Ghost Stories, UK Tour Review
Photo by Hugo Glendinning
Written by Liam Lambie for Theatre & Tonic
When arriving for the matinee performance of ‘Ghost Stories’ at ‘The Theatre Royal’ in Glasgow, the usual noise of the excitement from the audience was accompanied by eerie creaks and noises played into the foyer, which carried on through to the theatre itself and was paired with flickering lights which cleverly set the mood of the show before the performance had even begun.
With the title ‘Ghost Stories’, you could be forgiven for assuming it’s all about the scares, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an experience that leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next, and yes, whilst there were indeed plenty of jump scares, I often found myself feeling nervous or unsettled rather than just scared as the story unfolded in front of me on the stage.
The small but strong cast gave wonderful performances, each one having their own moments to shine, as they brought their ghost stories to life. Dan Tetsell was a particular stand out, playing the role of Professor Goodman. Tetsell held the audience in the palm of his hand with ease from the moment he arrived on the stage and seamlessly led them through the horrors that awaited them during the one hour and thirty-minute performance.
Accompanying the strong performances was an impressive set designed by Jon Bausor that played tricks on your eyes using forced perspective, giving the production a real immersive feel. The lighting and sound were also to be applauded as they created some of the most creepy and terrifying parts of the show. At one point, the stage was plunged into complete darkness with only the light from a single flashlight darting around, leaving the audience to wonder who or what may be lurking in the darkness. Moments like this were enhanced massively by the use of sudden noises that made the audience jump in their seats or the deathly silences that fell upon the stage at points. There is no denying that the technical team played just as vital a role in this production as the actors themselves.
Tetsell’s character Professor Goodman often broke the fourth wall and directly addressed the audience, which made you feel like you were involved in what was happening on the stage rather than being just a bystander, which was obvious from the gasps, jumps and even tears from those sitting around me. At points, however, I did feel there was some dragging out of the tension, which I could have done without, however, this was maybe just my own anticipation waiting to see what was going to happen next. but nonetheless, ‘Ghost Stories’ is more than just a play, it’s an experience, and if you’re into the supernatural, weird happenings or things that go bump in the night, then it should be right up your street!
On a UK tour until September 2025
★★★★
