The Bojnice Festival of Ghosts and Spirits runs April 27 to May 1 and May 4 to 8.photo: Courtesy Bojnice Castle
When night falls on April 26, the ghosts of Bojnice castle will emerge from their death slumbers to mingle with the living. At 21:00 sharp, they'll gather around the castle moat to welcome alien agent C3M from Sirius 5. But C3M has a dastardly plan, and when the ghosts discover his intent to beam the castle up to his home planet, a bloody battle ensues.
"I am really concerned about the old people living nearby the castle," says Jozef Mikuláš Pálffy, director, screenwriter and co-author of the theatrical show. "When they see the flying saucer landing in the moat, I hope they won't think it's a real UFO invasion."
The ghost and alien battle show will be the main attraction at this year's International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits (Medzinárodný festival duchov a strašidiel) at Bojnice castle in western Slovakia. Lasting 90 minutes, the show will be performed by 111 actors and dancers several times a day from April 27 to May 1 and May 4 to 8. The story of ghosts and aliens, which includes audience participation and snakes throughout the whole castle, changes from serious and horrifying to satiric and sentimental.
A separate performance during the "Ghost Ball" on April 30 will summarise the story in condensed fashion. Although the acting is in Slovak, castle guards can explain to foreign visitors the story line in their native tongue before the event.
Another festival activity will be the "Lux in tenebris", a dance and slide projection performance telling the history of Bojnice castle. Also, booths scattered around the castle will sell "honey mobile phones", the edible version of a tool used by aliens to get back home.
Tickets for Ghost Tour: adults 150 Sk, children 70 Sk (children under 6 free). Lux in Tenebris and Ghost Ball: 100 Sk. For more information and detailed event schedule contact Bojnice castle, tel: 0862 543 0633, or check out www.bojnicecastle.sk.
By Zuzana Habšudová
