Review: A GHOST IN YOUR EAR, Hampstead Theatre
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
Proper horror theatre is a something of a unicorn, but by some delightful twist of fate, lucky London audiences are currently being spoiled by two real spine-tinglers - Paranormal Activity in the West End and Jamie Armitage’s A Ghost In Your Ear, receiving its debut at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs.
A Ghost In Your Ear takes place in a sound studio where actor George (George Blagden) is recording a script he has never seen before for a mysterious client, overseen by sound engineer Sid (Jonathan Livingstone). Very soon the lines between performance and reality become blurred to terrifying effect.
The audience is primed for spooking from the moment they enter the auditorium, which is mostly in darkness and lit only by red flickering lights; their first taste of Ben Jacobs’ unsettling lighting design.
Created in collaboration with award-winning sound designers Max and Ben Ringham, Armitage’s play relies on binaural sound technology to really get under the audience’s skin and as such, each spectator is given a set of headphones. Being individually plugged into the show like this ramps up the intimacy in this already cosy venue, again priming the goosebumps.
George Blagden is an astonishing storyteller and is utterly absorbing in his performance. Elegantly steered by director Jamie Armitage and movement consultant Robert Strange, Blagden practically waltzes around the stage with the binaural microphone that resembles a disembodied head on a stand.
Jonathan Livingstone melts in and out of the production as the mysterious sound engineer, with a subtle dark depth to his performance, the full weight of which is revealed in the show’s final dark twist.
The horror of this show ranges from skin-crawling creeps to jump scares that make the pit of your stomach fall out.
This is truly a terrifying tale worthy of M.R. James and a ripping 90-minutes of thrills and chills.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett
A Ghost in your Ear plays at London’s Hampstead Theatre until 31 January, with further info here.
