Podcast: A Ghost is for Life, Not Just For Halloween
Claire Louise Amias and Jonathan Rigby on Haunted Shadows: The Gothic Tales of Edith Nesbit
For some of us, October means one thing – the chance to get some good horror stories on the stage. But for the rest of the year, well, we can feel a little neglected. Which is why we were delighted to hear from A Monkey With Cymbals, the theatre company of Claire Louise Amias and Jonathan Rigby, to let us know that their show Haunted Shadows: The Gothic Tales of Edith Nesbit was making a return to the stage at the end of January.
Having had a test run at last year’s GrimFest, the show has been extended and reworked to bring us three gothic tales from the pen of Edith Nesbit, best known obviously for her children’s stories.
It was certainly enough reason to ask Claire and Jonathan if they would have some time free to come and chat with us about the show, and thankfully they said yes.
Find out more about the show, their connection with Mark Gatiss and why it’s maybe not quite the coincidence that he also produced one of Nesbit’s ghost stories for BBC, and whether the show’s new home of White Bear Theatre will be quite as creaky as GrimFest’s Old Red Lion.
Haunted Shadows plays at White Bear Theatre from 28 January to 8 February. Further information and tickets available here.
Haunted Shadows
White Bear Theatre
28 January – 8 February
Edith Nesbit revisits the darkness of her own past, telling three of her Gothic tales while recalling various childhood terrors. Better known for her children’s books, she was also a prolific writer of ghost and horror stories. The Shadow, The Pavilion and a rediscovered tale, A Strange Experience, are dramatised in this chilling one-woman show.
Performed and adapted by Claire Louise Amias
Directed by Jonathan Rigby
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington (only five minutes’ walk from the White Bear) and spent her first seven years in the area.
Once a Week Theatre: ★★★★ ‘Good old-fashioned story-telling is the key to the success of this entertaining one-woman show … Amias’ narration is superb. Director Jonathan Rigby paces both pieces expertly … it’s delicious fun to be settled comfortably and know you are going to be appalled in the next moment. The stories themselves are strong … adding further substance to this small but perfectly formed evening.’
London Pub Theatre: ‘Amias’ depth and range as a performer [is] fully on display … her acting shines … The minimalist stage design – featuring just a chair, teddy bear, porcelain doll, and chest – creates a haunting backdrop that hints at forgotten memories. This bare-bones approach adds to the eerie atmosphere without overwhelming Amias’ performance.’
Fringe Biscuit: ‘The perfect one-woman show for spooky season… Amias is a powerhouse performer. She is captivating from the moment she enters the stage, managing to convey terror, grief, and foreboding in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, frightened of seeing what she sees… She presents the very period-specific text in a way that feels entirely natural and thrillingly spooky.’
Further information and tickets available here.