SOUTHEND THEATRE SCENE
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
  • COMING UP
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
    • David Streames Interview
    • Daniel O'Donnell
    • Matt Wycliffe Interview - Million Dollar Quartet
    • Ian Anderson - Jethro Tull
    • Tony Stockwell Interview
    • Priscilla Queen of the Desert Tour - Interview with Emma Crossley
    • Phil Walker - Guitar Heroes
    • Rock for Heroes Review
    • Once the Musical - We interview Daniel Healy & Emma Lucia as we are invited to watch the cast rehearse!
    • The Overtones 2019
    • Derren Brown - Showman
    • Stephen K Amos Interview
    • Geoff Norcott INTERVIEW
    • Diversity and Kev Orkian Interviews
    • Giles Cooper talks about Nigel Slater's TOAST
    • Kristian Lavercombe - Riff Raff - Rocky Horror Show
    • Dan Partridge & Martha Kirby talk Grease the Musical
    • Village Green Festival 2019
    • Lee Mead, David Streames & Richard Foster
    • Craig Revel Horwood
    • Jenny Gayner
    • Nigel Slater
    • Alex Bourne Interview - Annie Tour 2019
    • Beverley Craven Interview
    • Gary Barlow and Tim Firth Interview - Calendar Girls
    • Tom Stade 2019 Interview
    • Karen Gibson - The Kingdom Choir
    • AJ Pritchard
    • Jonathan Wrather - The Picture of Dorian Gray - Tilted Wig Productions
    • Kevin Clifton & Graziano Di Prima Interview - Burn the Floor
    • Elesha Paul Moses Interview - Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
    • Juliet Mills & Maxwell Caulfield Interview
    • Juliet Mills Interview
    • Holly Liburd - The Bodyguard
    • Alexandra Burke - The Bodyguard
    • Janine Duvitski Interview
    • Matthew Kelly & David Yelland
    • Aled Jones Interview
    • Quadrophenia Live Interview with Doug Freeman
    • Diversity's Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo, Perri Kiely & Terry Smith
    • Ali James & James Cranfield
    • Ed Speleers, Mairi Barclay & Adam Lilley
    • Rachel Lumberg & Faye Christall Interview
    • Rain Main - Mathew Horne & Ed Speleers
    • Charles Sharman-Cox
    • Matt Terry & Antoine Murray-Straughan
    • Collabro Road to the Royal Albert Hall Interview
    • Steve Michaels - Elvis
    • Paul Young Interview
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Jersey Boys Interview
    • Colin Blunstone - The Zombies
    • Dave Kelly - The Blues Band
    • Clive John - Johnny Cash Roadshow
    • Paul Opacic & Richard Walsh
    • Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace
    • Alexander O'Neal Interview
    • Kevin Whately - Our Finest Hour
    • Jenny Eclair - Grumpy Old Women Tour
    • Séan Aydon - Great Expectations
    • Joe McElderry Live in Concert
    • Nichola McAuliffe Interview
    • Natalie Anderson & Jonathan Halliwell
    • Geoff Norcott Interview
    • Mark Steel - Comedian Interview
    • Debra Stephenson & Alice Barlow
    • Dr Feelgood's Kevin Morris
    • Ali James Interview - Oh Yes It Is!
    • Tom Stade Interview
    • Sarah Earnshaw - Nativity the Musical
    • Karina Jones - Wait Until Dark
    • The Stylistics
    • Tom Chambers & Charlotte Wakefield
    • Jessie Wallace - Deathtrap
    • Paul Bradley - Deathtrap
    • George Kemp - The Wipers Times
    • Joe McElderry - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    • Ian Hislop & Nick Newman - The Wipers Times
    • Chris Simmons, All or Nothing the Musical
    • Caroline Flack, Tom Chambers Interview
    • Ruth Madoc
    • Scott Reid - Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
    • Samuel Clemens, Director
    • Elizabeth Elvin
    • Ray Cooney - Out of Order
    • Susie Amy
    • Sue Holderness
    • Shaun Williamson
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher & Oliver Ormson
    • Geoff Norcott
    • Navi - King of Pop
    • Damian Williams Interview
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher Interview
    • Samantha Womack Interview
    • Les Dennis Interview
    • Clive Mantle - The Verdict
    • Stephen Bailey Interview
    • Steve Hackett Interview
    • Alastair Whatley - The Original Theatre Company
    • Paul Carrack Interview
    • Janine Johnson - Back to Bacharach Interview
    • Lewis Griffiths - Dirty Dancing
    • Ben Portsmouth Elvis Tribute
    • Paul Nicholls - Shawshank Redemption
    • Anne Odeke - Night Must Fall
    • Elaine Paige
    • Jimmy Osmond - Christmas Extravaganza
    • Brian Conley & Gok Wan
    • Jonathan Kiley - Qdos Pantomine Producer
    • Lee Mead - Some Enchanted Evening
    • Maximum Rhythm & Blues
    • Joe McElderry - Northern Light Tour
    • Carol Harrison - All or Nothing
    • Paul Cattermole - The Rocky Horror Show
    • Tommy Steele
    • Cheryl Baker - Formerly of Bucks Fizz
    • Gabrielle Cocca from Cats the Musical
    • PJ Proby Interview
    • Ashleigh & Pudsey - Mission ImPudseyble
    • I'm Cold - Alex Thorn
    • Mon Amie - supporting Jason Donovan
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
    • Richard Ede - The 39 Steps
    • Collabro
    • The Searchers
    • Fanny Galore
    • Paul Carrack
    • Rose Marie
    • Gary Wilmot, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson
    • Megan Terry
    • Sharon Rose - Little Eva in West End's Beautiful
    • Roy Chubby Brown - Britain's Rudest Comedian
    • Fascinating Aida's Dillie Keane
    • Ben Portsmouth - Elvis Tribute Artist
    • Ugly Sisters, Martin Ramsdin & David Robbins - Cinderella
    • Lauren Hall (Cinderella)
    • Michael Harrison, West End Producer
    • Brian Conley
    • Sharon Rose - X Factor
    • The Bodyguard - Zoe Birkett Interview
    • Alex Bourne (Daddy Warbucks)
    • Michael Corbidge Royal Shakespeare Company
    • Ashton Moore - Samson
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Phill Jupitus
    • Michael Sharp Playwright
    • Ray Cooney OBE
  • MUSIC
  • YOUTUBE
    • Lockdown Show Time Introducing
  • Features
    • Echoes From Essex
    • Immersive Actor Training
    • Afternoon Tea at the Cliffs Pavilion
    • N-Act Theatre Stage - Village Green
    • Chameleon Productions
    • Sheku Kanneh-Mason
    • Aladdin - Panto Cast Announcement
    • Sounds Familiar Music Quiz
    • N-Act Theatre in Schools
    • Ray Cooney comes to see Lindisfarne perform his play
    • Theatre Etiquette
    • Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society's Backstage Crew
Picture
REVIEW
​Peter James'
The House on Cold Hill
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
1st to 6th April 2019
​
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Spooky times at the House on Cold Hill
If you like a ghost story and chills and thrills, head down to the Palace Theatre for the adaptation of Peter James’ novel The House on Cold Hill.  We knew what we were in for, when the play started with a recording of the author’s voice warning the audience, that he would ‘possess’ our phones.   

The story is a familiar one, a family move into a big old house and gradually find out the history which revolves around the men who have lived there dying on their 40th birthday.  What is different about this one is the use of technology, a spine chiller for modern times.  It brings the supernatural thriller bang up to date, and unsettles the audience.  Could these items of technology that we have in our homes be hacked by the spirit world?  It also makes an old clichéd mystery appeal to the younger audience.


The daughter (Persephone Swales-Dawson) spends most of the time FaceTiming her friend Phoebe on her iPhone.  A computer nerd (Charlie Clements) is busy installing IT  programmes for the couple who have taken over the house and he sets up the software Alexa which develops a life of its own.  I particularly liked Charlie’s performance as a quirky, twitchy computer geek.

The couple played by Holby City favourite Joe Mcfadden and East Enders’ Rita Simons, spend most of the time listening to creaks and groans and things that go bump in the night.  At one point it was like an episode of Most Haunted as the cast wandered around calling out for the ghost to reveal itself, especially when Charlie brought in his ghost box to pick up the energy.

Joe gives his usual cheeky chappy performance, but from the opening scene, he has a highly energetic, fully charged performance.  It might have been better to pace it with some light and shade, to allow a slow build-up for dramatic effect.  He did manage to demonstrate a few dance moves to allow a joke about Strictly Come Dancing, which went down well with the audience.  Rita as his wife gives a more nuanced performance.

The play was slick and pacey with all the action taking place in a set that recreated an old, stone built monastery turned into a living space. It was creatively and effectively designed by Michael Holt, with leaded windows, a staircase and an ingle nook leading to a cellar. Additionally, there were spectacular special effects of dramatic, creaks, groans, doors opening, collapsing ironing boards and spooky phantoms.

One jarring note was the arrival of a Madam Arcati type character Annie (Tricia Deighton) who was a caricature of a clairvoyant. She wandered around the stage as a strange, old hippy talking to herself.  It didn’t work for me, as she didn’t add anything to the story.

Additionally, Fortinbras, the local vicar played by Padraig Lynch who came to sell raffle tickets, was also a strange cove.  Probably, as his name appears in Hamlet, he was just for dramatic effect.  However, the behaviour of Annie and Fortinbras was so odd, I wasn’t sure if it was the interpretation of the director, Ian Talbot or the way it was written in the original novel.


If you’re looking for something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, it didn’t quite work.  However, although the ending was telegraphed via Alexa earlier in the play, there was still a twist.  Additionally, the audience really enjoyed seeing their TV favourites on the stage and the spooky atmosphere of The House on Cold Hill.

Review – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The performance continues :-
Mon - Thu 8pm and Thu 2.30pm - £36.00, £34.00, £27.00
Fri & Sat 8pm and Sat 2.30pm - £38.00, £36.00, £29.00
Concessions available
Under 16 £20.00 (exc. Fri & Sat 8pm)
Senior Citizen mid-week matinee special - £27.00 (exc. groups) 

Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Picture
THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL – UK TOUR DATES 2019


Monday 8 – Saturday 13 April                    Box Office: 0844 871 7651 
Richmond Theatre                        Website: www.atgtickets.com 
Monday 15 – Saturday 20 April                    Box Office: 0844 871 7652 
Milton Keynes Theatre                        Website: www.atgtickets.com
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 April                    Box Office: 0844 871 7645 
Woking New Victoria                        Website: www.atgtickets.com
Monday 29 April – Saturday 4 May                Box Office: 0844 848 2700 
Leeds Grand Theatre                        Website: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
Monday 6 – Saturday 11 May                    Box Office: 0121 230 9070 
Birmingham Alexandra Theatre                    Website: www.atgtickets.com
Monday 13 – Saturday 18 May                    Box Office: 0844 871 3018)
Manchester Opera House                    Website: www.atgtickets.com 
Monday 20 – Saturday 25 May                    Box Office: 01223 503333 
Cambridge Arts Theatre                        Website: www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 
Tuesday 28 May – Saturday 1 June                Box Office: 0844 871 7647
Glasgow Theatre Royal                        Website: www.atgtickets.com
11 – 15 June 2019
Everyman Theatre Cheltenham
​​
FURTHER VENUES TO BE ANNOUCED FOR WEEKS OF JUNE 3rd – JUNE 8th and JUNE 10th – JUNE 15th ​​

Home

About

MUSIC

INTERVIEWS

FEATURES

Copyright © 2015