It’s one of the most popular – and bizarre – podcasts in the world and now it’s coming to Nottingham as part of a brand new UK and European tour – but just what the heck is Welcome to Night Vale?
Well, as someone who was turned on to this podcasts a few months ago, I’m going to do my best to shed a bit of light on the show and why you really should be heading along to the Albert Hall at the end of the month to check it out.
Launched in 2012 Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast recording presented in the form of a radio show for the fictional town of Night Vale, probably one of the strangest towns on the planet – though residents of Desert Bluffs may disagree.
We are told the stories of Night Vale through the eyes (and voice) of presenter Cecil Palmer (voiced by Cecil Baldwin) who informs us of the latest goings on and strange happenings in the town, a host of guests often pop along to offer up their thoughts including local scientist/love interest Carlos, Night Vale Radio intern-cum-town mayor Dana, the Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home, Hiram McDaniels – a literal five-headed dragon – and many more.
Ongoing storylines grow subtly and brilliantly around episodic focusing issues, while small things in the background, such as the cat that hovers in the studio bathroom, are welcome delights that grow, you’ll soon find yourself caring about the strange characters that make up this odd little desert town. At least, I did.
The success of the show has led to several live performances, drawing on the performing arts backgrounds of creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, who met while part of the New York-based theatre group New York Neo-Futurists. The live shows have become sell out hits across the globe and so it is that the latest show All Hail comes to Nottingham.
Working as a stand-alone story and featuring guest stars and live music, All Hail, will be the ideal introducing to the show for new fans while also offering plenty for those already immersed in Cecil Palmer’s world. The show will tell a mystery about Night Vale fan favourite the Glow Cloud, plus mind control, chanting and the local community calendar. Plus of course the weather.
All Hail will be stopping off at Nottingham’s Albert Hall on Saturday 30 September and tickets are still available here priced at £27.50.
In the meantime, if you haven’t yet checked out the Welcome to Night Vale podcast we highly recommend you check out the official website to find out more.
