2:22 A Ghost Story – Apollo Theatre, London

Writer: Danny Robins

Director: Matthew Dunster

2:22 A Ghost Story has found a new home at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue for its sought-after spooky story, with yet another star-studded cast ready to haunt audiences into sleeping with the lights on.

New parents Jenny and Sam have recently moved house, purchasing a fixer-upper from a widow, taking their time to paint over the outdated wallpaper and remove the old-fashioned furniture. But the wallpaper seemingly isn’t the only thing that’s been left behind. Every night at 2:22 strange occurrences take place – first Jenny hears heavy footsteps on the baby monitor, then the sound of a man crying and the feeling that her daughter is in danger from this spirit is unbearable. But Sam is pragmatic, quick with a scientific explanation to explain away her fears. They decide to host their first dinner party for their old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben, initially to take their mind off of the spooky goings-on, but as the conversation flows, each of them becomes more invested in the countdown to 2:22.

This modern ghost story has rightly become a staple across the West End, with the announcements of each run of star-studded cast members such as Lily Allen and Cheryl becoming almost as intriguing as the show itself. This time, Jaime Winstone (Jenny), Sophia Bush (Lauren), Ricky Champ (Ben) and Clifford Samuel (Sam) are the frightful foursome, each a perfect fit for their roles and fantastically cast. Champ is a natural on stage with excellent comedic timing, seamlessly transitioning into a more serious persona when required. He completely excels with his contrasting approaches to each character – impatient with Sam, while gentle and understanding with Jenny, making him a realistic and likeable lead.

Winstone is a fantastic Jenny – erratic and headstrong she believably portrays the nervous new mother. Bush is confident and charming on stage – her character often alleviating tension with a humorous remark or idea to lighten the mood. Samuel’s character is the rational thinker, which he portrays well, delivering interesting and well-spoken monologues on the ‘non-believer’ side of the debate around the paranormal.

Director Matthew Dunster does a brilliant job of building the tension and creating the spooky atmospheric surroundings. While most of the techniques used are standard (loud noises for a jump scare, flickering lights to create a creepy build up etc), they’re utilised effectively and balanced alongside the moments of humour throughout the show to stop it from becoming “just” a ghost play. In actuality, most of the real drama in writer Danny Robins’s script comes from the various dynamics between each of the characters. Old friendships, new partners, and lingering underlying tension keep breaking the surface amidst the entertaining discussions about ghost activity. Clever little narrative indicators are sprinkled throughout the script, that subtly weave their way into each scene without being too over-the-top. By layering both story arcs concurrently throughout the narrative, there is constantly an edge of suspense waiting to explode.

Whether you’re an avid believer of ghosts or not – this is such a surprisingly fun story that it’s hard not to get sucked into the storyline. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, wraps up all plot points neatly by the end of the show and features a brilliant cast who bring this ghostly tale to life.

Runs until 17 September 2023