Review: THE TURN OF THE SCREW, Arcola Theatre

Photo credit: Alex Brenner

Based on the 19th century horror novella of the same name, The Turn of the Screw is a stage adaptation of Henry James’ classic ghost story. Set in a countryside manor, it follows a young governess as she cares for two siblings and uncovers the manor’s dark history.

Upon taking their seats, the audience can see the minimal set design which stays as it is throughout the show. Seemingly simple at first, it’s not long before Matthew Cassar’s set design reveals its own secrets. The use of light and projections in the set allows it to conceal horrors, only exposing them when its ready. While the set only shows us the outside of the manor, Nicky Allpress’s directing makes the set believably feel like the inside of the manor at times too.

The costumes, also by Cassar, have a Victorian feel that’s appropriate for the timing of the original book. The children’s (played by adults) costumes instantly make it clear that they are children before they even open their mouths.

There are some strong jump scares in the show, albeit they are heavily reliant on the use of sound rather than the building of tension. Not every horror stage show has successful jump scares though, some fall flat, so The Turn of the Screw having strong, successful jump scares is notable. 

There are two timelines in the show, with frequent switches between the two. The transitions between the timelines, although clear, feel a little awkward and unconsidered. Parts of the story seem rushed, particularly the ending.

Strong performances from the cast of six, with Katy Slater as Mrs Grose doing a fantastic job at conveying Mrs Grose’s thoughts while saying something completely different, and Amy Tara as The Governess quickly changing timelines multiple times throughout the show without losing the intensity of the situation. Standout performances though come from Kathleen McAuley Irvine as Flora, and Toby Beynon as Miles - the two children. Not only do Kathleen and Toby very convincingly play children (Miles is 10, Flora is younger), Toby portrays an innocent child while also making the audience feel very unsettled by him without really understanding why. He creates this niggling feeling in the gut that something is not quite right. Without spoiling the story, Kathleen and Toby go on to each portray another character. Their ability to switch between the two characters (including accents), one innocent and one sinister, quickly and with sharp accuracy is uncanny. It creates another level of eeriness in this unnerving show.

The Turn of the Screw is a solid production with a strong cast and deserves its place as a ghost story on stage.  While some improvements could be made with the directing and the writing, including pacing, utilising tension more and jump scares being less heavily reliant on sound, it is certainly worth considering if you are looking for a scary show to watch this autumn.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Kate Soper

The Turn of the Screw plays at London’s Arcola Theatre until 10 Oct, with further info here.