A sublime and chilling tale that feeds off the greatest inventor of horror there is: the human imagination.

“And so, imagine if you would, this stage an island, this aisle a causeway running like a ribbon between the gaunt grey house and the land”. 

Arthur Kipps (John Mackay) is an old man, worn down by life and a heavy heart. In his past, he was haunted by the woman in black, and has been carrying that weight with him all his life. With the help of an actor (Daniel Burke) he hires, the two retell the story of those nights spent in Eel Marsh House in hopes of closing the past for good.

This is the third time I’ve seen The Woman in Black, and the first as an adult, and right out of the gate, I’ll say that it holds up. The tension brews slowly but surely, settling in at first with some light comedy as Arthur struggles to come to grips with delivering lines or following stage instructions. Once we settle into the play proper and the narrative comes into full swing, it soars. 

On stage is little more than the two men taking full advantage of a few costumes and props, and limited staging. The benefit is that it allows the terror and paranoia to come through in the audience's minds. The play is subtle in its terror, but succeeds in making you jump out of your skin as a door swings open or a rocking chair moves.

Mackay is an excellent Arthur, a man haunted by mistakes of his past, and effortlessly balances the early comedy with the haughtier drama of the second act. Burke, too, delivers monologues perfectly and exemplifies both the actor and the young Arthur Kipps like a second skin.

The ending is satisfying, taking us back to the fifties and closing off Arthur’s story, but the events surrounding Eel Marsh House left me feeling unfulfilled, as Arthur abandons Crythin Gifford after learning the lore of the titular woman in black. Still, the final line has stayed with me since the first watch, and it continues to do so now. Nothing is more terrifying than playing the events over in your mind, putting yourself in their place, and feeling the presence of someone looking over you…

 

The Woman in Black plays at Mayflower Studios until Saturday 11th April and tickets can be purchased here: https://www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/the-woman-in-black-2026/