It's the highlight of the rock social calendar in West Cumbria and wouldn’t be Halloween without a performance of Zonked Out on Acdo at Workington’s Carnegie Theatre.

Billed as a tribute to Black Sabbath, this two-hour show takes the audience on a magical mystery tour featuring the best of the rock band’s hits.

It includes a cast of what seems like hundreds, a supergroup of West Cumbria’s finest musicians, giant papier mache figures and the inimitable Dez Rumney on lead vocals.

Zonked is a spectacle from start to finish and there was never a dull moment.

Dez is the brains behind the show and puts his heart and soul into its organisation.


Anticipation was high before the show started and as the lights dimmed, the main auditorium was bursting at the seams. The stage curtains were drawn back and the audience was confronted with a wall.

Projected on to it were video and stills from previous performances before Dez knocked the wall down and the 2016 show began with Behind the Wall of Sleep.

Highlights of the night included an 11ft Dez, fairies in boots, cameos by Hulk Hogan, who was doing his ironing during Iron Man, and Workington’s own Tider Man – otherwise known as Tich Heron – a host of drummers, Death, and a giant God, whose head exploded, showering everyone in red tinsel.

At one point, a foam cannon covered the first few rows – there was something happening almost every minute.

This is an “amateur” show that puts most professional productions in the shade.

Word went round that War Pigs was not to be missed. As Dez finished Am I Going Insane – of course performed in a straight jacket – there was an explosion and he collapsed.

Although my heart was in my mouth for a second or two, it was planned and allowed for the curtains to be drawn and sirens started to go off.

War Pigs was coming, but what would be revealed? Of course, the stage crew had built a tank behind the drum kit, manned by special guest Bryan Whittam.

It was a brilliant touch, especially when flames came out of the tank’s barrel. And I can’t not mention the barbershop quartet who popped up on stage. No, I don’t know either, but it was very funny.

Zonked Out on Acdo is a show that needs to be seen to be believed.

NICOLE REGAN