His Majesty’s Theatre
His Majesty’s Theatre
His Majesty’s Theatre is a warm and welcoming location, with the active spirit of a friendly old stage hand, John Murray aka Jake. Tho this location is not excessively haunted it is still a very active location. Things moving, heavy footsteps, shadowy figures and old Jake still seen tottering around tending to his duties. Even stealing a thing or two from time to time. Sometimes it is a benefit to ghost hunters to find a location haunted predominantly by a single intelligent spirit. At Least you know exactly who to call out to.
Rosemount Viaduct,
Aberdeen ,
United Kingdom
Ghost Hunt at His Majesty’s Theatre
Ghost Hunting At His Majesty’s Theatre
A number of investigations and paranormal phenomena have occurred over the years here. With some great responses and recorded incidents. Not the most haunted location in the world, but ideal for beginners with its homely feel.
The Main Theatre and Stage seem to be the most active parts of the building. Tho staff regularly spot and old man in a brown apron shifting around the building, he is most regularly seen here by both staff and guests to the historic theatre. A shadowy figure is seen constantly during performances on the fly floor bridge just above the stage as the actors perform, looks like Old Jake still thinks he has a job to do. A husky male’s voice can often be heard muttering in different corners of the stage, when the staff are setting up for a performance as if someone is going through there schedule to themselves and the lights are constantly flickering on and off. Tho nobody seems to be afraid when these events occur, even when they are alone.
Lambeth Walk so nicknamed is located at the right side of the building. A red bricked street running through to the local church. This is directly opposite to where Jake unfortunately had his head swiped clean off. Whilst walking through this street people report icey cold spots, now we could just blame the mediterranean climate of Aberdeen, but people report a chill to the bones in a single part of the street. As if they are passing through a freezer. Other reports are of a old man with a brown apron passing you in the street with heavy footsteps and a merry whistle. Then suddenly the noise would stop and when you turn around the old man has vanished into thin air.
Jake seems to be present in the whole of the theatre and still very active today. Activity is rife both day and night with things constantly being moved only to turn up the next day. The lights occasionally flicker on and off in the Foyer , although this could be an electrical malfunction. Strangely enough there are numerous reports of a grey lady that floats through the foyer also. Unnamed and unknown it is more than likely this is a simply residual haunting. As with all old buildings there are always its secrets however. And a build such as this is bound to have a few.
Ghosts of His Majesty’s Theatre
Ghosts of His Majesty’s Theatre
. John Murray aka Old Jake
His Majesty’s Theatre is a famous location in Aberdeen thanks to its resident and helpful ghost Old Jake. Very active and caring jake has even saved a life once or twice in this magnificent old theatre.
John Murray aka Old Jake worked in the theatre during the times of WWII. He loved the building and treated it with the utmost respect, like a home away from home. Working there most of his life Jake was devoted to the theatre. One unfortunate day however Old Jake was backstage turning a winch that was to heavy for him lift a number of circuses horses onto stage for the performance. When they reached the top of the stage he bent over quickly to turn on the brake, he forgot however to secure the winch handle which back in those days where extremely heavy. As he bent over the rapidly spinning handle hit him with such a force that it took his head clean off his shoulders. An instant death such as this one is sometimes a reason why the Spirits never leave. They simply think they are still alive and like Jake carrying on working.
Tho Jake can be a bit of a nuisance moving things around, playing with the lights, they staff know it is only him. When objects go missing they say ” Its just Jake, it’ll be back tomorrow ” and sure enough there it is the next day.
But if it wasn’t for Jake a certain young staff member would have been dead not just once but twice! Edi a young man who was working alone one night fell and broke his ankle. So he crawled to the fire exit praying that it wasn’t padlocked like it normally was, only to find the lock open and lying at the base of the door unlocked. He was able to hobble to the local hospital and have his ankle fixed up.
Another account in which Edi could have lost his life was when he was working with props on the stage setting up for that nights performance, when a paint canister blew up in his face. Stumbling around blindly to try and find the sink in the props cupboard he took one step to far, and was just about to fall down into the empty orchestra pit. Suddenly he felt an icy force push his chest upwards and to his feet. Needless to say Edi still thanks Jake for this whenever asked.
Old Jake tho is death was unfortunate has never left his home away from home. He is very active in this location and provides strong evidence to the majority of paranormal investigators. A great location with a great feel.
His Majesty’s Theatre Location
Additional History of His Majesty’s Theatre
Opened in 1906 to the designs of the eminent Victorian architect Frank Matcham, His Majesty’s Theatre was probably the first theatre in the world to be built entirely of granite. The theatre commands enthusiastic support from a discerning audience from the city of Aberdeen and its hinterland stretching from Elgin in the north to Dundee in the south.The auditorium, housing some 1,500 patrons, has been heralded as one of the most beautiful of any major touring theatre in the British Isles. Its fine decoration is enhanced with delicate detail picked out in 23 carat gold and draped with luxurious crimson velvet. Sightlines and acoustics are excellent even to the rear of the stalls and the spacious balcony.The Dress Circle Bar is quite unique, being probably the only original circular bar in any Edwardian theatre. With pre-ordering facilities and service at the Italian marble bar, its reputation for efficient courtesy is equalled only by the stalls bar downstairs.