Arts

When Darkness Falls Review

What are ghosts? Are they just in spooky stories? Are they supernatural entities?  Unknown energies? Souls of the departed? Trauma? Manifestations of melancholy?

Brand new supernatural thriller ‘When Darkness Falls’ asks these questions. Set during a stormy night on the island of Guernsey, a young paranormal expert joins John, a sceptical history teacher, to record the first in a series of podcasts based on the island’s incredible folklore and paranormal history.  From haunted houses, to witches to the German hospital, five tales are told. They learn that each of us have our own stories, truths and ghosts that haunt us. When the past, present and future are bought together, it unsettled everything they know.

Inspired by a true story, the play shows us the importance of stories. Most importantly the stories we tell ourselves. And the horrors we as humans can inflict upon others.

The first half feels more just a recitation of disjointed stories, and as such feels a little distant. There’s lots of exposition and monologues given the setting and then the two are suddenly acting out the stories. It’s the second half where the pace picks up and the two actors hold our attention. Tony Timberlake as John Blondel starts more as a comedic character with jumps and behaviour showing just how awkward he feels having these discussions, and his ‘no nonsense’ attitude is contrasted with Thomas Dennis as The Speaker, who is more intense, creating suspense with well timed pauses.

The sound effects of the outside storm, namely  crashes of lighting and blackouts, create a spooky atmosphere. As the audience we already feel a set of discomfort upon seeing the set: a teachers office with cluttered desks and a kitchen area in disrepair. The drab and dark colours also create a sense of foreboding. Magic and illusions are what you would expect: chairs moving, items crashing to the ground and the lights flickering.

I enjoyed that it was set in Guernsey and used references to its history such as the German Underground Hospital, and the nearby island of Sark. Having explored both of these a few years ago on a trip to Guernsey, I found myself being able to picture some of where the stories take place.

Performing at Richmond Theatre until Saturday 11 February 2023. Tickets from £13 with booking fee. It then tours to Poole, Mold, Salford, Exeter, Dundee, Bromley, Leicester, Oxford and Eastbourne.

For When Darkness Falls

Instagram: https://instagram.com/whendarknessuk

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/whendarknessuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/whendarknessuk

Or search #WhenDarknessFalls

For Richmond Theatre

Address: Richmond theatre, 1 Little Green, TW9 1QH.

Telephone: 0844 871 7615

Website: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/richmondtheatre

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/RichmondTheatre

Twitter: @RichmondTheatre

Written by Caitlin Nea