A tug of the hair. A tap on the shoulder. A barely-felt breath in the ear.
It's probably not imagined. More likely it's Joe, the notorious ghost who allegedly haunts the halls of Newcastle's Civic Theatre.
Nearly all of the back-of-house staff have had their own encounters. Now, supernatural seekers can too.
Three paranormal investigation nights will be held for the first time in the theatre's history, using special equipment to record unexplained activity behind the curtain in areas the public rarely get to see.
Ghost hunter Renata Daniel, who runs Newcastle Ghost Tours, said sometimes it's more about what people feel than what they see, but being curious is a good first step.
"Seeing an apparition, a full-bodied apparition, is like the golden ticket in a paranormal investigation, but it doesn't happen often," Ms Daniel said.
"That's why we have all of our gadgets, so that we can show people what can happen."
The team uses equipment including a 'spirit box', an electronic sweep-frequency radio, to attempt to communicate with ghosts in real time.
An electronic sensor device called a 'tripwire' detects invisible energy changes or movement.
The Civic Theatre is almost 100 years old, and theatre executive manager Leonie Wallace said rumours and speculation regarding former staff and patrons have swirled around the historic venue almost as long.
"Probably the most famous is our supposedly friendly ghost, nicknamed Joe, who has been said to brush past the staff every now and again," Ms Wallace said.
"As the story goes, he warned a former deputy lord mayor about the 1989 earthquake on the main stage."
The tours are suitable for first-timers, the curious and experienced seekers of the supernatural, but are geared towards adults.
Each experience will run for two-and-a-half hours, starting with a short historical introduction from a Civic Theatre guide before heading off with Newcastle Ghost Tours.
Newcastle lord mayor Gavin Morris said the tours provide an opportunity to experience the city's much-loved theatre from a fresh perspective.
"It's ghost central here in Newcastle," Cr Morris said.
"We know artists love performing at the Civic Theatre, and now you can see what they see behind the curtain."
The tours will explore areas of the theatre usually closed to the public, including behind the stage and the dressing rooms.
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday via the Civic Theatre website or ticket office, with sessions on September 28, 29 and 30.
The theatre is also expanding its Behind the Curtain backstage tours, with seven additional tours on the same dates.
