More… Ghost Stories by Candlelight
Photo by Fourth Wall Photography.
Review by Sarah Ketley
The evening was set in the historic Layer Marney Tower, in Essex, with the plays performed in the atmospheric Corsellis Room of this Tudor palace. Arriving at night under the fitting glow of the full moon, the tower looked stunning and a perfect setting for such tales.
Up the spiral staircase, to the candlelit room to find the two actors ready to perform the modern ghost stories which are set in the “Haunted Counties” of the East of England. The eerie sound effects, mostly performed on instruments by the actors themselves, accompany their captivating storytelling of life, death, and ghosts.
The staging is simple, with only the flickering of the candles across the room to create the eerie and haunting atmosphere. (Though it’s a shame that only a few areas are raised, as when these are used, the actors are more visible to the audience and, in a production like this, it is important for us to be able to see their actions and expressions to complete the emotions of each character.)
On our night, there was an extraordinary blanket of silence that fell across the room once the plays started, and you could literally hear a pin drop! Not a movement or sound from anyone and that all built upon the level of apprehension from the audience.
The performance is made up of four plays, written by four different playwrights - Tassa Deparis, James McDermott, Aisha Zia and Eloise Pennycott. Each one captures different aspects and experiences of life, creating thought provoking moments for each scenario, and giving us a sense of the unique and remote coastal landscapes where these ghost stories are set.
Becky and Sharan, the two actors performing, recited the scripts effortlessly and without hesitation. The actors embodied the distress of the characters they were portraying, through their dramatic and emotive line delivery. The sounds from the instruments, gently being played in the background, was a perfect way to build the suspense and atmosphere for the play.
There was a pause following each piece for the audience to reflect on what had just happened to the character - the consequences of the actions of others, themselves, or an illness - and the ghosts that had been created. It made you think about your own experiences, and the dark moments of any ghosts we may feel around us. Each play then followed smoothly onto the next, with the audience listening intently to each word spoken and the cry made at the climax of each story.
Very cleverly written and thought-provoking plays, definitely made to make you shudder at the ghostly happenings in your own life!
From 22 October 2024, this Hightide production will be touring venues in Norfolk before heading to Essex, Cambridge, and finally London in time for Halloween. You can find full tour details HERE.