The Thirteen Chairs: An Interactive Ghost Experience

The Thirteen Chairs opens at Cityside Retail and Leisure Park on Thursday 29 October, running through to 1 November. It's a world premiere from Cahoots NI, and it's part of the 64th Belfast International Arts Festival — Chris McCreery's first year as artistic director, with premieres from 19 countries across more than 30 city venues.

It's an interactive, immersive storytelling show that the festival describes as 'The Ghost House meets The Traitors'. You're guided through a forgotten room by a curious host, and the choices you make shape the night as you uncover the mysterious tragedy of the Hoffman family and encounter an eclectic cast of ghosts, until the boundaries between the living and the dead begin to blur. It's a mix of theatre and dance, with spine-tingling scares and small capacities per performance, so you're never just a face in a crowd.

There are a few things to keep in mind before you book. It's recommended for ages 13 and over, and contains loud bangs and crash sound effects, strobe lighting, haze, and themes of death. If any of that is a dealbreaker, it's worth knowing upfront.

Each performance lasts 30 minutes. On Thursday and Friday, there are slots at 6pm, 7.30pm, and 9pm; on Saturday and Sunday, it's 5pm, 6.30pm, and 8pm. Tickets are £15, £12 concession, and £8 for students.