Review: Ghost Stories, Peacock Theatre

First staged in 2010, Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s hit has had several West End runs, played around the world and been made into a movie. Now returning to London as a part of a new tour, Ghost Stories arrives just in time to bring a few fun scares for spooky season.

Professor Goodman (Jonathan Guy Lewis) steps up onto the stage to give us a lecture on the supernatural, asking the audience to raise their hands if we believe in ghosts and again if anyone has had an experience with ghosts. He describes how, in his decades of research, there are three stories which have stuck with him. He plays his recordings of these interviews, and as he does, these come to life behind him. Lewis brings a nice blend of charm, but with hints that there might be something else going on.

David Cardy, Preston Nyman and Clive Mantle each bring weight to their ghost stories, with every one landing a scare but in such different ways that it keeps things fresh. Cardy, a night watchman, alone seems full of clichés, but then – a swerve and it works so well. Nyman’s jittery and strange young man is totally on edge, and after hearing his story, it’s easy to see why. Mantle’s brings a darker edge, full of City-boy bluster and nervous laughs that turn sharp and bloody without warning.

The craftsmanship here is top-notch. The sound (Nick Manning) and lighting design (James Francombe) do almost as much acting as any of the cast, with shadows and darkness being utilised brilliantly. The special efforts by Scott Penrose draw gasps more than once; the set and costume design – both by Jon Bausor – are equally up to the task, with smaller, simple sets coming in for each story, and then as it all comes together, taking us down underground where everything finally unravels.

Although there is a clear warning about loud music being used, it’s unclear the reason for this loudness and some of the lighting, particularly torches and car headlights, shine too brightly into the audience.

One of the great strengths in this production is the atmosphere building – not just the tension and the dread and the fear, but the way they are mixed with so much humour. At first, there is a nervous humour, as the audience is not quite sure how to react, but as the evening goes on, the humour is smartly and effectively used to lure us in and to make the forthcoming screams even louder.

Yes, there are jump scares. To be honest, while the scares themselves are not 100% predictable, you can see when they are coming, so if you are worried about something spooky jumping out in the dark, watch closely and be ready. It is the more subtle fears, the half-seen, half-grasped thread, where the story excels and lets those moments linger longer than the momentary screams.

As everything begins to tie together, it all works really well. Smartly written – albeit with a creak of its age showing, a light upgrading would have been welcome – and with clues and motifs coming together to pay off nicely. But enough about that! This is a ghost story to settle down with in a darkened theatre, unaware of what will unfold in front of you as you wait for the things that go bump in the dark err… bump!

It’s a really well-crafted evening of fun; it does exactly what it says on the tin. A bunch of ghost stories, some jump scares, some laughs, some good effects, a cast up for a chilling turn, and a reminder that sometimes it’s fun to be frightened.

Written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman
Directed by: Sean Holmes
Set and Costume Design by Jon Bausor
Lighting Design by James Farncombe
Sound Design by Nick Manning
Special Effects by Scott Penrose

Ghost Stories plays at Peacock Theatre until Saturday 8 November.