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Shock Horror: A Ghost Story. Photo courtesy of Macready Theatre.

Shock Horror: A Ghost Story. A Thunder Road Theatre Company production at Macready Theatre, Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby. Performances tonight Tuesday 29 October at 7.30pm

Review by Ann Evans

Prepare to step into a nightmare, Thunder Road Theatre Company from Yorkshire bring their incredible production, Shock Horror: A Ghost Story to Macready Theatre, Rugby, as part of their current tour. Tonight, Tuesday 29 October is the second performance from their two-night run at Macready Theatre and if you haven’t already booked your tickets, I suggest that you do so pretty quickly.

Shock Horror – A Ghost Story, is everything it proclaims to be - and more! This production really is shocking – in numerous ways. The life of the young man, Herbert, under the control of his insane/possessed mother, is horror at its most horrific! And there’s all the creepy sinister movements in the shadowy walls to indicate that ghosts are all around.

Little Herbert. Photo courtesy of Macready Theatre.

The stage is set within the broken down Metropol Cinema, the greyness, the shadows – and everything lurking in them sends shivers down the spine.  The massive cinema screen is hanging at a precarious angle – and it’s through the murky grey film footage that we witness what Herbert’s home life is like.

Whilst this massively talented actor is on stage, his frightening family life is brought to us via the big screen – and the two cross over, with screen action merging with the live action on the stage. It’s brilliantly done. The atmosphere grips you from the very first seconds when the audience and stage is plunged in blackness – and the nightmare begins.

To say this story gets off with a bang would be an understatement. Flickering images on the big screen, panicked breathing, a desperate thudding heartbeat, with everything rising to a crescendo sets the mood for this horror story.

Big Herbert and Little Herbert. Photo courtesy of Macready Theatre.

In the shadowy broken down Metropol cinema we meet Herbert, a young man whose parents are seen only on the huge cinema screen, effectively giving them a larger than life presence.  Herbert’s father is a wannabe screenplay writer, his mother is bordering on insanity. Poor Herbert is locked in his room every night but escapes into the neighbouring Metropol cinema where he thinks only of horror films and conspiracy theories and there’s lots of clever references to many famous horror movies, from The Shining to IT and more.

The sound effects are immense – startlingly loud. The lighting is brilliantly effective And there is no escape from the truly shocking moments – of which there are many – they hit you with full force before you have time to cover your ears or hide behind a cushion – if there were any.

If ventriloquist dummies give you the creeps, then prepare to meet Little Herbert – a gift from Herbert’s dad. Little Herbert's persuasive whispering voice echoes through the auditorium, tormenting 'big' Herbert.

While there is only one live actor on stage - who gives a brilliant performance, the acting of the characters on the big screen is also superb – especially Herbert’s mother who brings a truly terrifying and nightmarish element to the story.

Additionally, all credit to, Thunder Road Theatre Group for the film making, the lighting, sound and the special effects.  They promised us a ‘chilling fusion of live action drama, illusions and big screen terror’ and they certainly delivered.

If you want a spine-tingling experience like never before, get your tickets for tonight’s final performance of Shock Horror: A Ghost Story by Thunder Road Theatre Company at Macready Theatre, Rugby.

Recommended for audiences of 12+ years of age.To book tickets, visit www.macreadytheatre.co.uk