A new theatrical experience is sending shivers down the spines of London audiences, proving that sometimes the most potent scares are the ones you hear. Jamie Armitage's innovative production, 'A Ghost in Your Ear', is running at Hampstead Theatre until 31 January, offering a uniquely immersive form of terror dubbed 'headphone horror'.
The Premise of the Play
Audiences enter a darkened auditorium and are instructed to don headphones hanging on the back of each seat. The play begins with a trigger warning, reassuring attendees that the ghost is not real and that removing the headphones will make the spectre vanish. However, the production is so compellingly creepy that few choose to take that escape route.
The story itself carries echoes of the classic ghost tales of M.R. James. It follows a man who, after the death of his estranged father, travels to the remote family home to clear it out. The house, naturally, begins to stir with a menacing past. The narrative is populated with familiar but effective tropes: bumps in the night, a restless soul, creaking floorboards, and unexplained shadows and knocks.
An Innovative Theatrical Format
The genius of the production lies in its format and setting. The drama unfolds within a recording studio, cleverly designed by Anisha Fields. Here, an actor, played by George Blagden, and a sound technician, portrayed by Jonathan Livingstone, are recording an audiobook. Their initial friendly joshing gives way to mounting dread as the actor becomes increasingly unsettled by the story he is narrating.
Directed by Armitage and created in collaboration with acclaimed sound designers Ben and Max Ringham, the play's power derives from its intense focus on aural terror. The experience is creepily intimate, with sounds poured directly into the listener's ears. The swish of windscreen wipers during a drive, the character's accelerated breathing, and sudden gasps all contribute to a profoundly unsettling atmosphere.
Execution and Influences
While the scare tactics—from jump scares to knife-like musical stings and blackouts—may not be revolutionary, they are executed with sleek precision. The acting, particularly from Blagden as the increasingly jittery narrator, is excellent. The blend of the mundane setting of a recording studio with the uncanny events is reminiscent of shows like 'Inside No. 9', a comparison the play's clever final twist solidifies.
Ultimately, 'A Ghost in Your Ear' succeeds as a good, old-fashioned fairground ghost train ride of a story. It understands the primal thrill of being scared in a safe environment and uses cutting-edge sound technology to amplify that sensation. For those seeking a genuine theatrical fright, this Hampstead production is the perfect destination this winter.
