"the haunters"
Written by Patrick Prior

A ghost story based on a short story by Edward Bulwer Lytton.

Premiered at The Yvonne Arnaud Mill Studio, Guildford
September 2002

The play has been performed to near packed houses at;

Brewhouse Theatre,Taunton

Middlesbrough Theatre

King's Lynn Arts Centre

Palace Theatre, Newark

The Stables, Hastings

Norden Farm Centre For The Arts, Maidenhead

Wilde Theatre, Bracknell

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Manoel Theatre, Malta

Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy

Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford

Ellen Terry Theatre, Kent

Cumbernauld Theatre

Brunton Theatre, Mussleburgh

Well Theatre, Moffat

Town Hall Theatre, Hamilton

Paisley Arts Centre

Arts Guild, Greenock

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles

Birnam Institute For The Arts

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness(on tour)

North Edinburgh Arts Centre

Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen

Riverside Theatre, Coleraine

Playhouse, Derry

Market Theatre, Armagh

Island Arts Centre, Lisburn

THE REVIEWS

THE HAUNTERS is a gothic horror story which provides an eerie evening...the two actors, Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden are ideal as the Victorian doctor and solicitor and together with director Jim Dunk create just the right amount of tension and eerie atmosphere in this supernatural tale. If you like ghost stories, haunted houses and hansom cabs dashing across London, dash to this... This haunting tale makes for a seriously creepy evening...spine chilling...an extremely creepy ending.

INDIE LONDON

 

The result bears a marked resemblance to the West End long runner 'The Woman In Black', with the same resort to graveside solemnity, shadowy silhouettes, ghostly shrieks and murmuring voices in which two men are scared out of their wits by past events too horrible to contemplate.

THE STAGE

 

The set is minimal and is effective in the graveyard scenes where the lighting creates a sinister atmosphere and ingenious in suggesting a hansom cab in which the solicitor dashes to save his client. The ghostliest effects are produced by the wails and screams coming from a source in the auditorium itself.

THE MALTA TIMES

 

AUDIENCE REACTION

"The last play I saw was 'The Haunters' which was outstanding. This was the first play I saw here and the main reason I returned."

MIDDLESBROUGH THEATRE AUDIENCE SURVEY

 

"Great show. I'd like to see more of this company - very realistic."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this performance and would definitely return if this company were to come back to the Riverside."

 

"Excellent. Brilliant story telling. Wonderful."

 

"Fantastic to see two great actors holding an audience so captive. Wonderful story telling, wonderful performance - a real treat."

 

"Atmosphere was thoroughly haunting. A drama well worth seeing which has you gripped from beginning to end."

 

"Simply marvellous - not a sound from the audience. Well done. Encore."

RIVERSIDE THEATRE, COLERAINE