Ghost Stories – Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Writers: Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman

Directors: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman and Sean Holmes

Not since the original West End chiller, The Woman in Black has there been a spooky spectacular to set the pulses racing, and like its theatrical predecessor, Ghost Stories relies on taught writing and clever stagecraft to deliver thrills and chills a-plenty.

There’s also clever front-end marketing, ratcheting up the tension before the curtain ever rises. With adverts posing the question “Are you brave enough to book?”, content warnings and videos of previous audience members literally jumping out of their seats, the lights in the auditorium flickering, and an unsettling soundtrack playing as you enter the theatre, The League of Gentlemen‘s Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman have created a clever and absorbing theatrical event. And as requested, this review, like the show, has a no spoiler rule.

This trilogy of terror is presented by parapsychologist Professor Philip Goodman (Dan Tetsell), to whom these tales have been recounted during many years of study. The professor attempts to explain the psychology of these events in an attempt to give them rational explanation.

In the first story, night watchman Tony Matthews (David Cardy) finds more at the end of the beam of his flashlight than he could ever have bargained for. The second is a classic trope, teenage student (Eddie Loodmer-Elliott) is driving his dad’s car on dark back roads in the pouring rain when … well you’ll have to go along to find out. The final story involves a wheeler and dealer (Clive Mantle) about to become a father for the first time.

The stagecraft is exemplary, the transforming set by Jon Bausor, the lighting (James Farncombe) and sound design (Nick Manning) are a triumph. This is a perfect example of a good old-fashioned chiller of a story, beautifully told. You will be on the edge of your seat as much hanging on every word, as you are waiting in anticipation of the next jump scare.

For those those feint of heart it isn’t going to make you lose sleep, rather it’s going to give you some fantastically thrilling shivers up and down your spine.

Dyson and Nyman have perfectly capitalised on our insatiable appetite for the paranormal, both sceptic and believer. As the Professor asks at the start: “What draws us to these stories, why are you here?” and answers: “to play a game with our fear”. Mankind down the ages has been and will forever be, fascinated by the unexplained and this piece of masterful storytelling and stagecraft is a wonderful addition to the traditional ghost story canon. A modern masterpiece.

Runs until 12 April 2025 | Image: Hugo Glendinning