Where do you go to find authoritative pronunciations for alchemical terms? Nigredo, albedo, citrinitas (especially) and rubedo, etc. All I'm finding online are videos created by pseuds (or, indeed, robots) that I don't exactly trust.

Ooh, a lede buried there; @jamescswanton.bsky.social in a @bigfinish.bsky.social at last! Hurrah!

My interview for the Dickens Museum's SHOWTIME! exhibition is now available online. They projected it on a wall for six months, meaning I was too frightened to watch! Includes ramblings on David Lean's seminal OLIVER TWIST (1948), Simon Callow, Alastair Sim, Gonzo, etc.

This pleased me immensely: in a recent mini-doc on York's legendary panto, you can clearly see a copy of @jimmymcdonough.bsky.social's THE GHASTLY ONE on display in Berwick Kaler's home office. Check the bottom shelf, on the far right...

I gave 62 one-man Dickens plays in the run-up to Christmas, as well as being interviewed by The New York Times. Common sense dictates I should get some rest, but what I'd really like is another job. Ah - who'd be an actor?

On BBC 4 Extra at 4pm: a repeat of @tobyhadoke.bsky.social’s estimable and effective 2018 radio adaptation of The Road. Genuinely not to be missed if you’re a Nigel Kneale fan. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Last chance today!

Watching...Marveling, really at @jamescswanton.bsky.social 's INCREDIBLE performance as Ransley in The Haunted Season: To Fire Come At Last! Holy macaroni, US folks run, don't walk over to Shudder to check it out!

"confronts a modern-day Scrooge with how the other half lives... and dies": @stephengraves.co.uk's short ghost story THE DEAD OF WINTER (2023) is now on ShortsTV and Prime Video, screening as part of the "Christmas Stories" compilation. projectedfigures.com/2023/10/18/t...

Five stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) for my CAROL here: 'While there will undoubtedly be many versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to choose from this festive season, on screen and stage, this is one helluva performance not to be missed.' Virtually sold out in London, but SIGNAL-MAN and HAUNTED MAN tickets remain!

Selfies taken before shows 19 (THE HAUNTED MAN) and 20 (A CHRISTMAS CAROL). 42 left! We're sold out in York, but we've some London availability coming up. The two CAROLs on 2nd December are the only ones with any spaces left; also room for THE HAUNTED MAN and THE SIGNAL-MAN (3rd and 4th December).

Five stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) for my CAROL here: 'While there will undoubtedly be many versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to choose from this festive season, on screen and stage, this is one helluva performance not to be missed.' Virtually sold out in London, but SIGNAL-MAN and HAUNTED MAN tickets remain!

Here's my pre-show selfie from last week's press night at the Dickens Museum. The first CHRISTMAS CAROL of the season, and the 18th performance in this year's marathon. 44 to go! We're now fully sold out in York. The best availability is for London at the start of December. Hurry, do!

The Horned King animatronic, a featured villain in Tokyo Disneyland's defunct Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour - part of the strange legacy of The Black Cauldron (1985). Listen to our episode with @jamescswanton.bsky.social - linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

A surprisingly sensual witch encounter in The Black Cauldron (1985). Listen to our episode with @jamescswanton.bsky.social - linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

New episode: The Black Cauldron (1985) with @jamescswanton.bsky.social Listen: linktr.ee/onceuponavhs

Anything you can donate to assist the truly great Michael Patrick would be most welcome! He's an incredibly gifted actor and writer, and he's going through something I can't begin to imagine - but he's carrying on with his typically massive optimism, courage and heart. Long may he reign.

Anything you can donate to assist the truly great Michael Patrick would be most welcome! He's an incredibly gifted actor and writer, and he's going through something I can't begin to imagine - but he's carrying on with his typically massive optimism, courage and heart. Long may he reign.

A quick ticket update for my 45 imminent performances of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE HAUNTED MAN and THE SIGNAL-MAN, in York and London both!

A quick ticket update for my 45 imminent performances of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE HAUNTED MAN and THE SIGNAL-MAN, in York and London both!

Always amazing to see such a transformation. Cheered me right up, that has!

Would you look at that: a few minutes of me submitting to the artistry of Dave Elsey, as he recreates Phil Leakey's Creature make-up from THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957). I was lucky enough to receive a DVD of this film on my twelfth birthday. Little did I know what lay ahead...

Here are the last two portraits taken before Sunday's performances at the Charles Dickens Museum. A few weeks off now, prior to the mania of my 45 Christmas shows. If you missed out this time, panic not: THE SIGNAL-MAN and THE TRIAL FOR MURDER will be back for five airings in December. Link below!

Oh how brilliant an hour this was at the Dickens Museum yesterday. "The Trial for Murder" was new to me; somehow I don't think I will forget it and its face of impure wax. Masterful storytelling.

Pre-show pictures from the last four at the Dickens Museum: two on Halloween, two on 1st November. And there are two today - 4pm and 6pm - for which tickets remain plentiful! Link below...

Oh! Lovely to see the Two Ghost Stories, as they were so often collated in Collected works of Dickens (in editions where The Signal-Man extrapolated from Mugby Junction), are being performed together ❤️ I hope it tours!

Has to be seen to be believed.

Pre-show pictures from the last four at the Dickens Museum: two on Halloween, two on 1st November. And there are two today - 4pm and 6pm - for which tickets remain plentiful! Link below...

Just back from James’s electric execution.

We've almost sold out today, but Sunday's flush with availability! 4pm and 6pm for some belated Halloween spookery. Simply click for details...

What better way to spend Halloween than at the Dickens Museum experiencing a pair of the author’s own creepy tales superbly told by @jamescswanton.bsky.social His physicality and use of lighting added extra dimensions to the text. Thoroughly recommended.

Here's a quick reminder of my Halloween double bill of THE SIGNAL-MAN and THE TRIAL FOR MURDER, which plays at London's Charles Dickens Museum from 31st October to 2nd November! Don't miss out!

Here's a quick reminder of my Halloween double bill of THE SIGNAL-MAN and THE TRIAL FOR MURDER, which plays at London's Charles Dickens Museum from 31st October to 2nd November! Don't miss out!

Four shows over two nights! That leaves 51 before Christmas. The next six are at London's Charles Dickens Museum for Halloween - this Friday to Sunday - and tickets yet remain: dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-ev...

Some humbling praise here from horror legend Ramsey Campbell, who caught my double bill of THE SIGNAL-MAN and THE TRIAL FOR MURDER in Manchester! There are still plenty of tickets left for London, 31st October through 2nd November. Hope to see some of you there...?

Some humbling praise here from horror legend Ramsey Campbell, who caught my double bill of THE SIGNAL-MAN and THE TRIAL FOR MURDER in Manchester! There are still plenty of tickets left for London, 31st October through 2nd November. Hope to see some of you there...?

Show seven was on Saturday, at Manchester's Festival of Fantastic Films. 55 left now, with two tonight in York.

That's shows five and six done. Only 56 left!

The interviewer asks @zackpolanski.bsky.social if he's worried about splitting the left vote & whether the best way to beat the right is to vote Labour. Zack: "The idea that the Labour party are on the left is completely incoherent"

Four shows done. Can't believe we're down to the last 58.

I’ll be there.

Sadly I cant make this! but if you can go see!

Sort yourselves out, London. This is an absolute treat.

Three shows deep. Bring on the next 59!

Despite selling out our entire run in York, London sales for THE SIGNAL-MAN & THE TRIAL FOR MURDER are still a bit slow. We've got six showings between 31st October and 2nd November. A very classic Halloween treat, I'd argue - and in Charles Dickens's (probably definitely haunted) house!

Can I call you a Scream King, my dear? As I think you should def be honoured this #31DaysofHalloween #HorrorSky #31DaysofHorror - James Swanton 🙌

Two shows down; 60 left to go!

And it was sublime, James is an exceptional storyteller. I think the York dates are sold out, but if you can get a ticket for one of the London performances, I can *very* highly recommend it.

Last night was the first of 62 Dickens shows I have in the diary between now and Christmas Eve. Here's the tie-in selfie.