I don’t do scary stuff, but when you get invited to watch a ghost story that has been seen by over eight million people worldwide and played in London’s West End for 33 years, it’s hard to say no even for a big scaredy-cat like me!
The Woman in Black is the legendary production based on Susan Hill’s chilling 1983 novel.
It tells the story of solicitor Arthur Kipps, who believes he has had a curse put over him and his family by a mysterious woman. He turns to a skeptical young actor to help him tell his chilling story and exorcise his fear.
As we watch the two men rehearsing for a play that Arthur will perform to his friends and family, we learn of his terrifying experiences when he was sent to sort out the affairs of the late Alice Drablow. In the strange Eel Marsh House where she once lived, Arthur is haunted by the horrific spectre who causes tragedy in his life.
As was the case when The Woman in Black was first staged, the set is minimal. The play originated as a cost-effective Christmas ghost story for the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough in 1987. With a budget of less than £1,000, only two actors were employed on a near empty stage.
Almost four decades on, the limited set and only two credited actors remain but, wow, are they effective! With clever sound, lighting, music and the brilliant performances of John Mackay as Arthur Kipps and Daniel Burke as the actor, The Woman in Black is terrifyingly spectacular.
The atmosphere is tense as the action approaches the moments when the ghost first appears and the audience (including me very loudly!) screamed several times as the play’s famous jump scares took place.
For a staging that is so simple and with so few actors, it’s an incredibly effective story. I’m very glad I fought my fear of ghostly happenings and went to watch it in the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world, which is home to plenty of ghosts of its own!
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The Woman in Black is at Bristol Old Vic until 25 April.
Images by Mark Douet
