THREE chilling tales, two ghostly performers, one thrilling night, make up a new gothic storytelling experience from writer Adam Z Robinson and musician Ben Styles in York on September 28.

After spooking, mesmerising and charming 1,500 people in the oldest church in Leeds as part of Light Night and playing several sold-out dates in Yorkshire, The Book Of Darkness & Light will be performed at Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, York, next Wedbesday at 7.30pm to 9pm.

“Legend has it that many years ago a book of terrifying tales was found. Now, you are invited to discover the secrets of The Book Of Darkness & Light… if you dare,” says writer-performer Robinson, whose show combines his storytelling with Styles's live violin music.

Ancient book in hand, The Storyteller weaves the three ghostly tales as The Musician fills the room with his beautiful, haunting score. The tales range from moving to macabre: In Girl, Dancing an ageing stage star becomes jealous of her stepdaughter’s talent, making a ghastly decision to remove her from the picture. In Plagued, a cruel politician receives his comeuppance when he returns home one wintery night. In The Bonehouse, a historian comes face-to-face with the gruesome past of an abandoned village lock-up.

Adam Z Robinson is a writer of theatre, short fiction and film. His play Conscientious toured nationally in Autumn 2014; his short film The Split was directed by Ed Rigg and starred Edward Hogg, who has appeared in Indian Summers, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and the film was shown at the Manchester Film Festival, Cambridge Film Festival and London Short Film Festival.

Robinson co-wrote and co-directed the short film Go On, My Son with Nick Coupe, receiving support from Roundhouse, London, and funding from the Ex Animo Foundation. At present he is working on a new play, Bailiffs, with producers LittleMighty and director Nick Lane, who had had a long association with Hull Truck Theatre.

Ben Styles began playing music at the age of seven. While at university, he found a violin in a friend’s attic and set himself the challenge of teaching himself to play it. Within a year he had joined a band, Backyards, who subsequently played the BBC Introducing stages at Leeds and Reading Festivals. At home on stage and an inventive, imaginative improviser, he has thrived on combining his two passions in The Book Of Darkness & Light: stories and music.

The York performance forms part of a tour supported by funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The show is suitable for age 14 upwards and tickets cost £8, concessions £6, on 01904 613451 or on the door from 7pm.

Did you know?

Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, York is one of 18 North Yorkshire churches in the hands of the Churches Conservation Trust, whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk. The trust has saved more than 345 buildings; the churches are open to visitors all year round.