The Woman in Black

Drama

West End

Fortune Theatre

Until Sat Dec 14

Ken Drury in The Woman in Black © Tristram Kenton

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Time Out says

Thu Apr 14 2011

It's been over 20 years since this skillful adaptation of Susan Hill's 1983 Gothic horror story first started setting West End audience a-shiver. 'The Woman in Black' remains perennially popular – particularly, it seems, with generally hard-to-please teenagers – which is testament to its rough-theatre appeal and the extraordinary and enduring potency, not of guts, gore or special effects, but of simple suggestion.

Ageing Arthur Kipps (Patrick Drury) is haunted by sinister events that befell him 30 years earlier. In an effort to exorcise his demons, he hires an actor (Antony Eden) to help him tell his story for an invited audience.

As they rehearse, though, their staging itself becomes prey to supernatural visitations from the titular hatchet-faced, whip-thin, funereally garbed woman. Stephen Mallatratt's dramatisation and a deft production by Robin Herford exploit the peculiarly spooky atmosphere of an empty theatre, making us, as an audience, feel almost like spectral voyeurs. And the chills are irresistibly effective: swirling fog, a creaking rocking chair, a locked door, a pale visage looming out of the gloom.

Only occasionally does the staging show its age. The projected image of the gaunt, sinister house of Kipps' tormented memory looks hopelessly cheap and crude, and a graveyard conjured with dust sheets struggles to convince, even within the low-tech aesthetic parameters of the piece.

Yet the shrieks and gasps that greet the performance demonstrate that, even in the twenty-first century, this doughty little drama still casts its delicious spell of malevolence and menace.

Critics' choice

16

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Venue details

MAP

Name:
Fortune Theatre
Address:
Fortune Theatre Russell Street
London
WC2B 5HH

Phone:
0844 871 7677
Website:
www.ambassadortickets.com
Transport:
Covent Garden tube
Map
1. Fortune Theatre
  - Russell Street
    London
    WC2B 5HH
  - 0844 871 7677
  - www.ambassadortickets.com
  - 51.513313,-0.120712

Event phone:
0844 871 7677
Event website:
www.ambassadortickets.com

Categories:
Theatre. West End. Drama
Type of event:
Plays and shows

The Woman in Black 2013

May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr

Date Time Price information
Tue May 28

15:00

£18-£61. Runs 1hr 35mins. Booking to March 30 2013
Buy tickets

20:00
Wed May 29

20:00

£18-£61. Runs 1hr 35mins. Booking to March 30 2013
Buy tickets
Thu May 30

15:00

£18-£61. Runs 1hr 35mins. Booking to March 30 2013
Buy tickets

20:00
Fri May 31

20:00

£18-£61. Runs 1hr 35mins. Booking to March 30 2013
Buy tickets

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Comments & ratings

(14 ratings)

good acting from the two stars but as for the rest it was an absolute waste of 2 hours of anyones life,totally not scary, totally boring, and absolute rubbish plot and how anyone can give this absolute pants play a good review is beyond me, not only was the play bad the theatre was worse, the toilets were disgusting it was generally scruffy throughout. svae your money and go to a nice play with a good set and a toilet were you dont have to lean to oneside to have a pee ! and very expensive when your inside, you have been warned...

peter siberry Mon Feb 25
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Great fun enjoyable show that had you laughing and screaming in fright. A definite show to watch.

Claire Sun Feb 10
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very well scripted and well played. The actors engulf you in a story that's gripping and dramatic.

Tessa Wed Nov 21 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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I hope you enjoy my thoughts on 'The Woman in black' ...... http://wp.me/s1wBkb-325

shinywarrior Sun Oct 28 2012
Rated as: 3/5
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Dont waste your time and money. More like a trip to your kids school play. V.Dissapointing. What a waste of a day.

George Mon Oct 22 2012
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Dont waste your time and money. More like a trip to your kids school play. V.Dissapointing. What a waste of a day.

George Mon Oct 22 2012
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Disappointing given some rave reviews. Great staging and strong performances but just rather slow, predictable and ultimately dull story. Whole family underwhelmed and not scared at all Suggest you try something else.

family with teenagers Thu Aug 16 2012
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This is not even for teenagers, it's for kids. Good acting and they do have some authentic scary moments but utterly poor flat story, nothing to take away

Zhivko Thu May 10 2012
Rated as: 2/5
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I've seen this play 7 times. It is always fantastic and very scary. Just a great night out!

Julia Wilson Tue May 1 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Went to see The Woman in Black today with two friends because we heard and read great reviews about it..it was terrible!!!! so boring!!! do not listen to the reviews...People are paid to write these good things!!!! it was a big waste of time and money...do not bother going!!!!!

thetruthhurts Sat Apr 21 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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