The 2026 Line Up is as follows
10.00 to 12.00 - RWS Global Scare Actor Auditions
RWS Global is the world leader in groundbreaking live moments across entertainment and sports, creating customized guest experiences spanning theatrical productions, live events, immersive destinations, multimedia and consumer products.
We would like to extend an invitation to all performers who are interested in auditioning for the Halloween season across the many Merlin attractions we support. Please click the link below to register:
https://calendly.com/auditions-5/scarecon-audition
Please note - all ScareCON delegates are eligible to attend these auditions.. Non delegates are encouraged to attend, but will not have access to the remaining activities of ScareCON. To upgrade to full access on the day and the evening party - please check in with the reception team when you arrive.
We would like to extend an invitation to all performers who are interested in auditioning for the Halloween season across the many Merlin attractions we support. Please click the link below to register:
https://calendly.com/auditions-5/scarecon-audition
Please note - all ScareCON delegates are eligible to attend these auditions.. Non delegates are encouraged to attend, but will not have access to the remaining activities of ScareCON. To upgrade to full access on the day and the evening party - please check in with the reception team when you arrive.
12.15 - Scare Actor Workshop
Come and join in an a specially curated introduction to Scareschool by Scream Effects Co, In this session we will go over some basic techniques and characterisation to help take your scares to the next level,
Please note: Loose fitting clothes and comfortable shoes are recommended to partake in this workshop.
Please note: Loose fitting clothes and comfortable shoes are recommended to partake in this workshop.
13.00 - Taking the Fear Out of Casting by RWS Global
Join the senior recruitment team at RWS Global, as they talk about the specific requirements of casting for the Halloween season. Learn some of their tips and hints on how to provide fun and exciting audition spaces, and how to easily identify top-performing talent in a sea of applications.
This session will also cover how to maintain and support actors during an intensive Halloween season, to ensure audiences all receive the same high energy and professional entertainment their performance.
This session will also cover how to maintain and support actors during an intensive Halloween season, to ensure audiences all receive the same high energy and professional entertainment their performance.
13.45 - Do's and Don'ts when Designing - a Creative's Point of View - Scream Effect Productions
In this session we will talk about some key aspects of design that must be considered for a successful scare attraction. The discussion will address such diverse topics as accessibility, the importance of a themed book, knowing your own limits, and the judicial importance of audio, lighting and effects.
14.30 - Using Games and Narrative to Solve Operational Problems
Gary Sytocker - Screamworks
Scare attractions often simplify gameplay to protect throughput and flow — but what if more complex systems could actually improve it?
In this practical and candid talk, ScreamWorks creator Gary Stocker explores how gameplay and narrative can be used to shape audience behaviour, regulate flow and reduce operational friction inside live horror experiences.
sing real examples from productions including Open House, Granny and The Briefcase, Gary will demonstrate how carefully designed mechanics can encourage group separation, improve compliance, transfer responsibility to guests and create self-regulating systems that require less intervention from staff.
The session will also explore how meaningful player autonomy can exist without sacrificing operational control, along with some unusual psychological discoveries made during development, including why audiences sometimes trust screens more than reality itself.
Featuring behind-the-scenes footage, failures, experiments and practical takeaways for scare attraction and immersive experience designers.
In this practical and candid talk, ScreamWorks creator Gary Stocker explores how gameplay and narrative can be used to shape audience behaviour, regulate flow and reduce operational friction inside live horror experiences.
sing real examples from productions including Open House, Granny and The Briefcase, Gary will demonstrate how carefully designed mechanics can encourage group separation, improve compliance, transfer responsibility to guests and create self-regulating systems that require less intervention from staff.
The session will also explore how meaningful player autonomy can exist without sacrificing operational control, along with some unusual psychological discoveries made during development, including why audiences sometimes trust screens more than reality itself.
Featuring behind-the-scenes footage, failures, experiments and practical takeaways for scare attraction and immersive experience designers.
15.30 - Overcoming Hurdels to Create an Award Winning Event
Rob Gough - Horror at Hinchingbrooke House
Horror at Hinchingbrooke House has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most intense and full on scare experiences in the industry, which always mixes gut wrenching fears, with laugh out loud scenarios such as High School Musical or Baywatch.
Every year the event is faced with huge barriers including access to the venue, time to build and take down a whole temporary event and working inside a listed building with walls lined with antiquities.
This year has seen an even bigger hurdle as the team have had to find a new venue, a new name and effectively start again from scratch.
The team will discuss how they worked through these issues, and how despite the odds - they manage to pull off a hugely successful event every year
Every year the event is faced with huge barriers including access to the venue, time to build and take down a whole temporary event and working inside a listed building with walls lined with antiquities.
This year has seen an even bigger hurdle as the team have had to find a new venue, a new name and effectively start again from scratch.
The team will discuss how they worked through these issues, and how despite the odds - they manage to pull off a hugely successful event every year
16.30 - Doncaster Fear Factory - A Story of Impressive Growth nd Determination
From a small temporary scare attraction in an old shed building through to a popular scream park hosting award winning attractions, Doncaster Fear Factory have seen a lot of changes.
Join Laurie and the team as they talk through their challenges and successes to get where they are today. The session will also include discussion about how they design and build immersive themes and stories for their attractions.
Join Laurie and the team as they talk through their challenges and successes to get where they are today. The session will also include discussion about how they design and build immersive themes and stories for their attractions.
