Paranormal Activity West End review – a hauntingly good stage adaptation

Horror can be a difficult genre to pull off on stage. With productions such as The Woman in Black and 2:22 A Ghost Story proving to be hugely successful, Paranormal Activity takes on the challenge of bringing the popular film franchise to the theatre, delivering an unsettling live experience you won’t soon forget.

Written by Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett, artistic director of immersive theatre company Punchdrunk, the play is staged as an original story that is just as terrifying as the movies.

The plot revolves around James and Lou, a newlywed couple who move from Chicago to London after James lands a work transfer. It becomes clear that the move is less about opportunity and more about escape from a haunted past. As they hope for a fresh start, James and Lou notice strange disturbances in their home, putting a strain on their relationship and raising the question – what are they really running from? Taking inspiration from its source material, the show follows a similar premise: that perhaps places aren’t haunted, people are.

Using technical stagecraft and clever illusions, the piece is genuinely haunting. Barrett’s background in immersive productions is evident throughout, as our senses are put to the test. The performance begins with the audience engulfed in scenes of complete darkness and eerie sound effects, setting the tone early for what we can expect.

Holloway writes a naturalistic dialogue, including some amusing moments that provide comic relief, before we’re back into the terror. The cast of four, led by Patrick Heusinger and Melissa James, deliver strong performances. Heusinger portrays James as a supportive spouse, though his tone and choice of words indicate scepticism towards his wife’s response to the disturbances. James is outstanding as Lou; her childhood trauma is laid bare, and we see her frustrations mount as her mental health is trivialised. Together, they express complex characters and their chemistry as a couple is believable. Pippa Winslow appears as an overbearing mother on FaceTime, sharing her unwarranted opinions with the couple, while Jackie Morrison adds an interesting dynamic to the story as paranormal expert, Etheline Cotgrave.

The Ambassadors Theatre’s intimate setting works well for this type of claustrophobic horror. Fly Davis’s two-storey set design of the couple’s home is realistic and intricately detailed. You can’t help but scan every corner for something lurking. The production opts for a slow-burn, with suspense building through prolonged silences and creeping shadows. Chris Fisher brings masterful illusion tricks that leave the audience audibly gasping. Their execution is expertly managed in conjunction with Anna Watson’s lighting design and Gareth Fry’s intense sound design, which heighten our sense of unease.

While the story is easy enough to follow, the first half does feel quite drawn out and slow. But the second act ramps up and delivers a gripping tale, full of twists and turns. No spoilers here, but fans of the franchise may perhaps be able to predict the outcome. However, this adaptation doesn’t rely on prior knowledge of the films.

With jump scares, amazing illusions and strong performances, Paranormal Activity showcases just how innovative live stagecraft can be. It’s entertaining, frightening and has cemented itself in the horror theatre hall of fame. As the tagline promises, you’ll be holding onto your nerves!