the faint hearted or those with a weak stomach!
1200 – 1300
A light lunch and refreshments will be served.
1300 – 1400
David Chaudoir – Bad Acid
BAD ACID is the debut short film from writer/director David Chaudoir. The story of a washed up cabaret hypnotist. It blends hypnotic suggestion, hallucination and demonic apparition in a wry, tragically comedic, dark fantasy, exploring the fleeting nature of fame. Marvin gets what he wished for, but not in the way that he wanted. Bad Acid is the writer/director’s love letter to the films of Amicus and Hammer from the 1970s.
David Chaudoir, writer/director, has worked for 25 years in UK Broadcast Television and as- sociated crafts. He has directed award winning promotions for The Walking Dead and The Wire and music videos for bands such as Athlete and Starsailor.
1400 – 1500
Scott Wood - Urban Legends of the London Underground
Just as fairy tales warn of the dangers of going in to the woods alone London’s urban legends are often horror stories about going alone down in to the London underground. Plague pits seethe beneath your feet in the most unlikely places, corpses ride on the tube and news of enemy bomb attacks are never further than a trip to the shops away. Some of these urban legends are older than they appear; others are new stories posing as history. Scott will tell these contemporary folk-stories, map them across London and then take them pieces of apart to show you what they’re really made of.
Scott is the author of London Urban Legends: The Corpse on the Tube, a regular-ish writer for Londonist and co-organiser & host of the London Fortean Society.
1500 - 1600
Tracy Wise - Exploring the history and mystery of OOPARTs
Out of place artefacts are exactly as the name suggests – artefacts that don’t seem to fit into the history timeline as we know it. But are these objects evidence of advanced cultures? Of alien civilisations? Intricate hoaxes or evidence of parallel universes?
Examine the evidence, question the questionable and explore the possibilities in this foray into the world of forbidden archaeology. The truth is out there….or is it?
Tracy Wise is a respected author, presenter, lecturer and magician with a particular interest in esoteric history and in bringing new insight into ancient folklore and stories. Tracy is also passionate about keeping alive the stories of inspirational people who have left a legacy to the world but are in danger of being forgotten.
1600 - 1700
David Farrant – The Highgate Vampire
David Farrant is perhaps best well known for his investigation into an unexplained phenomenon or ‘ghost’ which centred around London’s Highgate Cemetery in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Said by some (stories invariably aided by reports in the press) to be a real life ‘vampire’, much has been written about this celebrated case, and the involvement of the British Psychic and Occult Society (BPOS) who were called in to help unravel the mystery. But events were to get out of hand, and in 1974 David Farrant was sentenced to two years eight months imprisonment at the Old Bailey amidst a flurry of allegations relating to ‘vampire hunting’, desecration, ‘witchcraft’ and Satanism then being practiced at Highgate Cemetery. Although acquitted of the most serious charges of desecration, two minor one’s stuck and were enough to ensure a custodial sentence for what were seen as ‘anti Christian activities’.
However, the Highgate case was only one of many that the B.P.O.S. investigated, and continue to investigate around the country in respect of ghosts, and unexplained apparitions which have been witnessed or reported at psychically charged locations. Such locations may prove to be of essential importance when trying to understand the validity of many hauntings and ghosts and the mysterious world in which they supposedly dwell . . .
1700 - 1800
Luke Jermay – Internationally Renown Mind Reader and Mentalist
Luke Jermay is the most incredible man you’ve probably never heard of. He can read your mind. No really; he can read your mind. He doesn’t use mind games or psychological tricks; he is not a trickster, there are no smoke and mirrors. Combining intuition and hypnosis he can simply read your mind. His awe inspiring hypnotic and intuitive abilities have gained him high profile fans such as Derren Brown, Dynamo and Uri Geller who all agree Jermay is astonishing. You will be amazed at Jermay’s incredible powers; he knows your past, present and future, sometimes better than you do.
The bar can remain open after 1800 and the raffle will be drawn and there will be ample opportunity to chat with the guest speakers over a few winter beverages.
Win a Dolly Darko MkII!
Only lucky attendee will walk away with a Dolly Darko MkII haunted doll worth over £500 or a copy of Prof BC's Phantom of the Opera Doppelganger! Raffle tickets will be available from Friday.
Accommodation
The Express Eurotraveller Hotel
The venue for the event is one tube stop away from Waterloo Station however, The Express Eurotraveller Hotel is within walking distance of Simon Drake's House of Magic and is very reasonably priced.
Address: 18 Amelia Street, Walworth, London, SE17 3PY
Telephone: 020 7358 6876
Website: www.eurotravellerhotel.com
Distance: 0.3 miles
Other noteworthy hotels near Waterloo are -
The Wellington Hotel
Opposite Waterloo station and beneath the railway lines, this traditional pub with contemporary rooms is 8 minutes’ walk from the London Eye and 3 minutes’ walk to famous theatre the Old Vic.
Rooms have a modern London theme/ All have en suite bathrooms, as well as free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, desks and tea and coffeemaking facilities.
A full cooked breakfast is included. The busy pub downstairs has dark wood panelling, leather benches and sofas, and a mural of the Battle of Waterloo.
Address: 81-83 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UD
Phone:020 7928 6083
Website: www.wellingtonhotelwaterloo.co.uk
Hampton by Hilton Waterloo
In an imposing corner building 0.4 miles from London Waterloo train station, this contemporary hotel is 0.7 miles from the London Eye and 1.9 miles from the Tower of London.
Casual rooms include free Wi-Fi and custom-designed beds, plus both full and lap desks (for working on the bed), flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. Some also include city views and/or sofabeds.
Free hot breakfast is served in a streamlined dining room. There's also a simple bar and a fitness room, plus meeting space and a business centre.
Address: 157 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8XA
Phone:020 7401 8080
Website: http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/index.html
Travelodge
A 7-minute walk from Southwark tube station, this budget hotel in a traditional redbrick building is a 14-minute walk from both the London Eye and Tate Modern.
Simple, modern rooms come with custom-designed beds, limited free Wi-Fi, TVs and desks, plus tea and coffee making equipment. Family rooms add pull-out beds.
There’s a casual restaurant/bar offering an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet and simple dinners (kids eat free).
Address: 195-203 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UX
Phone:0871 984 6291
Website: www.travelodge.co.uk
Hotel Novotel London Waterloo
A 1-minute walk from Lambeth Palace bus stop, this stylish, riverside hotel in a traditional building is also 14 minutes from the London Eye and 2.4 miles from the British Museum.
The modern rooms come with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and desks. All feature sofabeds and minibars, as well as tea and coffeemaking facilities, while upgraded rooms add iPod docks and Nespresso machines. Kids age 16 and under stay at no charge in their parents’ rooms. Room service is available 24/7.
Amenities include a bar and an international restaurant, plus an exercise room, a sauna and a hammam. There's also a play area, a business centre and meeting space.
Address: 113 Lambeth Rd, London SE1 7LS
Phone:020 7660 0674
Website: http://www.accorhotels.com
FAQs
Please post any questions in the comments box below and I will answer you as soon as possible.