Review | Ghostly tales induce gasps, giggles and screams on way to chilling climax that ramps up the terror

GHOST STORIES | FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH

★★★★

‘A great evening of good old-fashioned scary hokum…“

The art of writing any review lies in telling the reader all they need to know, without giving away spoilers. That used to be a given. Times have changed, however, to the point that the writers of Ghost Stories, Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, felt the need to share a spoiler message ahead of their press night at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.

It read: “Welcome to ‘Ghost Stories’ and thank you so much for coming to see us. Since its first London run, we have turned the show into a film and the play has travelled all over the globe. It has meant so much to us that critics the world over have kept the plot & secrets of our show when writing about it. We appreciate it makes life a little trickier for you by not divulging plot, but because of your help ‘Ghost Stories’ remains a rare thing – a modern experience you have to see ‘spoiler-free’. Thank you so much for playing along. We hope you have a great night and maybe even scream a bit. Sweet dreams, Andy & Jeremy.”

It’s something that should go without saying, so, in the best traditions of Must See Theatre, let’s go…

With an unnerving, ever-present rumble, interspersed with howling winds and accompanied by the occasional flickering of the house lights, it’s clear that the evening ahead is going to be a spooky affair. That oppressive atmosphere builds, ebbs and flows ver the next 90 minutes and, indeed, much of the success of this production is down to Nick Manning’s spine-tingling sound design, which creates perfect moments of calm, breath-holding moments of anticipation and moments of sheer terror.

In front of a jaded, Victorian Safety Curtain, at a lectern illuminated by a row of antique clamshell footlights, collector of supernatural experiences Professor Phillip Goodman (an engaging turn from Dan Tetsell) is our guide for the next 90 minutes, ‘Are you ready to play a game with fear?’ he asks… and so it begins.

Dyson and Nyman’s script is craftily contrived to eek out every second of suspense, ramping it up by increments before utilising carefully placed comedy, the nervous laughter a release valve ensuring the precisely crafted jump scares are unexpected and elicit screams of terror.

Throughout the evening we meet three very different characters in three very different stories; first up is night watchman Tony Matthews, an avuncular and compelling turn by David Cardy; anxious student Simon Rifkind, played by Eddie Loodmer-Elliott who brings a likeable gentleness to the role is next; and finally, we’re introduced to city trader Mike Priddle, played by an imposing Clive Mantle.

All are tightly directed by Dyson, Nyman and Sean Holmes but the real stars of this production are Manning’s menacing soundscape combined with James Farncombe’s deceptive lighting and Scott Penrose’s heart-stopping special effects. Brought together they are a symphony of rumble and resonance. The contribution of movement director Lloyd McDonagh to the mix should not be underestimated either.

Like riding a huge communal ghost train that twists and turns on its way to its terminus, this is an evening of grand old-fashioned, scary hokum, albeit one that will send an instinctive shiver of horror down your spine nonetheless. Be afraid, and remember, no spoilers.

Runs at Festival Theatre until 29 March, tickets here.

Full tour dates and tickets here.