Ghost Stories at Peacock Theatre Review
Written by ZiWen Gong for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Although I get terribly scared by horror stories, I still can't help being a little curious. So when I found out that the play Ghost Stories, created by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, had returned to London's West End after a three-year tour, my curiosity led me to the Peacock Theatre.
The story begins with a lecture by Professor Goodman. He is a sceptic who has spent the past few decades collecting supernatural tales from people of all kinds and trying to explain each one using scientific theories. Among these are three strange cases, with protagonists including a night watchman, a teenage boy, and a businessman about to become a father. However, as his lecture progresses, the strange occurrences seem to become harder and harder to ignore...
As soon as you step into the theatre, you're met with the sound of wind roaring like a car engine (Nick Manning), along with the constant dripping of water - creating a subtle sense of unease. The beginning of the play is especially gripping, instantly capturing the audience's attention. After the intense sound effects, a series of slides begins to appear on the screen. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what’s strange about these photos, but they send a slight chill down your spine. Having Professor Goodman present his research directly to the audience is also very immersive - it really feels like we're attending one of his lectures. The lighting design (James Farncombe) often enhances the suspenseful atmosphere, but my favourite moments are when the entire theatre goes pitch black, and the only things we can see are what are illuminated by the night watchman’s flashlight. The stage design (Jon Bausor) is also very detailed. I especially appreciated the small touches, like the posters on the walls, the old desktop computers, and the radios, these little objects made the scenes feel all the more authentic.
Jonathan Guy Lewis has a strong presence as a professor, and his interaction with the audience feels natural. However, he is slightly less effective at creating a sense of horror, which at times causes a feeling of disconnect for the audience. In addition, because none of the characters have particularly distinct personalities, the actors, although clearly putting in great effort, are somewhat limited by the script. Each character seems to exist mainly to serve their individual horror story and plays only a small part within it. As a result, they come across more like archetypes, making it difficult for the audience to remember them as unique individuals. The fact that all the roles are performed by male actors also gives the cast a somewhat one-dimensional dynamic
Although there were moments during Ghost Stories that gave me a sudden jolt, many of those were simply caused by unexpected sound effects. In fact, because the show often relies on jump scares to create fear, and the pacing of each story follows a similar pattern, the audience quickly becomes accustomed to these techniques and begins to anticipate what’s coming. In comparison, the quiet kind of horror can often be even more unsettling and harder to ignore. It lingers in the mind and creates a deeper sense of unease than a lot of sudden shocks. Beyond that, the production could benefit from developing its characters further. Whether by introducing more gender diversity or by adding more details that reveal the characters' personalities, such changes would make the play more engaging. While creating frightening moments is, of course, a top priority for a horror-themed play, making the characters compelling is just as important. When the audience starts to care about the characters, it becomes much easier to get drawn into the story. As it stands, Ghost Stories certainly has its appealing aspects, but it may not yet be the kind of production that truly terrifies while also leaving you eager to come back for more.
Ghost Stories runs at Peacock Theatre until 8th November 2025
★★★
