2:22 A Ghost Story

From the very first jump scare at the start of scene one, this welcome return to The Lowry of “2:22 A Ghost Story” grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Barely audible baby noises emitting from a monitor begin the play with a creepy, unsettling tone. The mother, Jenny, is convinced she is hearing footsteps in the otherwise empty house and concludes her new property must be haunted. She hears the noises bang on 2:22 a.m. each night. When her husband, Sam, returns from a trip and they have a couple round for a meal, they decide to stay up to see what happens.

George Rainsford (Casualty, Call the Midwife) plays Sam as a thoroughly dislikeable, snooty scientist and sceptic, whose standard mansplaining response of “I think you’ll find” is a badge he is proud to wear. Jenny, the lapsed Catholic, who begins to re-question her beliefs due to the events is believably performed by Fiona Wade (Priya Sharma in Emmerdale) as she gets increasingly frustrated with her husband’s dismissive attitude.

Vera Chok (Hollyoaks) stars as Lauren, Sam’s old friend from University who opens up more as the night wears on. Former The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness completes the excellent cast and gives a surprisingly amusing performance as Lauren’s latest partner, Ben, providing the show’s main light relief. Ben has opposite views to Sam on every topic.

Writer Danny Robins, who created the eerie BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, uses these clashing personalities to explore the theories behind supernatural occurrences and possible practical explanations so for the majority of the show you are wondering if you are watching a traditional ghost story or a story about what people perceive to be ghosts. The dialogue seems natural and Robins weaves in everyday, ordinary occurrences that can be seen as spooky which have rational explanations, such as creaky floorboards or smart speakers suddenly bursting into life. As someone who has recently been scared witless having woken in the middle of the night to the sound of screaming foxes it is comforting to know the same sound played in a theatre makes many others jump out of their skin.

The static set designed by Anna Fleischle, is a living room undergoing renovation, knocked through to an open plan kitchen and large patio doors leading to a foggy back yard, cleverly illuminated with a jarring security light. A large, red, 1980’s bedside alarm style clock ticks the minutes along in real-time, looming over the couples as the eponymous time draws ever closer, and making your mind race as you try to second guess what will happen. A baby upstairs, out of sight; a bedroom window mysteriously opening directly above the patio windows; a property recently vacated by elderly inhabitants; increasingly fraught protagonists – so many possibilities.

Immersive lighting also plays an important part, with the whole auditorium going dark with even the fire escape sign lights being temporarily disabled. The subtle use of sound designed by Ian Dickinson cranks up the tension.

Do not expect every moment to have “The Woman In Black” levels of intensity, with the show containing far more laugh out loud moments than many shows billed as comedies. The play is unlikely to give you nightmares but it does keep you guessing, involved and entertained. And don’t worry if you’ve got a long journey home afterwards because you will have plenty to discuss on the way; just make sure you are back before 2:22 a.m.

2: 22 A Ghost Story is at The Lowry, Salford from 4 to 15 June 2024.