Spooky goings on at scary Monsters’ Ball

It certainly wasn’t a night for the faint-hearted as a whole host of ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, zombies and witches descended on Clacton’s Princes Theatre.

More than 250 Halloween celebrators turned up for the Monsters’ Ball on Saturday night and almost another 150 on Sunday afternoon.

The Tendring Council-run theatre staged the event for the first time last year.

This year organisers decided to split the event into two with a Saturday night and a Sunday afternoon – for those who weren’t keen on venturing out after dark.

Council leisure boss Mick Skeels said it was great to see so many turn out to enjoy themselves.

He said: “A huge amount of effort went into setting up the theatre for this event and all those involved were well rewarded with so many families going along.

“Those attending had gone to a lot of trouble with their costumes and make-up and the ball provided a safe environment for everyone to make the most of Halloween without disturbing others.”

Mr Skeels said almost everyone dressed up in costume and even the parents and grandparents joined in the spirit of the event.

There was live music from Vanaheim Music and DJ Aaron Gowans.

A bar was available for the adults and it was manned by a scary crew of Princes Theatre staff who had also donned fancy dress to ensure they fitted in with the Halloween theme.

There were plenty of sweets and treats for the little monsters and prizes were dished out for the best costumes.

The original idea for a Monsters’ Ball came from theatre apprentices Darryl Ward and Billy Harvey, who organised the event last year as part of their NVQ qualification.

They were also behind this year’s event and said they were delighted that even more people had packed into the theatre over the two days.

Steve Ward took along a 1957 Ford Zephyr and a 1963 Vauxhall Victor decked out as zombie-hunting vehicles, which were parked out on the pavement in Station Road.