The Willy Wonka Nightmare That Refuses to Fade
Two years after Glasgow's catastrophic Willy Wonka experience became an internet sensation for all the wrong reasons, the psychological scars remain vivid for those who lived through the debacle. What was marketed as "a heart-pounding experience" turned into a traumatic event that continues to haunt participants, particularly children who encountered bizarre AI-generated storylines and terrifying characters in a supposedly enchanted warehouse.
A Child's Persistent Nightmares
Maryanne McCormack recalls taking her then 11-year-old daughter Perri to the event, unaware it would become legendary for its failures. "She barely remembers it but she remembers that mask," McCormack reveals. "She was very scared for quite a while going to bed. The character they created was terrifying for a kid and she often was scared at night seeing the mask."
The mysterious figure known as "The Unknown" – a terrifying rival to Willy Wonka described as looking like "Diana Ross at an Eyes Wide Shut party" – continues to appear in Perri's dreams according to her mother. The family only found relief when they discovered the actor beneath the mask was a 16-year-old member of Perri's own cub group, making the character less frightening through familiarity.
Performers' Lasting Trauma
Michael Archibald, who was drafted at the last minute to play one of the unofficial Willy Wonkas, describes severe personal consequences from the event's viral notoriety. Lured by a promised £500 payment as an 18-year-old needing money, Archibald found himself thrust into an international spotlight he never sought.
"The attention on my end honestly was atrocious," Archibald confesses. "I had a lot of random racist comments since I'm mixed, I am from Scotland and never had been abroad at the time of the experience, but since I've got a funny American accent I had a lot of the whole 'get out of this country' or 'he's not even Scottish' comments. It sucked."
He adds that criticism of his appearance "sent me into a pretty big spiral for being as young as I was." Despite the trauma, Archibald reports finding stability with a regular job and mortgage, though he notes the event remains "a huge inside joke in my friend group" that periodically resurfaces on social media.
The Organizer's Disappearing Act
Event organizer Billy Coull vanished when refunds became necessary for the disastrous £35-per-ticket experience, which featured sagging posters, unrehearsed actors, and demented storylines that would have "Roald Dahl rolling in his grave." Coull eventually apologized, stating: "I'm really shocked that the event had fallen short of the expectations of people on paper. My vision of the artistic rendition of a well-known book didn't come to fruition. For that, I am absolutely truly and utterly sorry."
A Cultural Phenomenon That Won't Die
The Glasgow Willy Wonka experience has joined historical "you had to be there" moments like the Sex Pistols at Manchester's Free Trade Hall and Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, though for entirely different reasons. What began as a poorly planned children's event in an abandoned warehouse on a Glasgow industrial estate has evolved into enduring internet folklore, spawning countless memes while leaving real human damage in its wake.
McCormack reflects on the strange legacy: "Looking back I don't feel like I'm part of history. Even though we laugh now if I see Billy in person I'd definitely ask for my money still. I just haven't bumped into him yet." Meanwhile, Archibald remains friends with "The Unknown" actor, recently attending her 18th birthday party, proving that some connections forged in disaster can become positive relationships despite the overall traumatic experience.
