Ghost Stories Reviews

Clare from Duisburg (Dweesburg!), Germany

SHOCKS, CREEPINESS AND FUN

Ignore the negative Nancys! Creepily atmospheric right from the beginning, the evening took us on a strange journey. To where, we aren't allowed to say, but the denouement was very satisfying. The cast members (11/03) were excellent. The technical stuff wonderful. Thanks for the screams, the fun and a great night at the theatre.

Anonymous from Anytown, AT 55555

LIKE WATCHING A LIVE HORROR MOVIE

Not being a huge fan of ghost-stuff myself (I went to appease a friend), I hoped that the fact that Ghost Stories is acted in front of me would take some of the scaryness away. I was wrong. It is much scarier than a film because everything happens right in front of you, to real people. The sets are amazing and the way they capture the atmosphere of the various scenes is very, very effective. I'd definately recommend sitting in the bottom section to get the full effect of the show, but even if you are sitting in the balcony you won't miss out - it's also the reactions of those sitting around you that makes it so scary. That, and the fear of never knowing quite what to expect or how far they'll go to get their frights...

Anonymous from London

JUMPY RATHER THAN SCARY

Don't go to see this expecting to be scared witless, but do go expecting some jumpy moments. A brilliant concept if you go with the flow.

Matt from London

GO AND GET SCARED!

Suspense building! Mind chilling! A really unique way of telling scary stories that will have you clutching your seat! Definitely worth a watch if you are interested in the subject, great facts / myths, funny and scary all at the same time!

Michele from Woking, England

DISAPPOINTING PRODUCTION

Good actual story but the sound was awful, as a lot of the dialogue was very quick anyway, but particularly the female voices, one was very muffled all the time and had trouble understanding and the other person had a really screechy USA accent that was really high pitched and difficult to listen too. I was with a large group who went and we were all saying the same thing at the end. They were constantly moving around and filling their glasses like they didn’t know what to do with themselves. It was probably a good story to read and I enjoyed how it ended.

Theatre Girl from London

SCARY, BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE ABOUT 11........

Went to see Ghost Stories at the Duke of York on Saturday night with great anticipation. The posters outside and online said great things like 'I couldn't sleep last night!!!' and 'keep telling yourself it’s only a story'. Well, the only thing I had to keep telling myself was that I was glad I only paid £10 to see this! I feel slightly guilty writing this review, because I love theatre and I know how hard the actors must have worked to put this on. But let’s face it, the storylines didn’t give them much to work with and the plots were basic at best. Also the beginning, which starts with a 15-20 one man monologue about why we shouldn’t believe in ghosts was extremely boring! In conclusion see this if you must see this do it under two conditions, make sure your tickets on offer and you’re drunk before the start. (Like the row in front of us who were the only ones screaming!)

Derren Beige from Behind you

THE HYPE DOESN'T HELP IT

This is a cunningly-written, well-performed, and very cleverly-designed show that I felt was more thought-provoking than shocking. It seems to me that many of the "vis wuz rubish" reviews are from people who were expecting something like Scream 7 - which to be honest, the advertising might suggest - as opposed to the insidiously creepy and unsettling story that is actually on offer. It wasn't the shocks that stayed with me (despite the production's best efforts, I genuinely didn't jump at any point, although I'm pretty much of a wuss about such things), but rather the slow-burn brainworm plot - very much Jeremy Dyson's kind of thing, I think. Andy Nyman's performance (and not-exactly-subliminal effects) were both impressive. (NB - Dettol is not a bleach, it's a disinfectant.) But in terms of bucks per shock, I guess I have to say it's not great value.

Anonymous from Kent, UK

SOMETHING MISSING .. ?

Not our usual type of show, but we were talked into booking. A promising start, nothing wrong with the acting ... but the writing was just a bit weak. Quite disappointed, as it could have been a great show (and certainly not good value for money, given the very short performance length!).

Sonia from UK

NOT WORTH THE MONEY!

We had a weekend in London and turned down the chance to see many other shows in favour of this, which I hugely regret! Luckily we got half price tickets the same day, I would have been complaining very loudly if we hadn't, how they have the nerve to charge up to £45 for this I'll never know. What we saw was mildly entertaining, but not very scary at all (and I hate horror movies), and was simply too short with too little substance to make a west end show. Save you money and go and see something else.

P.G. from London,

DISSAPOINTING AND OVER-HYPED

I went to watch this on 27th March and was expecting great things but was hugely disspaointed. More people in the audience were laughing than were actually frightened. There were a few jumpy moments but nothing that left you memorably shaken. It was also very short, and I was left thinking 'is that it?'. Its true some have a higher tolerance to horror than others but I wish I had believed the reviews myself and stayed well away. Also, you cannot leave to use the toilets or get a drink, as you are not allowed back in under ANY circumstances. A few poor members tried in vain, one guy had a medical condition but was shown no sympathy. There are no secrets or mind boggling special effects and for the price of the tickets tyou expect a lengthier and truly frightneing experience not a few fair ground ride jumps.

Jordan from Kent,

BIGGEST CON

Signs tell you not to spoil the shows great surprise and I can only assume they mean "don't tell anyone how terribly awful the play is". It's honestly the worst show I've ever seen. It's not scary in the slightest and it just spirals out of control past the first ghost story, which happens to be the only descent story. Each ghost story is good at building tension but unless you like werewolf-hellhound-murderers and Woolworths quality costumes then you are not going to be thrilled. I've never felt a bigger hole in my wallet.

A Jones from Birmingham,

DISAPPOINTING

What a disappointment! I'd been looking forward to this for a few months. The plots were weak and the special effects virtually non existent. When a poltergeist experience equals a string pulling items into an upright position and a dragon appears you know this is not the scary experience you were expecting. Felt cheated even though we only paid £13 a ticket.

Rayne from Aylesbury

GHOST STORIES

This was very disappointing. I can only suppose that the paid 'critiques' didn't want to get on anyone's wrong side. (Or that they are all complete wuzzes). We are told that we will 'think that we can see where the shock is coming but that we will be wrong'. Ah, no...It is a totally obvious and predictable play from start to finish. The 'special effects' and props are unsophisticated and ridiculous. The advertising of the play is a complete oversell. I was actually quite bored throughout lots of it as nothing happened, at least nothing to make you think, only extremely loud bangs and at one time, a rag doll on a string being pulled along the stage. Don't believe the folk who say that it's only the unsophisticated lot who can't see the bigger picture, it is just the very easily scared who found this play to do what it says on the tin. As for the 'don't tell anybody the ending' rubbish, there really is nothing to tell, even the end reveal is weak and predictable. Don't bother!

Alison from Brighton,

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BAD THIS SHOW IS....

If I could give this no stars I would but this system doesn't let me. I have never seen a worse show at the Royal, it was utter drivel. We were all (4 of us) totally at a loss as what to say, it was absolutely awful, what a waste of money, I just don't know how they have the nerve to call that entertainment.

Ogniana Aucott from Guildford

NOT WORTH TO WATCH

If you want to waist your time being shouted at and pay for it then you are at the right place! Never experience such a poor play, with screaming, inadequate play from the main characters! Unbelievably poor! Woking theatre is what you can expect: one elderly lady to serve 70/100 people at the break! Never again!

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