DARE you enter Warrington Museum on the night of Friday the 13th?

It will be an evening of torture and torment as more than 300 years of the town's horrible history is brought to life for the free event, Rotten Luck.

The show, set among the museum's display cases featuring a mummy, a cursed head and numerous scary dolls, is part of Culture 24's Museums at Night celebration.

It aims to encourage new visitors into museums and galleries by throwing their doors open after hours and putting on special events.

After a successful launch for Halloween last year, Culture Warrington is again teaming up with Warrington acting group, Blackwood Events.

Rowan, a Culture Warrington arts ambassador, said: "The show follows more than 300 years of Warrington's horrible history and is set in a period where your future depends on luck as much as law.

"We will give the audience a view on how those laws have shaped the town and not always been best for the people of Warrington.

"Instead of looking at big historical figures and stories we have looked more into the lives of real people in Warrington and are giving guests a glimpse of how much things have changed over the last 300 years."

Guests may also find themselves being punished by 'Judge Blackwood'.

Rowan, a former Sir Thomas Boteler student, added: "Judge Blackwood is a horrible, miserable character from 1863 Warrington.

"He believes everyone is guilty and he isn't afraid to put his victims on the spot to get to the bottom of their vile crimes.

"Corrupted by his large book of rules and regulations he has collected some of Warrington's most unlucky victims from the last 300 years to haunt the audience to give them a taste of the rotten luck Warrington has had to endure during its rich history.

"From witchcraft to murder, nobody is safe from Judge Blackwood and his menacing gavel."

There are three performances on May 13 suitable for guests aged 12 and over at 5.45pm, 6.30pm and 7.15pm including a short film accompanied live by experimental electronica music.

Rowan, aged 20, said: "The beauty of having assigned groups is we can really control where the audience are and what they experience in each room allowing the actors to really work with the group and give them a memorable experience.

"Last year we also used the audience in the scenes and felt this really worked to put them right into the action and play out their own horror film with them as the star.

"We also have new effects in this show including lighting, projections, sounds and not so nice smells which we hope will help drop the audience into the story."

- Rotten Luck is at Warrington Museum on May 13. The experience is free but places must be booked by calling 442345. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.