West End horror fans, beware! The latest play to take up residence in London's Ambassadors theatre is Paranormal Activity, a new instalment in the franchise that was kickstarted by a low-budget supernatural movie about a couple plagued by inexplicable nocturnal noises.
The US playwright Levi Holloway and director Felix Barrett, best known as the founder of immersive theatre specialists Punchdrunk, have taken on the challenge of bringing this eerie tale to life for a live audience. The result is a two-storey house where a young couple's marital bliss quickly turns into a terrifying battle against malevolent spirits.
In an interview, Holloway revealed that horror in theatre is a burden and a privilege, requiring careful crafting of a story with good narrative drive. He noted that horror brings audiences together like no other genre, providing a shared experience that can be cathartic.
However, when asked if he believes in the paranormal, Holloway admitted to being open-minded but having never experienced anything supernatural himself. Barrett, on the other hand, professed his love for the history of spiritualism despite not believing in ghosts himself.
Despite the pair's differing stances on the afterlife, they have worked tirelessly to create an immersive and atmospheric experience for the audience. The play features a sound design by Gareth Fry and lighting by Anna Watson that builds tension throughout the performance.
The Ambassadors theatre itself provides an interesting backdrop to the production, its proscenium arch offering a stark contrast to Punchdrunk's usual site-specific approach. Barrett noted that listening to the atmosphere of a space is crucial in creating a successful immersive experience.
While some may be put off by the idea of a play based on an existing franchise, Holloway argued that his script has its own unique stamp, bringing something new and original to the table. As for the pair's excitement about the project, Barrett admitted to yelping with both fear and joy upon experiencing it firsthand.
Paranormal Activity is set to open in London soon, promising a chilling ride for those brave enough to take on the challenge.
The US playwright Levi Holloway and director Felix Barrett, best known as the founder of immersive theatre specialists Punchdrunk, have taken on the challenge of bringing this eerie tale to life for a live audience. The result is a two-storey house where a young couple's marital bliss quickly turns into a terrifying battle against malevolent spirits.
In an interview, Holloway revealed that horror in theatre is a burden and a privilege, requiring careful crafting of a story with good narrative drive. He noted that horror brings audiences together like no other genre, providing a shared experience that can be cathartic.
However, when asked if he believes in the paranormal, Holloway admitted to being open-minded but having never experienced anything supernatural himself. Barrett, on the other hand, professed his love for the history of spiritualism despite not believing in ghosts himself.
Despite the pair's differing stances on the afterlife, they have worked tirelessly to create an immersive and atmospheric experience for the audience. The play features a sound design by Gareth Fry and lighting by Anna Watson that builds tension throughout the performance.
The Ambassadors theatre itself provides an interesting backdrop to the production, its proscenium arch offering a stark contrast to Punchdrunk's usual site-specific approach. Barrett noted that listening to the atmosphere of a space is crucial in creating a successful immersive experience.
While some may be put off by the idea of a play based on an existing franchise, Holloway argued that his script has its own unique stamp, bringing something new and original to the table. As for the pair's excitement about the project, Barrett admitted to yelping with both fear and joy upon experiencing it firsthand.
Paranormal Activity is set to open in London soon, promising a chilling ride for those brave enough to take on the challenge.
. I mean, horror fans are always up for a thrill, but a live experience can be nerve-wracking 
. Do you think it's a good idea to take something familiar and turn it into a theatrical experience? Like, if you know what's coming, does it lose some of its scare factor? 
I'm low-key hyped for this new play at the Ambassadors theatre! The fact that they're doing an immersive experience with Paranormal Activity sounds SO cool 
. I love how the director and playwright are both bringing their own unique perspectives to the project, it's gonna be fascinating to see how they make it work together. And omg, a 2-storey house in London is like, totally Instagrammable 
. The sound design and lighting are gonna be key in creating that eerie atmosphere, can't wait to get my chill on 
Just saw that there's this new horror play called Paranormal Activity at the Ambassadors theatre in London... 2-storey house where ghosts come to haunt the living 
sounds like my worst nightmare! 
but at the same time, it's still super scary 
i love how the director and playwright have crafted an immersive experience that'll get you on the edge of your seat 
can't wait to see how they bring the paranormal activity to life on stage 
! I've always been a fan of horror movies and I'm curious to see how they translate it to live theatre 
. I'm a bit skeptical about seeing it myself, but I love how they've promised a chilling ride for those brave enough to take it on 
, but honestly, who doesn't love a good ghost story? 
and a new immersive theatre experience sounds like a blast...as long as the lights stay on 
i kinda love that it's based on a franchise but at the same time dont wanna be all confused cuz its not like a new movie 
is the atmosphere of the theatre itself part of the experience too?
. The fact that the director doesn't believe in ghosts himself is kinda weird tho... but hey, it's all part of the show, right? The sound design and lighting are supposed to be key elements, so fingers crossed they deliver on that front 
. One thing's for sure, if the Ambassadors theatre setting adds an extra layer of creepiness, I'm sold! But let's keep our expectations in check and see how it all plays out... 
️. The fact that Barrett doesn't subscribe to paranormal beliefs highlights his focus on crafting an immersive environment rather than relying on supernatural explanations 
. As a result, the Ambassadors theatre's unique setting will become an integral part of the overall experience, making the audience question what's real and what's just the product of their imaginations 
and honestly i'm intrigued. think its gonna be super immersive & creepy 
. wonder if they're doin any interactive elements tho 
. I'm not sure if I believe in the paranormal either, but it'll be fun to see how this plays out 
.
Anna Watson's lighting is always on point too... it adds to the whole atmosphere of tension and fear 
. And, omigod, did you hear that Barrett was totally freaked out when he saw the play for the first time? 
Guess that's one way to get excited about a new project! Anyway, I'm all ears for this one... bring on the scares!