Writers: Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman
Directors: Sean Holmes, Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman
Spooky season is here, and Ghost Stories is back after a national tour, ready to haunt audiences again in London with its perfectly crafted paranormal production.
Without giving too much away, as expected from the title, the show focuses on good old-fashioned ghost stories, delivered as part of a lecture from sceptical Professor Goodman (Jonathan Guy Lewis). He’s often easily able to explain away things that go bump in the night, chalking it up to anticipation, exhaustion or tricks of the light, including various examples in the form of projected media as part of his presentation. As part of the lecture, he’s handpicked three of his researched case studies to delve into from people who have had paranormal experiences. A night-watchman (Tony Matthews) alone at work, a young boy (Preston Nyman) on his way home late at night, and a soon-to-be father (Clive Mantle), all convinced that their encounters with the other side were genuine.
It’s a great premise; the opening lecture is humorous and interesting, making you think about the times you felt nervous after hearing a rogue noise or saw something out of the corner of your eye. The individual stories are wonderfully done – each of them has the feel of a campfire horror story, slow-burning with a healthy sprinkling of scream-inducing jump scares that are perfectly timed and brilliantly executed. The cast ensures that their characters are believable and identifiable, everyday people you’d meet and interact with, which makes their stories all the more chilling.
Pulling off the feat of fright in theatre is never easy, especially with audiences expecting a scare, but the incredible lighting (James Farncombe), sound (Nick Manning) and special effects (Scott Penrose) ensure that the tension always remains high, building up the uneasy atmosphere, ensuring that the audience is so enthralled by the stories that even the sound of a pin drop on stage can be heard. Lloyd McDonagh (The Others) brilliantly contributes to the hauntings within Jon Bausor’s set design, which is also expertly done, smoothly transforming into various locations with ease throughout the show, all of which have great attention to detail, while, similar to the characters, showcasing realistic everyday environments.
It’s easy to see how Ghost Stories has been scaring audiences worldwide for the past 15 years – a ghostly gem that’ll have you second-guessing any spooky encounters you may have in future.
Runs until 8 November 2025
The Reviews Hub Star Rating