Box Tale Soup are back at it again with another spine-tingling creation. A Ghost Among the Living takes us into the dark and timeless tales of Edgar Allan Poe, exploring themes of horror, murder and consumption. With a cast of two well synchronized performers, this is a masterclass in visual theatre and never scrimps on the finer details.
Set within the Pleasance Queen Dome, our actors have very few places to hide on this round thrust stage, however with every movement choreographed and thoughtfully directed, neither performer drops their compelling performance for even a second. A moving set is constructed out of boxes and arches, all hand made by the company and all multifunctional. The cast effectively use their set to transport us to labyrinth like catacombs, lavish parties and small lodging rooms, always moving with grace and fluidity. A series of handmade puppets elevate the stories and despite their obviously caricatured looks, they are operated with so much skill that you begin to see them as equals to the actors around them.
The show is accompanied by startling lighting changes and haunting music, timed perfectly in the piece as to fill its audience with dread. Despite the heat within the stage space, this show succeeds in giving its audience the chills.
If you are an Edgar Allan Poe fan this is definitely not a show you want to miss, featuring tales such as: The Tell Tale Heart, The Masque of The Read Death, The Cask Of Amontillado and Ligeia. If you, like me, are rather new to his dark work, I think this show is the perfect haunting introduction. Whilst it’s overall plot devise was a little hard to follow, A Ghost Among the Living is a treat for all of your theatrical senses.
You can catch A Ghost Among the Living at The Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome from 5th August until 31st August (excluding 19th) at 12:25. Get tickets via A Ghost Among the Living | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Reviewer: Beth Eltringham
Reviewed: 17th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse Uk Rating:
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