Psychological thrillers on stage are the latest craze. From The Woman in Black to The Exorcist and more recently the 2:22 – A Ghost Story franchise, we are spoilt for choice if we want to see a play that raises our heart rate.
Following a hugely successful run earlier this year, Paranormal Activity returns to the Ambassador’s Theatre, just in time for Halloween and has just announced an extended booking period to February 2027.
What’s it about?
Written by Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett (Punchdrunk), Paranormal Activity is based on the film by Oren Peli.
James and Lou, a young, recently married couple, flee America for a new life in England in an attempt to put their past troubles behind them. But there are strange things happening in their new home and it appears their problems may have followed them overseas.
The cast
New to the cast of this supernatural suspense thriller are Ty Fanning (Othello, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, opposite Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal) as ‘James’, Ami Okumura Jones (My Neighbour Totoro, Barbican; Hostage, the Netflix political drama) as ‘Lou’, Kirsty Bushell (BBC, Motherland; King Lear, Chichester Festival Theatre) as ‘Etheline Cotgrave’ and the only returning cast member is Pippa Winslow as James’ mother ‘Carolanne’. Whilst this is predominantley a two person play, the other character popping in does help to keep things moving along.
I think I preferred this new cast to the previous one – the two leads just felt more intertwined with each other.
The creative team
It’s not often that I go to see a show and am in awe of all aspects of the creative team behind it – but this team really earn their respect.
Whilst the film, released in 2009, told the story through the lens of CCTV cameras, the stage version (which could have kept this element as it is such a new medium to explore on stage) has completely removed any aspect of cameras and it works brilliantly.
Levi Holloway’s script isn’t particularly exciting but as a psychological horror, words are few and far between and it is the eerie silences that build tension and tells most of the story. A blackout with 90’s grunge Nirvana playing at full blast is an incredible way to start a show. And opening act 2 with Radiohead is perfect.
I’ve never known an audience like this. Both times I’ve seen this show the audience are collectively together – if one person jumps – everyone jumps, if one person laughs, everyone laughs because everyone feels connected to the story and the human instincts we all have.
Felix Barrett, as the Director probably has the biggest job in this play and executes the horror perfectly.
The set design by Fly Davis is beautiful. An opened dolls house gives us a full view of the inside of the home, allowing the audience to see everything that is (and sometimes isn’t) happening.
Anna Watsons‘ Lighting Design keeps shadows lurking throughout, constantly tricking the mind into thinking something, somewhere, is moving the the darkness.
Gareth Frys’ Sound Design is heart-stoppingly scary and the illusions by Chris Fisher are top notch and rival anything seen in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on stage.
The Verdict
It’s simply perfection. Terrifying but not gory, psychological but funny, electrifying and jumpy. If you’re avoiding seeing it because you don’t like to be scared, don’t worry, because everyone around you will be feeling exactly the same.
★★★★★
Reviewed by West End Wilma
