Wigan, 1894. The Richard Throstle Magic Lantern Company proudly presents its ghoulishly popular magic lantern show, Phantasmagoria. Meanwhile, across town a touring theatre company – the Morgan-Drew Players – plods the provinces in the celebrated melodrama The Silver King. The good folk of Wigan are inundated with entertainment opportunities, which they sorely need following a recent strike which has left the town half-starved. But when Richard Throstle is found murdered in his hotel room –..