About
The Psychopomp of Pump Street is a poetic, interactive pop-up performance booth led by a ghostly narrator who acts as a guide between this world and the next. Positioned near Pump Street, the Psychopomp invites passers-by to choose from a deck of illustrated tarot-style cards, each representing a real or legendary underrepresented figure from the history and folklore of the North West. Once a card is selected, the Psychopomp "calls in" that spirit and shares a 2–3 minute poetic monologue inspired by their life or myth.
This performance is an ideal match for the Pump-kin Street zone, which centres on harvest, tradition, trick-or-treat energy, and old Celtic customs. The Psychopomp acts as a modern-day carnival medium, draped in harvest-toned orange and mysterious symbols, offering story-readings to families and small groups as they pass. The piece gives a nod to fortune-tellers, ghost-talkers, and community seers — an essential part of any Halloween carnival atmosphere. It invites audiences not just to witness magic but to participate in it.
