**** 4 Stars
“A True Thriller Chiller! “
Multi award winning and Olivier award nominated “2:22, A Ghost Story” embarks on a new UK tour following five runs at some of London’s west ends most intimate theatres including the Gielgud, The Criterion and the Lyric and calls at the Edinburgh Playhouse for a week long run and delivers a production that remains a true thriller chiller of a show!
Written by Danny Robins and Directed by Matthew Dunster & Gabriel Vega Weissman, “2:22 A ghost story” tells the story of Jenny (Shvorne Marks) who believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam (James Bye) isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren (Natalie Casey) and new partner Ben (Grant Kilburn). Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash as we are asked, is everything as it appears to be or does something feel strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know. Or will they?
Performances across the board are excellent with all four principals investing in their characters and all deliver finely nuanced and intricate performances. They are all utterly believable both as married couples and individuals. Special attention should go to James Bye who is a marvel at delivering the minute details that if watched closely could reveal the truth of what’s happening. The reality is this piece works so well due to the stellar writing that’s the perfect blend of kitchen sink drama meets the spectre of something which lives beyond on the vail of life and to see it delivered by such a stellar cast reminds the audience why the play is so successful and has packed audiences into the west end and around the UK.
The only drawback of this performance was the choice of venue, the massive Edinburgh Playhouse at nearly 3000 seats is simply too big to generate the intimate nature of the play which sees it at its best, that said its brave choice to play the space and credit to the Playhouse for programming the play and expanding a programme in the venue that’s aft musical heavy.
Production wise Anna Fleischle set design is excellent and pure quality in equal measure bringing to life the front room of a suburban London town house with ease although it very heavily “brought in” which much of the Playhouse stage swathed in black cloth. Lucy Carter’s lighting design is excellent adding real depth to the show. Ian Dickinson’s sound design is on the money and both Carter’s and Dickinson’s work allows those scare and jump moments to work beautifully. Special mention to Chris Fisher for his illusions design that adds that extra mythical sparkle that’s the cherry on the cake.
2:22 is a ghost play that blends the classic elements of an Agatha christie thriller with an audience of the Netflix generation and does it remarkably well and that makes it endlessly entertaining so hurry along to the Playhouse and grab a ticket for a show that will not only leave you shaken and stirred but deep in conversation long after the curtain has fallen. Wonderful stuff indeed.
2:22, A Ghost Story, Edinburgh Playhouse until Saturday 30th May, for more information and tickets go to: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/2-22-a-ghost-story/edinburgh-playhouse/
The Productions UK Tour will continue until July 2026.
ScotsGay Arts 