THE WOMAN IN BLACK | COMPETITION
Don’t believe a stage show could ever send chills down your spine quite like the movies can? The Woman In Black (the play, not the Daniel Radcliffe film adaptation) is likely to surprise you then.
Based on Susan Hill’s 1983 gothic horror story, the stage adaptation of The Woman In Black began life as a low budget, quickly put together Christmas ghost story at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre. It’s since gone on to terrify over seven million audience members throughout its impressive 25-year history.
Aging lawyer Arthur Kipps remains haunted by memories of an experience he witnessed over 30 years ago when, as a young solicitor, he was sent to visit the house of deceased widow Mrs Drablow to sort through her private papers. It is his hope that, through unburdening himself and telling his story of the horrifying visit, he will clear his psyche and exorcise his long held fears.
Recruiting a young actor to assist in his narration, the theatre becomes the set in which Mr Kipps and the actor play out the story, transporting the audience to the eerie marshlands surrounding Eel Marsh House and inside the ancient property with its deserted rooms and locked doors. As Mr Kipps delves ever deeper into his memories his fearful experiences begin to unfurl, make believe blurs uncomfortably with reality in a way that will set even the steeliest of nerves on edge.
Fusing the power and intensity of immersive live theatre with the cinematic quality of film noir, The Woman In Black demonstrates just how far good story-telling, clever illusions and well-timed sound effects can go to creating an atmosphere of discomfort and tension so palpable it can bring entire audiences under it’s spell, with everyone ready to jump out of their skin at the slightest of movements.
Not yet found yourself screaming at a play before? The Woman In Black may well be the show to change all that…
words FLEUR TUCKER
New Theatre, Cardiff, Tue 5-Sat 9 May. Tickets: £8.50-£26 / £5-£22.50 conc. Info: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
We have a pairs of tickets to see Woman In Black at the The New Theatre, Cardiff, on Tues 5 May – so if you want to win a pair of tickets, just answer the following question:
Q: Daniel Radcliffe may have played the lead in the film adaptation of The Woman In Black, but who plays the lead role in prison drama Orange Is The New Black?
Please email your answers, name, address, Twitter username (if you have one) and contact number to [email protected] by Thurs 30 April.