PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Ambassadors Theatre
★★★★
“Each bump, jump, scare and shock comes as a surprise in a perfectly paced and executed telling of the tale”
“As you enter, hold your nerve. As you exit, hold your tongue. Keep our secrets.”
The fact that we are handed a note containing a personal appeal from the writer to ‘keep spoiler secrets’ leaves me wondering what I can actually write about. Levi Holloway’s stage adaptation of the “Paranormal Activity” film (and its many offshoots and sequels) has enough white-knuckle twists and spine-tingling moments that, when taken away, leave just the bare bones of a chilling narrative scattered on the floor. It kind of makes my job easier in a way. The impact of this show relies on emotions rather than words and director Felix Barrett, along with illusionist Chris Fisher, tap into them like a sadistic surgeon’s catheter. There is the initial shock, followed by a tenuous sense of relief from knowing that we are, in fact, in a safe environment; surrounded by like-minded members of the audience. Often the gasps morph into nervous laughter.
I never saw any of the original film franchise, that featured the ‘found footage’ technique, whereby the characters are filming the story for themselves as they go along. This has been dispensed with for the live version (I think I’m allowed that spoiler?). Instead, the focus is on a normal couple. Two people in a two-storey house (Fly Davis’ set is a chillingly authentic reproduction of cosy suburbia, but with some dark corners where the shadows start playing tricks on our imagination). James (Patrick Heusinger) and Lou (Melissa James) have moved from Chicago to London, ostensibly to escape the evil presence that has been possessing Lou since childhood. They quickly discover, however, that places aren’t haunted, but people are (I am definitely allowed that one – it’s one of the shows taglines). Heusinger and James portray the couple with a naturalness and an almost humdrum domesticity. Until they are wrenched from everyday life into sleepless nights.
There has to be a reason for the supernatural goings-on. So, James brings in charlatan exorcist Etheline (Jackie Morrison). On this note – Holloway successfully slips in whisps of humour that, not just distracts from, but also manages to heighten the sense of impending fear. A sense intensified by Gareth Fry’s sound design and then taken to impossible heights by Anna Watson’s lighting, which are integral to the narrative. Watson paws at our senses, caressing the corners of our eye before plunging us into darkness or else revealing what may or may not be lurking in the corners of the house.
We are sometimes taken out of the moment by the trickery, and consequently wondering how they did it, but that is all part of the enjoyment of the journey. The story itself doesn’t require that much effort, until the final twists take our breath away. Teasers are continually provided by James’ mother, Carolanne (Pippa Winslow), who spends a lot of time at the other end of a video-call to James. When she eventually appears in the flesh, our own flesh is left tingling somewhat.
The four performances are quite outstanding, and give the impression that they are as fresh to the story as we are. Each bump, jump, scare and shock comes as a surprise in a perfectly paced and executed telling of the tale. I wish I could tell you more, but I’m minded of Holloway’s instructions in the press pack to ‘keep our secret’. So, it’s up to you. There’s only one way to find out. I’d urge you to… if you dare.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Ambassadors Theatre
Reviewed on 15th December 2025
by Jonathan Evans
Photography by Johan Persson
