The Lowry, Salford- until Saturday 22 February 2020
Reviewed by Joseph Everton
4****
Ghost Stories is exactly as described, a story that has you glancing over your shoulder, staring nervously into the shadows and sat braced for the next terrifying scare. Every one of your deepest, darkest fears are explored by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s petrifying production in its first ever UK tour. Even the programme advises those ‘of a nervous disposition’ to reconsider attending due to ‘moments of extreme shock and tension’. For a midweek shot of adrenaline, Ghost Stories does not disappoint.
The storyline, which I cannot reveal, seems a little irrelevant at times, with frequent terrifying moments providing a distraction. Extended monologues lull the audience into a false sense of security, a rolling baseline builds and the stage is plunged into darkness. As you peer into the blackness, searching anxiously for the next shock, sliding further into your seat, Ghost Stories James Farncombe’s subtle lighting is used expertly to conceal, cast shadows and then reveal spine-chilling scenes which set the heart racing. Each scare is followed by a nervous laughter which ripples through a shaken audience. The set design by Jon Bausor is intelligent and possesses a magical quality, making the next terrifying moment almost impossible to predict.
With expertly-crafted, supernatural special effects (Scott Penrose) and sound (Nick Manning) which ranges from delicate to deafening, Ghost Stories is perfectly designed to provide repeated jump scares. However, as the tale comes to its conclusion, the plot provides a shocking, psychological twist.
Although not for the faint-hearted, Ghost Stories is a brilliant theatrical experience, unlike any other