Jake Orpwood Smith, a 27-year-old scare actor at the London Dungeon, has revealed what it is really like to spend his working days terrifying the public. From playing the Plague Doctor to starring in the new Prisoner show, Jake explained how his childhood fascination with all things spooky led him to a career in fear.
From childhood ghost hunts to the Dungeon stage
Jake, who also works part-time as a hospitality co-ordinator when he is not frightening visitors, credits his grandparents for sparking his love of horror. “My grandparents would bring me back little Halloween treats and trinkets from their holidays in America,” he said. One of his most vivid memories is receiving a “Count Dracula snow globe of his castle”.
“They really taught me to love all things scary and spooky from a young age, and that has stuck with me ever since,” Jake explained. “Every Halloween, my Grandad would buy a scary mask, hide somewhere in the house, and it was up to us grandchildren to go and find him, almost like our own little ghost hunt. It turned the house into our own special haunted attraction for the night, and I absolutely loved it.”
How a partner's nudge led to a career change
Jake's journey into scare acting began in 2023 when his partner joined the London Dungeon as an actor. “My partner joined the London Dungeon as an actor back in 2023 and kept telling me I should give it a go too. Eventually, I took the leap, left my job in nightlife and joined the team. I absolutely caught the bug and haven't looked back since,” he said.
His favourite part of the job, he says, is seeing the horrified reactions of visitors. “There aren't many jobs where you get to make someone's day by scaring the living daylights out of them! Seeing that reluctant smile creep across their face once they've recovered from the shock makes it all worthwhile,” he shared.
Favourite roles and the new mummy show
One of Jake's favourite roles is the Plague Doctor, which transports him back to the time of the Black Death. “I especially love playing the part of the Plague Doctor. The character provides great opportunities to frighten the public daily, and there have been some strange facial expressions over the years. Believe me, it's not always the intention, but I'd be lying if I didn't say a little bit of me is proud,” he said.
He also enjoys performing in the new Prisoner show at the London Dungeon. “The role is such a fantastic mix of intimidating presence and unhinged character. It's got everything you'd want from a Dungeons show, a scary character, intense ambience and a severed head,” he added.
This year, Jake is playing the archivist in the latest show, The Curse of the Mummy. The show runs until November 1, with tickets starting from £27 when pre-booked.
