A spooky story with a brilliant cast who deliver spine-chilling scares and expert eeriness

Continuing its West End run, 2:22 A Ghost Story, now at the Apollo Theatre, is a brilliant production written by Danny Robins which expertly blends fear and fascination, delivering an engaging story and an evening of guaranteed entertainment. 2:22 tells a gripping tale, which takes place during a dinner party at Sam and Jenny’s new under-construction home. With their friends Lauren and Ben, tensions rise as Jenny reveals the scary, haunting experiences she’s been having during the night. The stage becomes a battle-ground where skepticism and science clash with fear and the supernatural. The shocking screams interspersed between scenes only help to further escalate the tension of such an adrenaline-filled plot, and as time ticks on, the four friends must confront whatever presence is haunting Jenny, resulting in a night of terror and revelation.

The current cast consists of Jenny played by Jamie Winstone (Kidulthood, Dead Set, Babs), Sam played by Clifford Samuel (McMafia, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll), Ben played by Ricky Champ (Him & Her, Plebs, Game of Thrones), and Lauren played by Frankie Bridge (member of The Saturdays), however on the particular evening I attended, Lauren was played by Gemma Yates (1-800-D-DIRECT) who provided an incredible performance. The whole cast excelled in their roles but Ricky Champ was especially impressive, executing his lines with perfect comedic timing and body expression.

What stood out across the play, was the convincing and well-played relationships between the characters. The central focus of the story was on the haunting entity, however the emotional responses to such a paranormal situation provided an opportunity for the dynamics between the couples to be deeply explored. And they were. The chemistry on stage between all characters was authentic and relatable. The cast also skilfully navigated the stage during the dinner party in the living space of Sam and Jenny’s home, really becoming part of the stunningly detailed set design by Anna Fleishle. The character’s movements felt natural, the ways in which they interacted with the functioning props, like the fridge or the kettle or the waste-bin, really heightened that sense of domestic realism, which made the story even more frightening.

2:22 A Ghost Story has maintained interest and intrigue throughout its seasons at the Noel Coward, Gielgud, Criterion and Lyric Theatre, and through many new casts. Now at the Apollo Theatre until the 17th September, I recommend catching it to experience the current cast and an exciting modern ghost story!