The legendary production of Susan Hill’s chilling ghost story
The Woman In Black
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
comes to Chelmsford Theatre
Fairfield Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1JG
3rd - 7th February 2026
The Woman In Black
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
comes to Chelmsford Theatre
Fairfield Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1JG
3rd - 7th February 2026
A spooky tale that continues to thrill
The Woman in Black is a famous play that has been performed in the West End for over thirty years, and touring for just as long. However, it still sells out to packed houses. Adapted in the eighties, by the late Stephen Mallatratt, from the novel by Susan Hill, it has lost none of its ability to scare the audience. In this adaptation, Arthur Kipps wants to tell his dramatic tale to friends and family, and The Actor advises on performance. As a result, there is role-play where The Actor becomes Kipps and we are treated to a re- enactment of the ghostly events of the lawyer’s life when he visited a haunted house.
This is a theatrical play, performed as a two hander with a play within a play and the audience arrived anticipating the scary thrills. So much so, at the start, when the character of The Actor appears in the aisle to tell the lawyer Arthur Kipps that he needs to project more, there are gasps of shock from the audience. This is before the dramatic events have even begun.
I felt it was quite ironic that The Actor (Daniel Burke) advised on projection as in the first couple of scenes he was rather quiet. We had to sit on the edge of our seats and concentrate on the dialogue. Whether this was a deliberate ploy by the director Robin Herford to make the audience uneasy I am not sure.
This is a play of imagination, a minimalist set of a few chairs, a large wicker hamper and a coat stand completes the set. The basket becomes a desk or a railway carriage, and even a pony and trap. The audience has to suspend disbelief, but is soon drawn into this haunting tale. They are scared more by their own adrenalin rush of imagination, than what is actually seen on stage, with a few dramatic sightings along the way.
In this evening’s production, Arthur Kipps, is played by the understudy Philip Stewart. In the re-enactment of the story, Daniel Burke as Kipps experiences the scary hauntings of the ghost of the woman in black. Then Stewart does an excellent job playing all the additional roles. He has to switch between the various characters and accents that turn up in Kipp’s story.
Of course, there are lots of sound effects, banging doors, panicking horses and screams, all adding to the overall effect, as the audience jump out of their seats. Some of the story is narrated and then the actors continue to act out the events. Even after all these years people still find it a frightening play, particularly when the lady herself appears, to screams from the audience.
Both actors hold our attention on an empty stage. This is no small feat, as they have to rely on lighting and sound effects for atmosphere. The stage designer Michael Holt and sound designers Rod Mead/Sebastian Frost have done an excellent and, very effective job.
Having never seen the play before, I found the actual ending rather unsatisfactory. What happened in the lawyer’s life in the end is merely narrated. I felt it would have been more effective for the lady herself to have turned up. However, it would have been a step too far for her to take a bow (joking).
I believe that this play is on the GCSE syllabus as there was a large school party in the audience. It was surprising in this day and age of horrific films and dramas that they were suitably scared. Apparently, people come back time and time again to see this play. This story has become synonymous with the fear induced by the classic scary tale of ‘goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties, and things that go bump in the night.’
Review- Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The sold out show continues:-
Chelmsford Theatre
TUE 3rd FEBRUARY — SAT 7th FEBRUARY
Recommended age 12+
Group Booking discount available - 10% discount for Groups 10+ (Band A & B only)
Concessions £2 off Bands A and B (Tue to Thu only)
Wed 4 Feb 2.30pm performance will be captioned
A £2 fee is applicable per transaction
Wheelchair accessible and essential companion tickets must be booked via our Access Scheme
Ticket prices subject to change
The tour continues.
Oxford Playhouse
TUE 10th FEBRUARY — SAT 14th FEBRUARY
Lighthouse Poole
TUE 17th FEBRUARY — SAT 21st FEBRUARY
Liverpool Playhouse
TUE 24th FEBRUARY — SAT 28th FEBRUARY
Nottingham Theatre Royal
TUE 10th MARCH — SAT 14th MARCH
Bradford Alhambra
TUE 17th MARCH — SAT 21st MARCH
Peterborough New Theatre
TUE 24th MARCH — SAT 28th MARCH
Malvern Theatre
TUE 31st MARCH — SAT 4th APRIL
Southampton Mayflower Studios
TUE 7th APRIL — SAT 11th APRIL
Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
TUE 14th APRIL — SAT 18th APRIL
Bristol Old Vic
TUE 21st APRIL — SAT 25th APRIL
This is a theatrical play, performed as a two hander with a play within a play and the audience arrived anticipating the scary thrills. So much so, at the start, when the character of The Actor appears in the aisle to tell the lawyer Arthur Kipps that he needs to project more, there are gasps of shock from the audience. This is before the dramatic events have even begun.
I felt it was quite ironic that The Actor (Daniel Burke) advised on projection as in the first couple of scenes he was rather quiet. We had to sit on the edge of our seats and concentrate on the dialogue. Whether this was a deliberate ploy by the director Robin Herford to make the audience uneasy I am not sure.
This is a play of imagination, a minimalist set of a few chairs, a large wicker hamper and a coat stand completes the set. The basket becomes a desk or a railway carriage, and even a pony and trap. The audience has to suspend disbelief, but is soon drawn into this haunting tale. They are scared more by their own adrenalin rush of imagination, than what is actually seen on stage, with a few dramatic sightings along the way.
In this evening’s production, Arthur Kipps, is played by the understudy Philip Stewart. In the re-enactment of the story, Daniel Burke as Kipps experiences the scary hauntings of the ghost of the woman in black. Then Stewart does an excellent job playing all the additional roles. He has to switch between the various characters and accents that turn up in Kipp’s story.
Of course, there are lots of sound effects, banging doors, panicking horses and screams, all adding to the overall effect, as the audience jump out of their seats. Some of the story is narrated and then the actors continue to act out the events. Even after all these years people still find it a frightening play, particularly when the lady herself appears, to screams from the audience.
Both actors hold our attention on an empty stage. This is no small feat, as they have to rely on lighting and sound effects for atmosphere. The stage designer Michael Holt and sound designers Rod Mead/Sebastian Frost have done an excellent and, very effective job.
Having never seen the play before, I found the actual ending rather unsatisfactory. What happened in the lawyer’s life in the end is merely narrated. I felt it would have been more effective for the lady herself to have turned up. However, it would have been a step too far for her to take a bow (joking).
I believe that this play is on the GCSE syllabus as there was a large school party in the audience. It was surprising in this day and age of horrific films and dramas that they were suitably scared. Apparently, people come back time and time again to see this play. This story has become synonymous with the fear induced by the classic scary tale of ‘goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties, and things that go bump in the night.’
Review- Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The sold out show continues:-
Chelmsford Theatre
TUE 3rd FEBRUARY — SAT 7th FEBRUARY
- Time: Various Times
- Length: 130 mins
- Tickets: £15.00 - £44.00
- Accessible Performances:
- Captioned
Recommended age 12+
Group Booking discount available - 10% discount for Groups 10+ (Band A & B only)
Concessions £2 off Bands A and B (Tue to Thu only)
Wed 4 Feb 2.30pm performance will be captioned
A £2 fee is applicable per transaction
Wheelchair accessible and essential companion tickets must be booked via our Access Scheme
Ticket prices subject to change
The tour continues.
Oxford Playhouse
TUE 10th FEBRUARY — SAT 14th FEBRUARY
Lighthouse Poole
TUE 17th FEBRUARY — SAT 21st FEBRUARY
Liverpool Playhouse
TUE 24th FEBRUARY — SAT 28th FEBRUARY
Nottingham Theatre Royal
TUE 10th MARCH — SAT 14th MARCH
Bradford Alhambra
TUE 17th MARCH — SAT 21st MARCH
Peterborough New Theatre
TUE 24th MARCH — SAT 28th MARCH
Malvern Theatre
TUE 31st MARCH — SAT 4th APRIL
Southampton Mayflower Studios
TUE 7th APRIL — SAT 11th APRIL
Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
TUE 14th APRIL — SAT 18th APRIL
Bristol Old Vic
TUE 21st APRIL — SAT 25th APRIL
One of the most successful and longest running theatre shows in the history of London’s West End, this gripping production is a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror. Now seen by over 7 million people worldwide, The Woman In Black continues to delight and terrify audiences of all generations.
Obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black, Arthur Kipps engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.
Obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black, Arthur Kipps engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.
‘The most brilliantly effective spine-chiller you will ever encounter’ - Daily Telegraph.
‘Guaranteed to chill the blood’ - Evening Standard
‘Guaranteed to chill the blood’ - Evening Standard