Published: Thursday, 24th July, 2008 8:50am

Ghost hunters wait in the wings of Dunfermline's Alhambra theatre

by Siew Peng Lee

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THE SAYING goes that every good theatre has a ghost - and Dunfermline"s Alhambra, it seems, falls into that category.

Accounts of eerie encounters in the 86-year-old theatre have filtered down through the decades, of three apparitions which haunt the actors" box, the centre aisle and the back of the balcony.

But far from being spooked, Bill Fletcher, managing director of Linklever, the company which owns the Alhambra, is 'delighted' that the theatre has ghosts.

He laughed, 'I think it"s great. Every self-respecting theatre should have one.'

Mr Fletcher said the first ghost was believed to be that of an Italian actress, who was the principal singer with the O"Mara Theatre Company, one of the opera companies that visited the Alhambra during the 1920s.

He related, 'She had a liaison with her male counterpart, and her husband found out and confronted them on stage during a dress rehearsal at the theatre.

'A fracas ensued, and the actress ran up to the actors" box and slammed the door shut, but her husband forced it open.

'She fell backwards and broke her neck - and the box has said to be haunted since.'

Theories about the ghost in the aisle suggest it is either the same actress in period costume, dressed in black with a cowl similar to a monk"s hood, or a monk who used to 'reside' in St Andrews Church in Abbey Park Place.

However, Mr Fletcher said the third ghost was 'more mundane'.

He said, 'It haunts the back of the balcony which was the projection room, to the extent that tradesmen would not go into it. People feel uncomfortable going there.'

And now the spectres have caught the attention of the world"s oldest society dedicated to psychic research.

The Ghost Club of Great Britain plans to hold a paranormal vigil at the theatre, complete with recording equipment, temperature monitors and mediums.

Derek Green, the club"s Scottish co-ordinator, explained, 'We"ll split into groups where there"s alleged phenomena and take readings to see if we can get any proof at all about the alleged hauntings.

'We"re hoping to get some evidence from the mediums and pick up some temperature differences in the building - and get some appearances. In every place we go to nobody can tell if anything will happen.

'We"re using all the equipment in the hope that something will be picked up and get tangible proof that the building is haunted.'

It is not the first time the club has sussed out the supernatural in West Fife.

Mr Green said, 'We"ve done investigations in West Fife before, at the Palace and Town House in Culross and Abbot House in Dunfermline.

'We were convinced there was something at the Palace and Abbot House, where an object moved by itself in a sealed room, and we"re sure it was paranormal.

'Hopefully, we"ll get some proof at the Alhambra as well. The Dunfermline area has not let us down yet!'

Mr Fletcher added, 'I wish the ghost hunters good luck.

'If there are any ghosts here, I would hope they are smiling down on the new life of the theatre.'

l Have you heard any stories about the Alhambra"s ghosts, or had a chilling meeting with them? We want to know. Write to us at the Dunfermline Press, Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline KY11 8QS or e-mail editor@dunfermlinepress.co.uk