I had the pleasure of attending The Woman In Black at the Theatre Royal Brighton and it was a night to remember. The three-person show was filled with suspense, anticipation and jump scares which held the whole crowd.
Malcolm James, who played Mr Kipps, and Mark Hawkins, who played the Actor, put on a captivating performance. The “woman in black” who is strategically unnamed in the program, played the most important role with her perfect timing and scary demeanour.
There were multiple moments I covered my eyes during the performances as suspense grew and I was sure a jump scare was on its way, sometimes being correct and others not, building even more uneasy – but enjoyable – anticipation.
The storyline was enticing and easy to follow and the woman in black popped up sporadically throughout, increasingly so towards the end creating a fast-paced finale.
Behind the Scenes of The Woman In Black at Theatre Royal
There was a short interval giving time to use the bathroom or grab a refreshment, where the foyer filled with audience members discussing how they were caught off guard throughout the first half.
The theatre, which was built in 1807, was beautiful with a classy and light interior, contrasting the dark and dingy set. There was great use of the stage with a curtain halfway giving the illusion it was shorter than it was, until it was revealed there was a whole other set behind which came into action later on in the play, effectively giving a sense of dimension and eeriness.
As well as an amazing use of sound and lighting which I believe were the biggest factors which made it such a successful and exhilarating watch. The music would increase in volume and intensity to build thrill and uncertainty, matched with dark or sharp lighting, there wasn’t a moment I wasn’t on the edge of my seat. As an audience experience, it was engaging, heart racing, and an exciting watch.
Address: New Rd, Brighton, BN1 1SD
More shows at the Theatre Royal: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/
