Sheffield Lyceum – until Saturday 6th June 2026
Reviewed by Claire Moore
4****
I have been wanting to see 2:22 A Ghost Story for quite some time and, despite seven West End seasons, a record-breaking UK and Ireland tour, and more than thirty productions across the globe, I managed to avoid finding out how it ends. So don’t worry — there will be no spoilers from me for anyone else coming to it fresh.
Written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny and The Battersea Poltergeist, the play has featured a host of high-profile cast members over the years. In this production, James Bye plays Sam, Natalie Casey is Lauren, Grant Kilburn is Ben, and Shvorne Marks takes on the role of Jenny.
Set in the new home of Sam and Jenny and their newborn baby, the story begins with the couple entertaining friends Lauren and Ben over food and plenty of wine. As the evening unfolds, it becomes clear that Jenny is unsettled in the house. While home alone over the last few nights, she has experienced a series of strange events at 2.22am that have left her convinced the property is haunted. Meanwhile, her husband Sam, a committed sceptic, is determined to explain away every concern with logic and reason.
The lighting, designed by Lucy Carter, plays a huge part in building the tension, shifting from the warm glow of a family home to sudden flashes that, combined with Ian Dickinson’s clever sound design, have the audience jumping in their seats. (I definitely wouldn’t recommend holding a drink on your knee.) The set, designed by Anna Fleischle, works equally well. The house feels completely believable, as though you’re sitting in someone’s front room watching events unfold around you.
The cast work well together, with each character bringing something different to the evening’s debate. Sam is domineering, dismissive and convinced he’s always right, which makes a great contrast to Ben’s more likeable personality and cheeky charm.
Lauren spends much of the evening fuelled by wine and delivers some genuinely funny moments, if occasionally a little over the top. We do see a more vulnerable side to her later in the play, although I found the American accent slightly distracting at times.
The standout performance for me was Shvorne Marks as Jenny. She portrays Jenny’s fear in a controlled and believable way, never tipping into melodrama. As her frustration and anxiety grow throughout the evening, you really feel for her almost wanting her to be right.
The tension steadily builds as we watch the glowing red clock edge closer and closer to 2.22am. When the ending finally arrives, it comes quickly, leaving the audience piecing everything together and having those satisfying “Ah, that’s what that meant” moments. I’d definitely recommend going in knowing as little as possible. Half the fun is trying to work it all out for yourself, and the fewer surprises spoiled beforehand, the better.