Total Recall-style three-breasted lady aliens - see our full Light Night 2010 Gallery

It wasn’t Friday 13th Fright Night, but rather Friday 12th Light Night as Nottingham burst with colour. Townsfolk huddled together in the market square drinking in the melodious performances of Nottingham Music School while warming themselves under the multi-coloured splendour of the illuminations. However some may have been ignorant of the darker side to the celebrations. Within the gargoyle clad walls of a nearby public house, creatures from another world beamed in giving us earthlings a chance to experience Martians, mutants and mad science.

Alien autopsy  - see our full Light Night 2010 Gallery

Held at the Pit and Pendulum Danse Macabre brought us another spectacular Pit of Curiosities, this year’s theme crossing the barriers of space-time. Danse Macabre is a rapidly growing arts organisation born in Nottingham which collaborates with local artists to host exhibitions and a variety of thrilling events. This, the second Pit of Curiosities follows on from last year’s successful Victorian Freak Show extravaganza, comprised of futuristic special effects by artists such as Jayne Hymen creating an assortment of creepy characters and multi dimensional attractions.

Guests were to feast there eyes on three-three breasted mud wrestling aliens, a golden Robot Girl brought to life by burlesque performer Scarlett Daggers, a live Alien Autopsy, the Time Travelling Oracle, the pink faced Theremin Girl and a multi-talented magic man The Brain who could bend spoons and mess with your mind. The make-up and effects were dazzling, futuristic themes blended with the 1940’s style pin-up and horror was akin to the set of a Tim Burton movie. And what more can I say about the venue?

But it was not only the performers who were showing off there creative skills and fantastic figures. Guests were encouraged to lace up their corsets and bring fourth their alien alter-egos with the chance of prizes for the best dressed, bringing a relaxed and inclusive feel to the evening. Tracks from unearthly musicians such as Marilyn Manson, Babylon Zoo and Ziggy Stardust exploded from the speakers while alcohol including the Pits renowned Seven Deadly Sins poured from the bar.

Theramin girl - see our full Light Night 2010 Gallery

I caught a moment with Co-Organiser Charlotte Thompson to ask her how she thought the evening went. Wearing a custom made Star Trek dress she commented ‘Its been a great, last year everyone was crammed and didn’t get to see the attractions while this year has been a bit more manageable, so I would say it has been hugely successful’.

Charlotte along with fellow crew, organisers Matthew Vickarstaff, Paul Bowring and Jody Capuano have defiantly outdone themselves with this year’s theme. But is it the final frontier?

"We plan to run future exhibitions," continued Charlotte, "and we want to take it out of the midlands. We went to London last year and we plan to go to New York in 2010 with the idea of a gallery in mind. Then world domination maybe."

No doubt that Danse Macabre will return with more of the weird and wonderful in the future, unifying art and performance with an elegancy matched with flamboyancy to bring us an all-encompassing and enjoyable show. But what will be next, I guess only the oracle will know.

The Pit of Curiosities was held at the Pit and Pendulum on Friday 12 February 2010.

Pit of Curiosities at Pit and Pendulum