Locations In Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful is set in Victorian London "a time of change and discovery". A lot of the filming for the show took place in Dublin as well as Ardmore Studios in Ireland. 

Donnelly, B. (10 February 2014 ). Filming for horror series 'Penny Dreadful' takes place in Dublin. Available: http://www.demotix.com/news/3894417/filming-horror-series-penny-dreadful-takes-place-dublin. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Within the show there are 6 main locations that feature in the series. These being:

Sir Malcolm's Mansion

On display are all of artefacts from Sir Malcolm's previous expeditions and shows his preparation for his future journeys. This is where a lot of the stories take place, past and present. We see through flash backs how his leaving destroyed his family, and how many of the issues with his daughter Mina and Vanessa began.

Fanpop editors. (No Date ). Sir Malcolm Murray's mansion. Available: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/penny-dreadful/images/38377978/title/sir-malcolm-mansion-photo. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Dorian Gray's Mansion 

Opera Fresh Editor. (WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014). "Penny Dreadful" Makes Dorian Gray A Sex-Craved Opera Lover. Available: http://operafresh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/penny-dreadful-makes-dorian-gray-sex.html. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Dorian Gray's mansion helps us delve a little deeper into the character. For one his love of opera is shown, with it constantly playing whenever we see the mansion creating a particular ambiance. It is obvious this house is a place to please, within its decor and linked to the character itself. The mansion has elaborate decor that stands out from the other houses in the street, the walls are also filled with portraits this links to his character back story. Dorian Gray realised that the world was obsessed with beauty, therefore he wished that his portrait would age rather than himself. He soon realises that his wish has been granted when he notices changes to the portrait, in the first case being a sneer of cruelty after breaking someones heart.The picture carries on changing due to his corruption and cruelties however his face never changes. 

Reference:

Anon. (2015) ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, in Wikipedia. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray (Accessed: 3 May 2015)

Spitalfield's Murders

McGrath, M . (06 January 2011). Victorians show the way to profit from murder. Available: http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/victorians-show-the-way-to-profit-from-murder-6552662.html. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Although this isn't a main location, this features near the very beginning of the series, as a link to the Victorian villain, Jack The Ripper. I think this location was to set the scene for the "horrors" that occurred during this time, as this was a very real problem of the era. With the dark and erie streets of London, horrific acts occurred that rattled the public. The main attraction to the show is the supernatural elements however like the shows tagline, this proves that theres something within us all. 

Mariners Inn
The Mariners Inn becomes home to the character Brona, a lady of the night. Its not surprising she chooses to live near the waterfront where sailors and stevedores come to wind down. The dim lighting hides the sins that occur in this place. 

Valentine, G. (5/19/14). On Penny Dreadful, It's Not a Party Without a Seance. Available: http://io9.com/on-penny-dreadful-its-not-a-party-without-a-seance-1578497441. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Frankensteins Mortuary
Not only morgue, this old stable is used as an illegal slaughterhouse by Victor Frankenstein. This is a place were trade for body parts is common but also has a hidden secret. Frankenstein's scientific experiments take place in secret, and soon his Monsters are created. 

Bates, A. (May 11, 2014). Penny Dreadful Series 1, Episode 1, “Night Work”- Recap and Analysis – Spoiler Alert. Available: http://purefluffnyc.com/2014/05/11/penny-dreadful-series-1-episode-1-night-work-recap-and-analysis-spoiler-alert/. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Grand Guignol Theatre

Situated in Soho this theatre is well past its prime, yet it still holds the most amazing horror shows. The theatre attracts all kinds of people, but for the higher class there is an upper balcony. The Theatre becomes home to Frankenstein's monster, after a actor takes pity on him. As well as a home, this becomes his place of work. Due to him not having the face for the stage, he works below, with endless passages leading to trap doors, lifts, counterweights and pulleys he provides the special effects. 

Kressel, M. (JUL 03, 2014). Penny Dreadful Grand Guignol . Available: http://www.genevievevalentine.com/2014/07/penny-dreadfulgrand-guignol/. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

This was based on the real Grand Guignol theatre which was the first horror theatre and was the birth of testing scaring people live. It was a Parisian theatre open from 1897 to the early sixties. Although the real horror started in 1898 when Max Maurey took over as director. Andre de Lorde and Alfred Binet would collaborate in writing the plays. This was where many took inspiration for their own novels and even for the special effects in silent horror classics. This theatre was all about the experience, not just the show. With live blood pores and screaming at the audience they really felt a part of the horror rather than sitting in front of a screen.  The audience would even have a "splatter zone" were people would happily be covered by the "blood" to feel like part of the show. Stage tricks that were later used in films were created on the stage. Squibs were used to explode an actors head, blood bags helped the squirting blood effect, food colouring, syrups and soap were used to create oozing effects.  It wasn't surprising that audience members would even pass out from shock! 

reference:

Imdb editors. (No Date ). Penny Dreadful(TV_series). Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2628232/locations. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Showtime Editors . (No Date ). Penny Dreadful. Available: http://www.sho.com/sho/penny-dreadful/map. Last accessed 17th April 2015.
Sokol, T. (5/27/2014). Penny Dreadful: How The Grand Guignol Gave Birth to Horror. Available: http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/penny-dreadful/235946/penny-dreadful-how-the-grand-guignol-gave-birth-to-horror. Last accessed 17th April 2015.

Anon. (no date) Penny Dreadful - Map. Available at: http://www.sho.com/sho/penny-dreadful/map (Accessed: 3 May 2015)