A Fermanagh artist has been up to some new tricks, lending his talents to a Belfast-based theatre company to help bring to life a creepy hotel, where guests are welcome to check in if they dare.

As part of Belfast International Arts Festival, theatre company Cahoots NI opened the doors of The Grimm Hotel, their latest interactive show featuring magic, music, cutting edge technology and some of the most recognisable characters from fairytale folklore.

Artist Kevin McHugh is renown for his large scale artworks and illustrations, which are often inspired by all things spooky. When he was asked to be involved with The Grimm Hotel, he jumped at the chance.

“[Cahoots NI] got in touch with me around February or March to design the poster for them because they wanted something very dark and creepy but still fun, and that’s what I do,” laughed Kevin, going on to explain that Cahoots had seen a lot of his artwork online so knew his style.

“So we chatted about that and went back and forth with different ideas. We got it done and everyone was happy with it. Then Paul McEneaney [creator and director of The Grimm Hotel] said he might have other ideas and he’d be back in touch,” he added.

Not long after, Kevin received another call from Paul asking him to paint the sets for the production, a walk-through theatre experience which takes inspiration from the much loved ‘Grimm’s Fairy Tales’.

“All the artwork had to symbolise a different fairy tale. It could be Hansel and Gretel, or Little Red Riding Hood, or the Elves and the Shoemaker, all that sort of thing,” said Kevin, adding: “There were a lot of areas inside the hotel that needed these paintings, basically to make it look like hotel décor and that it’s been there for a couple of hundred years.”

Describing The Grimm Hotel set, Kevin said: “They’ve basically built a hotel in an unused space in Cityside Retail & Leisure Park, Belfast. It’s this massive 10,000sq ft area and they’ve got free reign just to build this dark, creepy, mysterious hotel.”

“I don’t want to give too much away about how it actually looks because it’s a surprise for the people who are still to see it,” he added.

Along with the creepy interior decor, Kevin also had the job of painting the entrance to the hotel, which was previously an unassuming maintenance door within the shopping centre that leads to the space where the production takes place.

“They asked me to paint it to look like the front of a hotel but I wasn’t allowed to do it until the show was actually announced,” said Kevin, noting how Cahoots kept the theatre project a secret for as long as possible, adding to the mystery and intrigue.

“So everything was staggered throughout the year so I was back and forth several times, then once the show was announced I went back up and painted the front of the hotel, to give it its entrance.

“It was great craic because people have been seeing since January/February that something was going on behind this door and not knowing what it is. Even the [shopping centre] staff,” laughed Kevin, going on to comment how it “was brilliant to be part of that whole mystery and to add to it”.

“And they were lovely people to work with, they were just absolutely right up my street. Really creative and up for new ideas that wasn’t discussed at the meetings - if it sounded good, go for it.

“There was so much variety to paint and when I was painting the murals there were set designers there, carpenters there, electricians, sound engineers, lighting guys, they were all doing their creative bit as well and not one them was doing their normal job, they were all having to think outside the box. Everything had to create a sort of magic so everyone had to think on that level. Sparks were flying. I loved it,” said Kevin.

When The Grimm Hotel opened its doors, Kevin was quick to make a reservation. Talking about his experience and the joy of seeing his artwork in action, he said: “It was brilliant. Cahoots have been going for 20 years so they are professionals at this and it’s a big production.”

“There’s things that levitate, there’s things that fly about, there’s magic. It’s absolutely amazing and just so dark and humorous.

“It’s perfect for the run up to Hallowe’en.”

Although the Hallowe’en run of The Grimm Hotel is sold out, due to popular demand, the show will be returning for the Christmas season, with tickets going on sale in early November.

The Grimm Hotel is supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Future Screens NI, Belfast City Council, The Halifax Foundation, The Foyle Foundation, Savills Ireland, Arts & Business NI and The Enkalon Foundation.