Brace Yourself: GHOST STORIES Returns to the West End

At the heart of GHOST STORIES lies Professor Goodman, an open-minded sceptic (or so he believes) determined to rationalise paranormal occurrences. He sets out to investigate three unsettling hauntings: a night-watchman’s encounters in the dead of night, the chilling experiences of a teenage boy, and a businessman expecting his first child who finds his entire worldview rattled by inexplicable events. This might sound like your typical ghostly anthology, yet the show upends any preconceived notions by thrusting you into each story’s growing dread. Every new revelation challenges not only Goodman’s disbelief in the supernatural but also our own sense of what can—and cannot—be explained away by logic.

The narrative clocks in at a concise 90 minutes, ensuring a tight, immersive experience. It’s a thrilling ride that critics have applauded for its masterful pacing and immersive scares. The piece has enjoyed a loyal following over the years, thanks in part to word-of-mouth praise, but also due to a consistent creative vision driven by its original team. If the thought of stepping into a theatre only to jump out of your skin appeals (and let’s be honest, we theatre buffs do love a good fright!), this is the show you won’t want to miss.

Gave you Got the Nerves

If you’ve ever wondered why a production like GHOST STORIES gains such a cult following, consider this: it taps into our most primal instinct—fear—and transforms it into communal entertainment. Witnessing a jump-scare in a dark cinema is one thing, but experiencing a live jolt with hundreds of people around you amplifies the adrenaline rush. Psychologists have long theorised that shared emotional experiences (be they joy, suspense, or terror) can forge a unique bond among audience members. It’s part of what makes the theatre so special. We’re collectively stepping into a heightened reality, ready to be moved, shocked, or mesmerised.

Here’s some extra incentive: GHOST STORIES is returning just as the spooky season approaches, from 30 September to 8 November. That means you can plunge into a world of eerie stagecraft precisely when the air is tinged with Halloween anticipation. Throw in a gala performance on 8 October, and you’ve got the perfect excuse to dress up, gather your bravest friends, and make a proper event of it.

A Celebrated Team of Haunt Experts

It’s not every day you come across a production with such longevity. “It’s an extraordinary thing for us that after 15 years, GHOST STORIES is still going strong,” the creators have shared. The reason? It’s a meticulous collaboration between some of the most innovative minds in theatre. Alongside the formidable writer-directors Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, there is a treasure trove of talent working magic (both figuratively and literally) behind the scenes.

Sean Holmes has co-directed, ensuring the onstage action retains a certain orchestrated chaos that keeps viewers off-balance. The atmospheric set and costume designs come courtesy of Jon Bausor, while James Farncombe masterminds the moody lighting that ushers in those creeping shadows. Sound designer Nick Manning ensures that every creak, shriek, and echo hits you in the gut. Then there’s Scott Penrose, a special effects wizard who engineers those impossible moments that make you question your own eyes. The casting is arranged by Ginny Schiller, but we’ll have to wait a little longer for confirmation on which performers will step into the roles that will have us cowering in our seats.

For me, part of the intrigue is the way all these elements blend seamlessly, creating a layered tapestry of stage illusions. One scene might deploy oppressive silence to ratchet up tension; another might unleash startling sensory tricks you didn’t see coming. It’s a deft exercise in timing, and it makes the audience complicit in their own fear—every hush, every gasp, every glance behind your shoulder is part of the communal dance that GHOST STORIES orchestrates.

Where to Catch the Fright Fest

London’s Peacock Theatre will be the haunted home for GHOST STORIES from 30 September to 8 November, with that all-important gala on 8 October. However, if you’re elsewhere in the UK, don’t worry, because the show is currently on its first-ever full UK tour. Fresh from spooking audiences at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre, it’s headed to Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Norwich, Newcastle, Nottingham, Southend, Birmingham, Belfast, Leicester, Wycombe, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Brighton, Shrewsbury, Malvern, and Cardiff.

Interestingly, the touring aspect could well be what has honed the production’s edge. Touring forces a production to adapt to diverse venues and audiences, requiring the creative team to revisit and refine certain moments for each space’s unique stage dimensions and acoustics. Many theatre practitioners believe tours help a show evolve, revealing which beats consistently land and which might benefit from a tweak. By the time GHOST STORIES returns to the West End, it will have been tempered by the enthusiastic reactions—and shrieks—of crowds across the country.

A Twist Behind The Curtain

While the show’s capacity to terrify is well known, there’s a lesser-known aspect that often raises eyebrows: GHOST STORIES isn’t afraid to make you laugh. Yes, it’s a horror play, but it recognises that a touch of comedy can be the perfect way to prime an audience before delivering the next gut-punch scare. The creative team cleverly uses moments of levity as a sort of emotional see-saw. One minute, you’re chuckling at an unexpected one-liner; the next, you’re gripping the armrest because something unnerving is lurking in the darkness.

This interplay of humour and horror echoes early 20th-century British theatre traditions, where comedic characters often punctuated otherwise grim stories. It’s a disarming technique: get the audience relaxed just enough, and when the terrifying moment strikes, it’s twice as potent. That’s precisely the kind of psychological tightrope GHOST STORIES walks so successfully. It’s also a testament to the writing prowess of Jeremy Dyson (known for his work with The League of Gentlemen) and Andy Nyman (an accomplished actor and mentalist), who together blend the macabre with the comedic to chilling effect.

Is This For Everyone?

Let’s be honest: not everyone loves the sensation of heart-pounding terror in a darkened theatre. GHOST STORIES comes with clear advisories—it’s not suitable for those under 15 or anyone with a delicate constitution. The show employs extreme shock and tension. Think of it as the theatrical equivalent of a rollercoaster that plunges you into the unknown: exhilarating for some, stomach-churning for others. If you’re on the fence, consider your personal threshold for spookiness. There’s no shame in deciding a night of relentless suspense is more than you’re willing to sign up for.

That said, if you’re a devotee of The Woman in Black or a fan of immersive horror experiences, GHOST STORIES might well become your new favourite. Rarely does theatre get permission to be this unapologetically provocative, playing on that fine line between delighting and terrifying the audience.

An Ode to the Power of Live Performance

Beyond the frights, GHOST STORIES reminds us of something crucial about theatre: the unique immediacy of live performance. Films can deliver jump-scares, sure, but you can always hit pause if it’s all too much. In a theatre, there’s nowhere to hide. You feel the collective inhalation of the crowd in that tense silence; you sense the unpredictability of any slip or improvisation by the actors. It’s a visceral energy that cinema simply cannot replicate. The show’s success has a lot to do with that potent atmosphere—every seat becomes the front row when something inexplicable creeps across the stage.

If you need further convincing, remember this: GHOST STORIES has been making audiences shriek since it first premiered, and it’s still going strong 15 years on. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal of ghostly tales told well, and to the power of theatre to transport us into dark corners of the imagination we seldom visit in daily life.

A Glimpse Into The Abyss

So, shall you brave the darkness? If the idea of joining a crowd of thrill-seekers, leaning forward in anticipation of the next macabre twist, sends a shiver of excitement down your spine, then GHOST STORIES awaits. The show’s triumphant return to the West End—and its current trek across the UK—speaks to a shared fascination with what lurks just beyond our grasp. There’s a perverse delight in confronting our fears, together, in the safety of velvet seats and theatrical illusions.

When the lights finally come up and you’re left with the echo of your own heartbeat, take a moment to revel in that electric thrill. After all, stepping into the unknown is what live theatre does best: it dares us to step beyond the ordinary and, for 90 breathless minutes, peer into the darkness to see what might be staring back.