What’s it all about?
This one is fairly self-explanatory. It’s about ghost stories. A professor takes you through examples of photographs and videos believed to picture supernatural happenings before introducing you to the stories of three individuals who then take to the stage to tell their terrifying tales.
Who’s in it?
Paul Kemp is in control of proceedings as the professor, providing rational explanations for the ghostly apparitions… until his past comes back to haunt him.
Then there are the subjects of his studies. Philip Whitchurch brims with fear as a night watchman tormented by his daughter’s situation, Chris Levens is full of nervous energy as he takes us on a terrifying car journey through the woods and Gary Shelford brings just as much humour as horror to his story about the birth of his first child, raising laughs with the constant attention he pays to his mobile.
What should I look out for?
Look out! Full stop.
Who was in the press night crowd?
Davina McCall, Samantha Spiro, Jonathan Ross and Matt Berry were among the celebrities risking the loss of their dignity for the sake of this scream-inducing show.
I couldn’t see the others’ reactions from where I was sitting but judging by the scream she emitted and the Minstrels she almost propelled into the air within the first five seconds, Davina wasn’t coping well. But then again neither was I.
In a nutshell?
Prepare yourself – and the person sitting next to you – for 80 minutes of hide-behind-your-hands horror!
What’s being said on Twitter?
@porksmith Saw @andynyman’s new Ghost Stories tonight. It’s even more intense and sphincter challenging than before. Go
@Ruthieeeeeeeeee Went to see @GhostStoriesUK. The fact that my mum had to sleep in my room proves I am in fact #notbraveenough #neveragain
Will I like it?
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys scaring yourself silly with stories of possessed dolls, haunted houses and wood-dwelling monsters, you’ll no doubt draw at least some pleasure from Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s hit show.
However, as all of the advertising material advises, if you’re of a nervous disposition it’s probably one to avoid.
Ghost Stories is playing until 24 May. You can book tickets through the Arts Theatre website.