Tag: Barnton Bunker

From Nuclear Bunker to Mythical Wonderland: International Volunteers Bring Scottish Folklore to Life

An international team of volunteers transforms Edinburgh’s historic Barnton Bunker into a handcrafted world of Scottish folklore, theatrical storytelling and unexpected encounters — all to help restore the historic site.

This Halloween season, a dedicated team of local and international volunteers is bringing Scottish mythology, history and imagination to life in one of Edinburgh’s most unusual settings.

Running from 20–30 October 2026, Greyfriar’s Bobby & William Wallace vs THE HAGGIS is a volunteer-created immersive storytelling adventure that invites visitors to journey through a series of handcrafted environments inspired by Scotland’s rich folklore and cultural heritage.

Set within the atmospheric surroundings of Barnton Bunker, a former military complex, the experience combines live characters, imaginative handmade scenery, creative lighting and sound, humour, suspense and moments of fright.

While the event embraces the spirit of Halloween, it offers something beyond the conventional haunted house. Rather than focusing solely on scares, the production places storytelling, character, artistic creativity and audience discovery at its heart.

Every environment has been imagined and brought to life by volunteers, transforming the bunker into a fantastical world where visitors encounter legendary creatures, unexpected heroes and an unfolding story.

A World Built by Volunteers

What makes this production particularly special is the people behind it.

Led by returning volunteer, artist and storyteller Jean Paul Archambeault, the experience has been imagined, designed and constructed from the ground up by a passionate team of volunteers from Scotland and around the world.

Working with salvaged and repurposed materials, and with limited resources, volunteers have spent countless hours crafting scenery, creating props, developing characters and transforming the former military complex into a series of fantastical environments.

The project celebrates what can be achieved through imagination, collaboration and community participation, demonstrating that memorable artistic experiences do not necessarily require large budgets or commercial production teams.

Each room represents another chapter in the unfolding story, inviting visitors to encounter characters and creatures drawn from Scotland’s rich mythological traditions.

The result is a production that reflects not only Scotland’s cultural heritage, but also the creativity, dedication and diverse perspectives of the international volunteers who have helped bring it to life.

Scottish Heroes, Mythical Creatures and a Very Mysterious Haggis

At the heart of the adventure is an unusual alliance between two of Scotland’s most recognisable figures: national hero William Wallace and Edinburgh’s beloved Greyfriar’s Bobby.

An ancient ritual known as The Feast has awakened a mysterious force. Under the influence of the enigmatic Haggis, creatures from Scottish folklore have emerged from their realms, threatening to disrupt the balance between humanity and the natural world.

Visitors journey through imaginative settings inspired by these legends, including:

  • An atmospheric ocean cave inhabited by a mysterious selkie.
  • A castle realm associated with the sinister redcap.
  • An enchanted woodland inhabited by the Ghillie Dhu and the faeries.
  • A war-torn Highland landscape haunted by a wolfman and the spirits of fallen Scottish warriors.

Through live characters, handcrafted scenery, atmospheric effects and storytelling, the bunker becomes a theatrical landscape where folklore, history, fantasy and humour intertwine.

Although the experience includes spooky encounters and moments of suspense, the emphasis is on immersive storytelling and the creativity of the volunteers, rather than scares alone.

The production deliberately combines darker themes with moments of playfulness and humour, creating an experience that is imaginative, entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking.

Bringing New Life to a Historic Bunker

The event takes place within the former Second World War RAF Fighter Command Operations complex at Barnton, a site with a fascinating military history and an ongoing programme of restoration.

Proceeds from the event will support the restoration of damaged sections of the bunker and contribute towards the ambition of developing the site as a distinctive space for arts, cultural activities, community gatherings and creative events.

The project is about more than preserving a historic building. It is also about creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to collaborate, share skills, make art and bring new life to an extraordinary Edinburgh landmark.

Through this volunteer-led initiative, the bunker becomes both a place of historical significance and a living space for contemporary creativity.

The event demonstrates how heritage conservation, community volunteering and the arts can work together, creating something meaningful for both the people involved and the wider public.

An Invitation to Experience Something Different

Greyfriar’s Bobby & William Wallace vs THE HAGGIS offers an unusual opportunity to experience Scottish storytelling in a setting unlike any other!

Contact barntonbunky@gmail.com

Secret nuclear bunker solves Edinburgh Festival accommodation problem

LGBTQIA+ VILLAGE CREATED AT BARNTON BUNKER

In a bid to beat the soaring cost of accommodation at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a group of performers are setting up camp at a disused nuclear bunker on the edge of the city this August. 

Barnton Bunker, which is  situated just five miles from the centre, adjacent to Edinburgh Zoo, was built in 1944 and, in 1951, was commissioned as a Cold War shelter for the British government and the Queen in the event of a nuclear attack.  Decomissioned it 1955 it now plays host to a panoply of performers including queens of a different variety!

The company of ALPHABET SOUP, a new force in LGBTQIA+ comedy, which performs daily from 4th to 27th August at Le Monde Hotel’s Shanghai Night, will be living in caravans on the Barnton Bunker site throughout festival.   Housing a rich mix of world-class queer comedians, drag performers and variety acts the bunker is set to be transformed into Mad Max style digs for the diverse.

ALPHABET SOUP serves up brunch throughout the festival for the very first time.  With a brand new menu every day, mixing a core company of imported performers with a daily change of locally sourced ingredients, this is a queer comedy brunch unlike any other, co-hosted 7G and the hilarious bisexual comedian Alyssa Poteet. With the concerted assault on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQIA+  people across The States and elsewhere, this is part of the fightback. 

In the spirit of ‘We’re Here We’re Queer’, Alphabet Soup is comedy for combat. 

7G – Alphabet Soup co-creator and camp leader says – ‘When I discovered that it would be £30-£35,000 to rent a house for the month for the performers of Alphabet Soup, I thought that we would not be able to premiere our brand new LGBTQIA+ extravaganza at the Edinburgh Fringe. 

“Then a West Hollywood gay friend told me that he was volunteering throughout the month of August to help restore Barnton Nuclear bunker to its World War II glory. As we LGBTQiA+ feel we’re in a war for our human rights right now, staying at a nuclear bunker  feels like a God Shot.. So we met with Ben Mitchell whose family are raising £5 million to restore the facility for visitors to tell him we were in . 

“Not only are we building an Alphabet Soup  Glamping camp site at a fraction of the cost of a house and we each get our own room,  we are also helping Ben raise the profile of his good work at the same time as planning our campaign to  Love Bomb the hatred of those who seek to oppress us.”

Alyssa Poteet – co-creator and fellow camp leader says: “From the most right-wing of red states all the way to our home of Los Angeles California, you can feel the rise of LGBTQIA+ hostility growing in America.

“This concerningly well organized and extraordinarily funded culture war is being seeded in our courthouses and legislatures and seeping into and infecting the hearts of US citizens.

“As we gear up to make our presence known and provide a new narrative about LGBTQUI+ in the wake of all these blows against us, it’s fitting that we must seek refuge in a war bunkers as we fight our fight. Some may lie down at this obstacle –  we’re toasting marshmallows and breathing in the fresh Scottish air”.

A spokesperson for The Barnton Bunker Preservation Society SCIO says: “We are delighted to partner with the talented team behind Alphabet Soup and welcome them to Barnton Bunker. 

“By joining forces, we aim to raise the profile of Barnton Bunker and its restoration efforts, while at the same time giving the Alphabet Soup team a safe, secure, and affordable solution to their accommodation issues during their stay at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“We extend our warmest thanks to Alphabet Soup, the LGBTQiA+ community and their entire team for their dedication, creativity, and commitment to making a positive impact.  Together, we can transform Barnton Bunker into a unique destination that celebrates history, creativity, and the power of collaboration.”