If you like sitting on the edge of your seats being terrified half out of you mind then your luck is in because harrowing ghost story The Woman in Black is back in Oxford, after being postponed last year.
The infamously scary adaptation of the Susan Hill novel returns to the Oxford Playhouse this month to relay the haunting story of a lawyer who believes a curse has been cast over his family by a ‘Woman in Black’.
He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. But as they delve further, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds as the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur.
Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation starts Robert Goodale as Arthur Kipps and Antony Eden as The Actor, and the pair can’t wait to scare us out of our wits.
“There are some really suspenseful moments in the show when you can feel actually feel the audience holding their breath”
“How scary it is depends as much on your imagination as the play itself, but yes people in the audience scream every night,” Antony tells us. “It is a beautiful bit of theatre and coming back to it after lockdown has just reminded us what an incredible show it is.”
Having starred in The West End and toured the world in Woman In Black, and then in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child also in London’s West End, Antony is delighted to be back on stage again.
“There are some pretty suspenseful moments in the show when you can actually feel the audience holding their breath, and while the film can rely on smoke, marshes and fog, on stage you have to hold everyone’s imagination and take them through the story. But then the longevity of Woman In Black speaks for itself,” he says.
“you can feel the contagious fear spreading through the theatre”
“So it’s a pleasure to perform it every night because you can feel the contagious fear spreading through the theatre. It’s wonderful to be back.”
The Woman in Black returns to Oxford Playhouse from 19-24 July 2021. Tickets from £10 on 01865 305305 or at www.oxfordplayhouse.com
