“We wanted to create and interactive environment where everyone can dress up and live out their fantasies of being goblins and fairies and wonderful mythical creatures for a day. This year it will happen within the beautiful art deco interior of the Northcote Town Hall ballroom.” Lawks, what fun! Nearly 20 performers will enact a continuing narrative that picks up a story from last year’s Ball, interact with guests and treat everyone accordingly. “They help create the space,” says Knagg. “They go along with your story, interact with you and play a part in your role. It’s all wonderful, mythical fun. You don’t get in unless you’re in costume or in elegant evening wear with a mask,” he adds. Inspired by the atmospheric 1986 film Labyrinth featuring David Bowie, Knaggs created his first dress-up for grown-ups event ball in 2001, which took place in the Aschcombe Hedge Maze on the Mornington Peninsula. “Recreating the movie experience would have been difficult so we came up with our own brand of Goblin adventure.”
A variety of entertainment including close-up magic, more magic and acrobatics by Lamplight Circus, a belly dancer, costume parades along with the ancient rituals and goblin mythology as well as a continuing story unravelling the fate of one Princess Pintina will be included in the festivities. “Last year she was accused of killing the Fire God of the land of Ember Rule,” Knaggs explains. “Guests can be part of a game and role play, people can become part of the story and form alliances with the characters. There is a Goblin Marketplace with all sorts of vendors with trinkets for sale, special goods created for the event, and psychic readings.” Most importantly, a professional photographer will also be roaming the night.
The timing of the Goblin Ball is scheduled to coincide as closely as possible with the Winter Solstice in mid-June. “Each event is related to an element,” explains Knaggs. “Last year was the Ice Kingdom; this year it’s Ember Rule, the Fire Realm. And there’s a lot of close-up entertainment.” Not only that, a string quartet will provide music for waltz, as befits a night referencing Viennese masked balls. “I might run a small ballroom dancing class on the night,” Knaggs notes. DJs will supply more modern dance music, including the ever popular ’80s revival, for over four hours. “It happens over four different rooms if you count the bar so when people want to move out of the ballroom they have got somewhere to go and relax.”
He will get into character himself, of course, as the Grand Ringmaster of the night. “I have my own special timepiece to make sure everything happens when it should. It’s a large cast so there’s a massive amount of co-ordination needed. There’s a lot of talent involved but closer to the night it takes on a world of its own.” Is Knaggs a frustrated performer? “No. I used to be an actor, up til 2005; I worked on a few films. I’ve written a few novels, but my passion is in creating the production, rather than being actively involved in performance.” How does he source the actors who appear at the Goblin Ball? “We send out a casting call for auditions,” Knaggs answers. “We’ve been really lucky; we have a beautiful and talented team who’ve worked on stage and in film. They can even be a little bit creepy!” We’re guessing that’s a good thing.
Is there a particular crowd drawn to the event? “It’s an amazing blend of people, definitely an art crowd,” answers Knaggs. “Costume designers, make-up artists, costume play enthusiasts…it’s an interesting night. People come from interstate. It’s a real mixture – our oldest guest last year was in her mid-70s. It doesn’t matter who you are.” Is he planning to take the Goblin Ball further or is he happy with one ball a year? “I’d like to do more of them. We are thinking of doing a Halloween event. Something a bit darker, centred on vampire mythology. And a summer event during the day, something more relaxed and family orientated. There’s a lot of enthusiasm for an accessible outdoor dance. Last year we had complaints from people from 15 and upwards who couldn’t come to the Goblin Ball because it’s a licensed over-18 event.” It sounds like the kids shouldn’t be missing out on any of it. “For sure. You’ve got to love kids’ imaginations,” Knaggs notes.
BY LIZA DEZFOULI
