October may have left us last week, but it’s never too late to watch a horror story unfold live on stage. Unlike film, where clever editing can create the perfect jump scare, theatre relies on precise timing, lighting, and performance to convince an audience that something terrifying is happening right in front of them.
It Walks Around The House At Night, presented by ThickSkin at The Lowry in Salford, does exactly that. Combining a chilling ghost story with a wonderfully British sense of humour, this 90-minute production delivers plenty of laughs, unexpected scares, and some seriously impressive theatrical effects.
Written by Tim Foley, the story follows Joe (George Naylor), an out-of-work actor who accepts an unusual job at a countryside manor. A customer at the bar where he works, David Linden, hires him to pretend to be a ghost and frighten his nieces. As you can imagine, things don’t go to plan.
Naylor is fantastic as Joe, bringing an eccentric personality and infectious sense of humour to the role. His exaggerated expressions, impressions and mannerisms make him an incredibly entertaining storyteller, particularly as he details the personalities of several different characters throughout the production. What makes his performance particularly impressive is how effortlessly he switches between comedy and genuine fear. One minute he’s making the audience laugh with a ridiculous impression, and the next he’s visibly terrified by something lurking in the darkness.
There’s a very natural, almost self-deprecating quality to his humour. Joe doesn’t take himself particularly seriously, which makes him feel like a believable, everyday character caught up in increasingly ridiculous and frightening circumstances.
He also breaks the fourth wall throughout, drawing the audience directly into his storytelling. This becomes particularly effective towards the end, when the boundaries between the performance and reality begin to blur. Watching audience members genuinely question what was happening made the final surprise even more entertaining.
Bringing horror to life on stage
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of It Walks Around The House At Night is its technical execution. Lighting, sound and shadows are used brilliantly to create an unsettling atmosphere, with some particularly clever sequences involving Joe moving across the stage under flashing lights.
Then there are the ghostly appearances. Watching a figure emerge from the darkness, only to disappear again in a flash, is genuinely chilling. The precision required to pull off these moments is remarkable, and judging by the screams coming from around the theatre, they certainly had the desired effect.
It’s easy to underestimate just how difficult it must be to execute these effects live. A mistimed movement or lighting cue could completely undermine a scare, yet the production handles them with remarkable precision.
A few twists along the way
At around 90 minutes, the pacing feels just right. There’s rarely a lengthy stretch without either a laugh, an unsettling moment or an unexpected jump scare, keeping the audience engaged throughout.
That said, the storyline can occasionally be a little difficult to follow. With a considerable amount of background surrounding the manor and its various characters, there’s quite a lot of information to take in, particularly when much of it is delivered through Joe’s narration.
It’s a production that requires your attention, although this doesn’t detract too much from the overall experience.
Final thoughts
It Walks Around The House At Night is a fantastic example of how effective horror can be in a theatre setting.
It’s chilling without being overwhelmingly frightening, and the humour makes it an enjoyable experience even for those who might not ordinarily gravitate towards horror. Perhaps one of the most entertaining aspects, though, is watching the audience around you. Between the nervous laughter, unexpected screams and genuine confusion during the final moments, there’s something particularly entertaining about experiencing those scares together.
A brilliantly executed production that’s well worth experiencing live.
**Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review
Kelsey Haslam is the founding editor of Magenta Adventures Travel Publication and a freelance travel writer with a focus on community-based travel, culture-led experiences, and theatre tourism. She is passionate about spotlighting lesser-known destinations and connecting travellers with meaningful, human-centred stories.
Her published work includes destination features and luxury hotel reviews for leading travel outlets such as A Luxury Travel Blog, Beau Monde Traveler, and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
Explore more about Kelsey’s background on the About Page.
