It was with a definite buzz in the air that I settled into my seat at Salford’s Lowry Theatre for the opening night of Ghost Stories. The packed theatre hummed with excitement and anticipation and a slightly nervous edge could be felt in the air enhanced by gentle, quietly eerie music
With the Safety Curtain still lowered, all that could be seen was a trim, modern lectern holding small glass of water and a light awaiting a lecturer to come along a breathe life into it. As the opening moment screeched into the auditorium the audience screamed their response and 90 minutes of captivating theatre began.
Entering the stage as leading parapsychologist we meet Professor Goodman who immediately took control of the space and the narrative. Clad in the corduroy armour of a geography teacher he opened his lecture with a whistlestop tour of the emergence of the paranormal from early biblical teachings, the role of the church and its sermons to the Reformation and the falling out of favour of fire and brimstone and the later re-emergence of interest peaking during the Victorian era.
Supported by photographs and images projected onto a screen he skilfully won the interest and trust of the audience pulling them in fully with a simple question. Do you believe in ghosts? Like obedient and willing reception children we put our hands up if we did and sat quietly if we didn’t. Have you ever seen a ghost or experienced a paranormal sensation? This time, fewer hands up but all utterly transfixed as using a photograph from a wedding in the 1970’s he presented and image that initially appeared normal. Then it’s unusual ‘paranormal’ capture was revealed. His rational and reasonable explanation of the image made absolute sense but that did not matter. What had been seen had been seen and we were willingly enthusiastic to believe that which really should not be believed. The trip was on.
It is important to note that writers Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman specifically ask the audience and especially reviewers to keep the secrets of this theatrical experience amongst themselves; what happens in the theatre stays in the theatre and so there will be no spoilers here. As such I do not want to detail too much of the narrative except that to say four very different stories are told by four very different individuals. The cast, led by Dan Tetsell as Professor Goodman and supported by David Cardy, Eddie Loodmer-Elliot and Clive Mantle, do a superb job.
In an era where high spec technology is all around us, where most people carry powerful computers everywhere they go and information and life’s narrative is fast paced and instant gratification is demanded it was an absolute joy to experience 90 minutes of careful, clever and technically superb story telling. We hung on every word. Not one phone went off, not one person left, had the proverbial pin have dropped it would have thundered in our ears.
This production would never work without the technical skill of its creative team. Hats off to Jon Bausor for his Set and Costume design, to James Farncombe and Nick Manning for their Lighting and Sound design and to the Special Effects of Scott Penrose. They manipulated us with skill, daring and imagination and we lapped it up. We recoiled, we screamed, we laughed with nervous relief, and we remained completely up for more.
Judging the audience reaction at the end, this was a thoroughly enjoyable theatrical experience and a welcome one in a world where good old fashioned story telling can seem like a lost art… and yes, I did check under my bed before I went to sleep last night and I probably will for a few nights to come.
Reviewer: Lou Kershaw
Reviewed: 25th February 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
