A slightly funny, slightly spooky ghost story that needs a little more haunting
There’s a brilliant premise at the heart of Kirsty Mann: Corpse: a couple buy a suspiciously cheap old house, only to discover that the previous occupant may not have quite left it behind. What begins with two non-believers gradually becomes a story of cold rooms, unexplained noises, a self-flushing toilet and a looming figure in the doorway. Classic haunted-house territory.
Told entirely through first-person encounters, Kirsty takes us through what happened after she and her husband moved in. The storytelling is deliberately casual and conversational, almost as though she’s recounting the whole bizarre experience over a few pints with friends. And that’s both the show’s charm and, unfortunately, its biggest weakness.
The set is effective, filled with old furniture, a white bed in the centre, piles of boxes and artwork belonging to June, the woman who died in the very bed the couple now own. Combined with the lighting and sound design, it creates a suitably eerie atmosphere and there are certainly some spooky, jumpy moments.
However, I never quite found myself genuinely scared. The scares often felt a little too contrived, and the storytelling could have been considerably tighter. The premise is strong enough to sustain something much more polished, but the show currently feels as though it is still finding its shape.
There are some lovely characterisations of the older women in the story, particularly Nelly, June’s sister. Kirsty’s vocal and physical work here is genuinely impressive and was one of the highlights for me. Rona, the caretaker who looked after June before she died, also adds another interesting layer to the story.
The humour is pleasant enough, although some of the jokes feel predictable and could use a little more work. The ending, however, did get a laugh from me – and no spoilers, but it is probably one of the more successful comedic moments of the show.
Ultimately, Corpse is slightly funny and slightly spooky, but it doesn’t quite achieve the tonal journey it seems to be aiming for. I wanted to go from properly chuckling to genuinely questioning whether this could all be true, and instead I remained fairly unconvinced throughout.
There’s a really wonderful show hiding inside this premise. With some tightening, more considered comedy and a little more confidence in building genuine tension, Corpse could become something considerably more unsettling. For now, though, it needs a bit more polishing before this house really feels haunted.
Kirsty Mann: Corpse tickets here
Genre: Comedy / Horror
Venue: Summerhall, Red Lecture Theatre
Time: 3:15pm
Dates: 6-30 August 2026
Performer: Kirsty Mann
Running time: 60 minutes
Age suitability: 18+