(AD – gifted)
I love a good scare! That feeling of fear, within the safe walls of a theatre, is extremely thrilling but very hard to pull off. In fact, I’ve never experienced a scary play on stage… until Ghost Stories that is!
Coming from the disturbing minds of Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, Ghost Stories is on its first ever UK tour. And scary movie fans shouldn’t miss it.
But it’s a hard production to review because I’m not really allowed to tell you much. I don’t want to ruin the experience by revealing the secrets within. I’ll try my best to be ominous…
Do you want more scary shows? Why not check out my immersive experience of Seance at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Let me tell you a (ghost) story
Parapsychologist, Professor Goodman, is giving a lecture on paranormal activities and debunking myths around ghoulies. He’s interviewed countless victims to investigate the truth behind their ghost stories. But there are three accounts that stand out from the rest.
Those being a security guard who encounters strange noises, a teenager broken down at the dead of night and a businessman with a nightmarish nursery. We see mini stories come to life as strange things start to unfold on stage.
KEY NOTES
- Ghost Stories is a 1 hour 40 minute play
- There is no interval
- Recommended for ages 15+ and for good reason
- It’s not for the faint hearted
- Be warned, if you leave the auditorium you cannot return. You’re locked in, not literally, but it still adds to the fright factor.
Creating the fear
They do an exceptional job of building suspense and tension, and revealing terror just at the right moment. It’s not overdone and film like it its pacing. You become invested in these short stories and the characters within them.
The theatre is pitch black and there is minimal lighting on stage. Sound effects and music are added to amplify the spook-factor. And the set glides almost spirit-like. It’s basic but brilliant. I think they’ve really gone for authenticity here.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s lots of moments of humour, time for laughter and even audience participation! It’s a real celebration of the ancient art of telling ghost stories. That’s why we booked tickets right?
Yes, not all shocks are, well, a complete shock. But the staging and story is enough to make you feel pretty uneasy. And honestly, did I jump? Yes. Did I scream? At moments. Was my dad’s arm dead after squeezing it? No comment…
Ghost Stories is a twisted theatrical experience like no other. Are you afraid of monsters under your bed? You might be after watching this.
Find Ghost Stories tickets here. Playing at The Lowry until Saturday 22 February.