Hi everyone and welcome back another theatre review! I know theatre reviews have been few and far between this year, but it’s exciting times ahead with Christmas and Pantomime season around the corner!

I recently got the chance to go and see ‘Ghost Stories – By Candlelight’ from the theatre company ‘High Tide’. When I got this invite, I wasn’t sure what to make of this, but I found out.

‘Ghost Stories’ stars Katie Cherry, Elizabeth Crarer and Loren O’Dair. Play various different characters with three different spooky and ghostly stories. Using lighting, puppetry, and emotion to tell a story. Each of the stories were gripping, and had some ‘on the edge of your seat’ moments, with some twists along the way. All of the cast did an amazing job telling each of the three stories along with using lighting to create the right atmosphere for each of the stories.

Each of the stories are completely different from one another but also has little similarities. 

In terms of accessibility, the show is very much in dim light from start to finish, with some bright and in some cases flashing lights throughout. When the cast was using the puppets I personally struggled to see what the puppets actually were, as they were used in front of coloured tinted lights so this made it quite different to distinguish what they were. Due to the limited light, it was different to see the cast’s faces at times, but this by no means takes anything away from the stories they were trying to tell, or the characters they were portraying. All the cast wore all-white costumes, so was very easy to identify them all. 

As the style of the show is very much vocal and emotional, with very little physical involvement, I feel like this can cater to all people regardless of their level of sight loss. You could really feel the emotions of all the characters and really feel their pain or distress. This show really caters for everyone, and you never once feel you are missing out on any of the show, but I came away feeling that even though all the cast and crew did an amazing job, this show won’t be for everyone, but at the same time it really gives people the chance to try something new and experience something completely different to what they normally see.

I think a lot of people will get a lot out of this show, especially if you like your spooky ghost stories! The building really added to the atmosphere too. 

‘Ghost Stories = By Candlelight’ is running on tour around the country, you can find out more on their website by clicking on the link here.

Until Next Time 

The VI Critic