Spooky courtroom musical set to put Sheffield audiences in the jury box this Halloween
Writer and director Jenna Dabbs said the idea was to create a Halloween show that could be enjoyed by the whole family
Far Far Away Theatre will present All Rise For Halloween – A Spooky Kooky Courtroom Musical at The Montgomery, Sheffield, from October 29–31 2026, bringing a colourful collection of witches, werewolves, vampires, ghosts and other familiar Halloween characters before the most unusual court in the land.
Written and directed by Jenna Dabbs, with original music by Matthew Dabbs, the show takes place in the Supreme Court of the Eternal Rest, a courtroom hidden away in a graveyard where some of Halloween’s best-known characters are finally being called to account for their behaviour.
Presiding over proceedings is Judge Jackie Lantern, assisted by prosecutor Vivienne Van Helsing, defence lawyer Igor, Bailiff Frankenstein and a 20 strong juvenile jury.
Among those finding themselves in the dock are Count Dracula, Winnie the Witch, Graham the Ghost and a troublesome Werewolf – each facing their own rather unusual charges.
But there is one important difference between this courtroom and any other: the audience gets a say in what happens.
Throughout the performance, audience members will be invited to examine the evidence, hear from witnesses and help decide whether the defendants are guilty or innocent, making every performance an interactive Halloween experience.
Writer and director Jenna Dabbs said the idea was to create a Halloween show that could be enjoyed by the whole family.
“We wanted to make something that had all the fun of Halloween without it being genuinely frightening. There are lots of Halloween events aimed at very young children and plenty of terrifying experiences for adults, but we wanted something that families with children of different ages could all come and enjoy together.
“The courtroom idea gave us the perfect opportunity to make the audience part of the story. They’re not just sitting watching – they have a job to do. With their very own evidence bags, they'll be able to help decide on a guilty or non-guilty verdict!
The production features a large local cast, including a juvenile jury who remain an important part of the action throughout the show.
Audiences can expect original songs, comedy, dancing, colourful costumes and a graveyard courtroom set complete with crypts, gravestones and plenty of spooky surprises.
Far Far Away Theatre was founded in 2017 by Jenna and Matthew Dabbs with the aim of producing high-quality theatre that children and adults can enjoy together. Previous productions have included James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Twits and the company’s original Christmas musical The Elves and the Shoemaker.
Now the company is hoping Sheffield audiences will join them for something completely different this October.
Jenna added: “Halloween is such a brilliant time for theatre because visually you can have so much fun with it. We’ve got vampires, witches, ghosts, werewolves, Frankenstein and a courtroom in the middle of a graveyard – but underneath all of that it’s a big, silly family comedy."
“We want people to dress up, get involved and feel like they’ve actually stepped into our Halloween world for the evening.”
All Rise For Halloween – A Spooky Kooky Courtroom Musical runs at The Montgomery, Sheffield, from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October 2026.
With the stalls for performances already proving extremely popular, families are encouraged to book early.
The court is preparing to rise – but the final verdict belongs to the audience.
Sheffield Theatres Box office: 0114 2496000
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk