2:22 A Ghost Story is quite simply a phenomenon. Following its acclaimed premiere in London in 2021 and coming in the wake of numerous successful productions around the world, Danny Robins’ “modern classic” is now on tour across England, including the performance I saw at Richmond Theatre (where the play also appeared in 2024). While eschewing the high camp horror of Ghost Stories and without aiming to emulate the subtle neogothic shocks of The Woman in Black, Robins has clearly set out to deliver a balance of thrills and chills and laughs. It’s a tricky balance and in this production some of the scares some across, perhaps, as a little more comical than they should be, while others are genuinely alarming and genuinely suspenseful, although a few – perhaps too many – rely more on the inevitable impact of unrealistically loud unexpected sounds and weakly motivated lighting changes, than on anything more subtle.
The premise is familiar enough. As in classic four-cast plays like God of Carnage, we meet two couples with very little to worry about, which means they worry about all sorts of things, some trivial and trite. There is a certain tension within and between the two couples. And offstage there is a spooky room which – curiously – is where the baby of rational, smug liberal Sam and his exhausted wife Jenny is sleeping. The second couple, spiritual Ben (Grant Kilburn) and Lauren (Natalie Casey), a shrewish psychologist, and who also happens to be Sam’s ex. Before long, everyone is reflecting on the atmospherics of the room that are SO spooky that Sam and Jenny have no trouble leaving their baby there… Hmm. With an onstage clock that counts down to … you can guess the time … the play’s shock ending is fairly clued, and shocking enough to draw gasps from some members of the audience, but it may not come as a surprise to those familiar with An Inspector Calls or one of the major tropes of the ghost story genre and capable of not being distracted by the red herrings.
Anna Fleischle’s set is superb, and the production is cleverly directed by Matthew Dunster – Olivier-nominated for the original run of Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen – and co-directed by Gabriel Vega Weissman.
And, happily, no teddy bears were harmed in the making of this production…
Only time will tell if the play is genuinely a “modern classic”.
Review by Louis Mazzini
“There’s something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time”
Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.
Sam – James Bye
Jenny – Shvorne Marks
Ben – Grant Kilburn
Lauren – Natalie Casey
Written by Danny Robins
Directed by Matthew Dunster and Gabriel Vega Weissman
Set Designer – Anna Fleischle
Costume Designer – Cindy Lin
Lighting Designer – Lucy Carter
Sound Designer – Ian Dickinson for Autograph
Casting Director – Matilda James
Co-Casting Director – Annelie Powell CDG
Illusions – Chris Fisher
Fight Directors – Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown of RC-Annie
Vocal Coach – Hazel Holder
2:22 A GHOST STORY
Richmond Theatre, 2 to 7 February 2026
Tour continues to 4 July 2026
