There’s something about the New Theatre in Cardiff, stepped in history and described when it was opened in 1906 as the ‘feeder of the soul’ and the current production ‘WHEN DARKNESS FALLS‘, which seems a perfect match.
This two-handed ghost story, which opened last night, fits perfectly into the theatre and feels creepy and unsettling, even before the actors walk on stage.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not this play arrives at the perfect time. It’s dark and chilly outside, and with Halloween just weeks away, the mood is properly set with this production.
John Blondel is a history lecturer, played brilliantly by PETER DUNCAN, yes the same guy who clambered up Big Ben and made all kinds of weird and wonderful ‘stuff’ on Blue Peter back in the 80s. He’s very much a non-believer when it comes to all things ghostly.
The action takes place in his messy office, which may seem like the designers have chucked a load of remnants from Steptoe’s yard onto the stage, but actually, the mess is well thought out and is all part of this inspired by true events story.
He stays behind one night (always creepier at night isn’t it) – oh yes, and it’s stormy, to interview a paranormal researcher known as The Speaker (DANIEL RAINFORD) for a podcast.
The Speaker is adamant that ghosts exist and sets about trying to change John’s views by telling him a series of ghost stories based on real tales from Guernsey’s past. I was about to say that Daniel narrates these stories but when we interviewed him the other day he insisted that he is a speaker and not a narrator. Either way, he has a lot of words in this play and delivers them on point and with convincing emotion.
Now, you may have read some reviews before heading off to see the show which occasionally go into details about where and when the shocks appear, we’re not going to do that. Half the fun of watching a production like this is feeling unsettled and shocked out of your seat. Needless to say, you will and you most certainly will jump.
Don’t get me wrong, you may well work it all out before the climax strikes, and that’s fine (we didn’t) but you don’t want us spoiling the whole experience.
The plot centres around the telling of these ghost stories, set to challenge our view of the supernatural. Each of them is more tense, and delivers their own surprises.
The stories are chilling, filled with revenge, suicide, witches and dogs, all great ghost story fodder. Although we’ve said this is a wordy piece, the play really comes to life when John and Daniel begin acting out some of the stories. Peter is such a versatile, talented actor and switches easily from his main character to that of an old man riding with horse and carriage.
Our Speaker also gets involved with the story telling, which works particularly well during an account of a World War II event in a dark tunnel beneath a hospital. Daniel really holds our attention well with his telling of these stories. This one is especially gruesome and disturbing.
There’s no doubt you’ll feel invested in each of these tales, which grow increasingly tense with each telling. But whether you come out of the theatre a ghost believer remains to be seen. The debate about folklore and fact is an interesting one and whether ghost stories are just a projection of our inner fears.
Let’s check in with some of the opening night audience to get their reaction. This was difficult as we had a lot of plot spoilers to contend with. You can however, watch it safely without anything being given away. We also had a quick chat with Peter and Daniel at the stage door.
By the second half we begin to make links in the stories, which ultimately bring us to the big reveal at the end. Does that reveal surprise, shock and scare you? Well, that’s what you have to decide for yourself.
We found the debate was continuing after the show among the audience members. I know if I had taken my sister she would have so been on the side of ‘ghosts are real’, a debate we regularly have as I am of the opposite opinion.
The second half of the show is far more intense than the first and you must be prepared for things to happen. Peter and Daniel are excellent at holding the story and drawing you into each of these tales.
There are shocks and scares, some of them deliberately funny. Things move and crash and there is an ever building sense of menace in the air. All of that however is what we go and see a play like this for.
The lighting (BETHANY GUPWELL) is particularly effective and the set design (JUSTIN WILLIAMS) carefully thought out, even though it looks like a load of junk in an old worn out office. I also want to pay credit to DANIEL HIGGOTT and the sound effects he created, they are, after all, what gets our bums off the seats at the appropriate moments.
WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is just over two hours long, with a break, and will keep you hooked from start to finish. Peter and Daniel are particularly good and really take us through these ghost stories with a sense of foreboding and discomfort. Grab yourself a ticket and start your Halloween celebrations nice and early, you won’t regret it.
The show is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 15th October. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Thursday and Saturday. For more details, and tickets, go HERE.
You can also watch our interview with DANIEL RAINFORD right HERE.
