The story of The Haunting of Hill House (directed by Martin Constantine) offers a, as suggested by the title, haunting exploration of love and grief. Following six strangers all hoarding their own personal demons, it begs the question: do you believe in the supernatural?
My favourite aspect of the whole production had to be the stage design (Ti Green) and lighting (Chris Davey), specifically the use of projection and screens utilised throughout. The most important character (arguably) of this story is the house itself and I was intrigued to see how it would be depicted; it's safe to say that I was not disappointed! Using incredibly immersive and creative projections, as well as impressive movable set pieces, the essence of the entire house was seamlessly captured using just the one set.
I think it's also clear to see that the cast were having so much fun in this production. Despite the heavy themes, each character felt distinct and quirky, managing to still weave in moments of laughter amongst the grief. Certain characters I would've liked to have seen fleshed out more, Mrs Dudley (Sían Howard) in particular and her connection to the house. The story sometimes felt too focused on the character of Eleanor (Clancy Ryan) and her storyline, but with a cast of such dynamic figures I would've loved a further exploration of their connections to the house.
This production is absolutely littered with jumpscares and tricks, with every door creak and distant thud leaving the audience with visceral (and often loud!) reactions. It creates such a fun, almost communal atmosphere within the audience where everyone's reacting out of their own control. I think I would have loved, however, to have seen more physical scares, more tangible tricks as opposed to the frequent soundboard scares (sound design by Johnny Edwards). I think that would really help to increase the tension and help make the audience feel as on edge as the characters themselves.
Overall, I think this is a really fun Halloween activity to experience with friends. It's not a show that will necessarily leave you with nightmares, but it'll certainly have you jumping in your seat!
Playing at Richmond Theatre until 10th October
Review: Bethany Chandler Photos: Pamela Raith