• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

TERRIFYING TEAM-BUILDING AT PSYCHO PATH THIS AUTUMN

BUSINESSES LOOKING to strengthen their workforce can add a fear factor to team-building activities, with the North East’s biggest scream park.

Psycho Path presents Fearground will welcome killer clowns, chainsaw-wielding madmen and lots of hidden horrors to Lintz Hall Farm, Burnopfield from 11 to 31 October.

And organisers 700 Acres Ltd are inviting companies to book staff an evening at the event, to help boost their team’s relationships.

Experts suggest that challenges which elicit a fear response can be a positive group experience, creating better relationships and feelings of closeness.

“There’s a lot to gain from choosing to do scary activities like haunted houses,” said Margee Kerr, PhD sociologist and author of SCREAM: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear (www.margeekerr.com).

“The ‘fight or flight’ response can leave you feeling energized and fully in the moment as it’s the ‘natural’ high people talk about and, even though you know the monsters won’t really hurt you, it can work as a real confidence boost when you make it through to the end.

“Going through a haunted house with your friends can also bring you closer together, creating strong social bonds and memories for a lifetime.”

And the scream park, which was a sold out success last year, has introduced three new attractions for guests to make the most of this October.

Teams can enjoy some lighter entertainment at Anarchy Arcade with a chilling programme on offer, including stage shows, aerial acts, fire breathers, magicians and karavanaoke – karaoke in a specially adapted caravan.

It will also be home to a huge food village that will rival some food festivals, featuring vendors such as Acropolis, Tango Burgers, Hatch 76, Grillas, Med Head, Parm-O-Rama and Geordie Bangers,

Then, taking inspiration from an American house of horrors, iScream aims to confuse the senses with a maze, plenty of jump scares and a whole host of monstrous features.

And the park’s titular attraction, Psycho Path, returns with a new route which groups travel to in blacked out vans, ending up in an area of secluded farmland which is home to abandoned buildings and terrifying characters.

This year, the end of Psycho Path leads on to the new Psycho City, a post-apocalyptic environment with makeshift structures, burning barrels and the last surviving inhabitants lurking in the shadows.

Matthew Smyth, of 700 Acres Ltd, is confident that the event will go down a scream with businesses.

“We all know how important it is to get on well with the people you work with and there’s no better way to test relationships than a night at Fearground,” said Matthew.

“People go through a whole range of emotions, from fear, to laughter, to massive relief and Anarchy Arcade is the perfect place to stop and enjoy some food and drinks with colleagues when it’s all over.

“I think it would a great work outing for any businesses looking to try something different and it’s certainly one that staff won’t forget in a hurry.”

Tickets for Psycho Path start at £25. For more information or to book, visit www.psycho-path.co.uk.