It walks Around The House At Night 

4⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Written by Tim Foley 

Directed by Neil Bettles

Thick Skin Theatre Productions bring the touring production of Tim Foley’s latest play It Walks Around The House At Night to Glasgow’s Tron Theatre. 

This is a modern gothic horror story told mainly by just one character Joe, an out of work actor who is booked by a handsome regular in the pub he works in between jobs. 

We find out the handsome stranger is called David and he owns a huge mansion, Paragon Hall and wants Joe to walk round the house at night to scare his nieces with a “real” haunting. 

When you hear “around the house” you think of a grey lady or old gent drifting through the rooms, a creak on the floor or footsteps in the hall upstairs. This job however is Around the House, the perimeter going through small wooded areas and kitchen gardens. 

As with all creepy ghost stories Joe hears something following him through the undergrowth. Could it be the area is really haunted?

Joe played by George Naylor is an exceptional storyteller. Apart from a small voice over it’s an hour-and-a-half monologue.

With great conviction each word is delivered perfectly, there are lots of story strands Joe has an ex-boyfriend, a boss who constantly texts and David the owner of the manor who started the story.

With excellent Direction by Neil Bettles all the strands are easy to follow as they begin to join up. 

There have been quite a few haunting plays recently 2:22, Ghost Stories and most recently Paranormal Activity which relied very heavily on visual magic and special effects to scare the audience. 

This play relies on a great script and a few natural effects to bring the scares, Pete Malkin with his excellent sound design builds almost unbearable tension to the jump scares.

The back of the stage is a huge projection designed by Joshua Pharo which depicts the trees in the forest, lovely phosphorescent mushrooms and Paragon Hall looming in the darkness, He also designed the spooky gloomy lighting which really pulls you in to the action on stage. 

The Lodge Joe is staying in is built on a high rake allowing some live effects to take place which all gives a slightly disorientating feel. This along with the strange darkness descending quickly really leaves you feeling unsure of the setting and time of day, just like Joe. 

The Script is excellent, managing to bring the gothic setting to a modern time.

There are enough quips bringing some laughs, so it doesn’t ever feel like a dreary play. 

It was nice to sit in an audience close to Halloween and collectively jump, scream and laugh.

My plot outline in this is pretty much all that’s revealed in the press, to say much more would spoil it, go in knowing nothing and enjoy the story.