Danny Robins

Runaway Entertainment / Roast Productions and others

Opera House, Manchester

August 7-16, 2025; 2hrs

(also at Sunderland Empire September 8-13; Buxton Opera House November 17-22; Grand Opera House York March 30-April 4, 2026; Liverpool Empire April 6-11; Theatre Royal Newcastle April 13-18; Venue Cymru Llandudno April 27-May 2; Leeds Grand May 11-16)

So, do we believe in ghosts or not? That's the question audiences across the country will be asking themselves as this hugely popular play takes to the road again.

Young mum Jenny certainly believes in them. In 2.22 A Ghost Story she thinks the old house she and husband Sam have moved into is haunted. When Sam was away recently, she heard strange, disturbing noises coming from the baby’s room. Is the baby in danger? Sam, on the other hand, doesn't believe in ghosts; he has a logical answer for everything.

Things come to a head when Sam’s former university friend, Lauren, and her boyfriend Ben, come for dinner. They all wait up until 2:20am to find out who is right.

The play, directed by Matthew Dunster and co-director Gabriel Vega Weissman, has a slow start, which is often the case in thrillers. To be fair, scene-setting and understanding the characters is important if we are to become engaged. But there are rather too many unnecessary screams and flashes of light, whether it be from foxes, security lights, a thunderstorm or indeed, nothing apparent at all.

As we progress into the second act and the minutes on the digital clock go by, the tension mounts – albeit with some relieving mild humour.

In this cast (which will have changed by the second leg of the tour in the New Year) Jenny is played by Stacey Dooley and Sam by Kevin Clifton. The pair were winning champions in Strictly and are partners in real life. The stage marriage is put under considerable strain during the dinner party and afterwards.

Dooley plays the anxious mother well, but is less convincing as the wife prepared to stand up to her domineering husband. Clifton, as Sam, is properly and thoroughly irritating, righteous and boring as the academic Sam.

Grant Kilburn, plays a good supporting part as Ben but Shvorne Marks, as Lauren, stands out for me. OK, she has some of the best speeches and a lively role, but her stage presence lifts every scene she's in. The interaction between she and Jenny in the first act, when she describes what might have been, an encounter with a ghost, is beautifully executed.

Though the play is focused on ghosts, it does touch on other topics, from spirituality, religion, science, love, marriage, parenthood to class and the gentrifying of old houses, to name just a few.

Have we decided what we believe in? Judging by the reaction of the audience, this play and this production hit just the right notes; a little bit challenging and thoughtful, a little bit scary, a bit funny, and a lot more besides.

More info and tickets to all venues here