Many theatres across the country have reports of paranormal activity, and researching their history can uncover some truly tragic tales. Yet, occurrences at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre are, without a doubt, some of the most harrowing I have read.
Despite its modern appearance, once you step through the impressive glass-fronted entrance halls, you find yourself transported back a century into the original theatre.
A theatre has stood on the site since 1830 and operated under various forms and names. In the late 19th century, the site was cleared to make way for a new building, which opened in 1892 as the Empire Theatre. This operated successfully, with many top names of the time performing until tragedy struck on 9th May 1911.
German-born magician Sigmund Neuberger, performing under his stage name The Great Lafayette, was a friend of Houdini. Lafayette learned and perfected his craft in America before bringing his performances to the UK, becoming one of the highest-paid magicians of the time.
Tragically, not long after arriving in Edinburgh, his beloved dog Beauty passed away. A gift from Houdini, the dog had become a feature of Lafayette's fame as part of his stage show and in shows of opulence is said to have had a specially built bed in the magician's vehicle and wore a diamond-studded collar. Lafayette managed to arrange for Beauty to be buried in Piershill Cemetery in Edinburgh on the agreement that when he passed, he too would be buried in the same plot. He could not have foreseen how significant that agreement would become.
Lafayette was famed for his theatrical stage shows, telling stories with magic and illusion incorporated into them. One act, known as the Lion's Bride, included a cast of characters with Lafayette playing the lead male. As the act reached its finale, one of the oriental lanterns caught fire. The audience initially thought this was part of the show, yet soon realised something had gone wrong when the fire curtain dropped, and the theatre was evacuated with no injuries. The performers were not so lucky. They discovered the stage door had been locked, and they were stuck behind the heavy fire curtain. It was later found that parts of the scenery and a beam had fallen, further blocking any escape, and that the safety curtain also collapsed at some point.
Reports indicate Lafayette himself did escape, however, upon realising his horse and fellow performers were stuck inside, he returned into the burning building to try to help.
It took 3 hours to bring the fire under control, with several of the cast and crew either dead or missing. The magician's body was recovered and taken to Glasgow to be cremated. Thousands of mourners lined the streets as the coffin was taken to the crematorium, and many stage performers attended to pay their respects before the urn was prepared to be transported back to Edinburgh.
The story was, however, about to take a bizarre twist. An expensive diamond ring was found in the debris in the basement of the theatre, which was identified as belonging to Lafayette. Further searches found a body, which by all appearances was that of the magician. It was realised that an unimaginable mistake had taken place.
A man named Frank Richards was still missing, and workmen had been searching for him. Richards was Lafayette's body double, and it seemed that the body already recovered and cremated had, in fact, been Richards. The confusion had been caused by both men wearing identical outfits, and the remains originally found being beside a sword used by Lafayette in the act. The second body was described as 'relatively well preserved,' allowing an identification to be made, with the rings confirming it was that of the magician.
The remains were swiftly taken to be cremated before being placed in the plot where his dog had been buried just a few days before. It is reported that the event was as lavish as Lafayette's life had been, with multiple carriages and cars, along with several animals and numerous mourners. People lined the streets for miles hoping to catch a glimpse of the large oak urn containing the magician's remains, although you can't avoid the thought that the unbelievable events after the fire may have also drawn the crowds.
It is not surprising to learn that the spirit of The Great Lafayette reputedly haunts the theatre to this day, most likely forever connected to the site through the tragic twists and turns surrounding the tragic accident.
Opmerkingen