Tales from The Cursed House!
- ann-evans
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
Tales from The Cursed House by Katie McGee, performed by The Saints at Allesley Village Hall, Coventry from 14 – 18 October 2025. Directed by Katie McGee and Lindsay Stringer Pring.
Review by Ann Evans
It’s not every review where I’ll start by praising the writer of the play, nor drawing attention to the concept of this fabulously entertaining two-and-a-half-hour production. But in this case, the writer Katie McGee has done a tremendous job in writing The Cursed House which held the audience spellbound at Allesley Village Hall from start to finish.
Judging by the applause I wasn’t alone in thoroughly enjoying this great evening’s entertainment which certainly was value for money. We enjoyed no less than seven short plays, all taking place in 'the cursed house' – which is where Charlie (Daniel O’Hara) had taken his girlfriend Becky (Shannon Lee) one dark and stormy night. Knowing how much she enjoyed horror stories, he’s hoping that she’ll love the spookiness of the deserted house with its reputation of being cursed.
We discover the curse first hand when Charlie takes up the sinister caretaker’s offer of coming inside until the storm passes. Becky wants nothing to do with it and tries to make her way home leaving Charlie to pass the hours away with the caretaker (Paul Bovey).
The house proves a disappointment to Charlie who was expecting cobwebs, creaky doors and lengthy shadows. It’s actually a pleasant house, that’s been home to many couples and families over the years. But as the caretaken is persuaded to tell some of these stories, we discover dark secrets and strange goings on – which lead to murder, time and again.
The overall play takes on a clear pattern, once Charlie picks out an object in the room we discover it was once linked to a murder. The caretaken begins the tale then out of the shadows these characters return to re-live that tragic incident which usually ends in someone lying dead.
No spoilers as to the storylines of each of these mini plays, but each has a gripping plot with intriguing characters. All of whom develop and grow as emotions rise, secrets are revealed and situations get out of hand. The cast of fourteen actors double up on some of the roles such as Jo Locke-Wheaton and Barbara Marinakis; the writer/director Katie McGee also takes on the role of Elaina, a violinist who has just buried her husband. Her (almost) solo performance rises to a crescendo of passion and emotion as she is tormented by the ghost of her husband and the unlikely character of her pet bird.
Jamie Peake, Faye Mackey and Barbara Marinakis story, they find that a magical toy becomes an obsession which leads to tragedy. Another play introduces us to nightmare mother-in-law Delores played by Kate Hill who can’t accept that any woman is good enough for her son Robert, played by Jason Riley, especially his new wife Linda (Jo Locke-Wheaton).
And there’s a wonderful touch of humour after one of the characters (I’m not saying who) has just slipped rat poison into someone’s cuppa – and then during the interval, comes out serving tea to the audience with the biggest, innocent smile on her face! Loved that!
A very clever ‘yes dear’ ‘no dear’ script was played out between married couple David and Patricia – alias actors Geoff Manns and Andrea Daly-Dickson; followed by terror and tragedy for young couple Liam (Olly Brassington) and girlfriend Rebecca (Ava Tasker) when they venture into the cursed house.
The finale however has a real twist to the tail, and again hats off to writer Katie McGee who comes up with an excellent last act to these seven plays that takes everyone by surprise and yet cleverly links the whole thing together.
An altogether fabulous night’s entertainment. Well done the cast for pouring their hearts and souls into their roles and well done to the backstage crew for the atmospheric music and perfectly timed sound and lighting effects. These bright sparks were: the Tech Team: Mark Smithers, Rosa Stringer, Ethan Graham; Set Design by Mark Smithers and Stage Managers Andrea Daly Dickson and Geoff Manns. Plus, the front of house volunteers led by Chris Smith, also Peter Daly Dickson on refreshments and chaperones Kerrie Brassington and Donna Riley.
The Saints always raise money for a local charity at their shows through the raffle and collection, and this show was raising money for Coventry Vision Hub in Earlsdon who do incredible work helping those who are visually impaired (and their families).
Tales from The Cursed House runs until 18 October, for tickets call the Box Office on 07579 095617.
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