Paul Unwin's The Enfield Haunting, based on one of the most famous poltergeist events, officially opens its limited engagement in London's West End January 10 following previews that began December 1.
Directed by Angus Jackson, performances are scheduled through March 2 at the Ambassadors Theatre.
Catherine Tate and David Threlfall star. Tate, who can be seen in the BBC series Queen of Oz, plays Peggy Hodgson, a single mother who tries to protect her three children. Threlfall, Tony-nominated for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s The Hangman, plays Maurice Grosse, a ghost hunter.
The two are joined by Ella Schrey-Yeats (Secret Invasion) as Janet Hodgson, Grace Molony (Artemis Foul) as Margaret Hodgson, Jude Coward Nicoll and Noah Leggott sharing the role of Jimmy Hodgson, Mo Sesay (Murphy’s Law) as Rey, Neve McIntosh (Shetland) as Betty Grosse, Daniel Stewart (Silent Witness) as Writer/Old Man and understudy for Maurice, Stacha Hicks (David Brent: Life of the Road) as understudy for Peggy and Betty, Jasmine Spence as understudy for Janet and Margaret, and Gareth Radcliffe as understudy for Rey and Man/Writer.
The
Hodgsons had no idea what a poltergeist was when, in summer 1977,
furniture and toys started moving of their own accord. Unwin’s play is
the story of one night in spring 1978 when
events were approaching a climax.
Playwright Unwin said in an earlier statement, "Before Guy Lyon Playfair the poltergeist expert died in 2018, I spent a long afternoon with him in his basement flat in Earl's Court. He and Maurice Grosse had spent months with the Hodgson family trying to protect them, but also make sense of what was going on. What Guy told me was terrifying. So much of what appears to have happened was impossible to fake and yet at the center of the whole thing were real people trying to make sense of their lives. The Enfield Haunting is a psychological ghost story. It is a ghost story for now."
The production also has set and costume design by Lee Newby, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Carolyn Downing, illusions consulting by Paul Kieve, casting by Sophie Holland, movement direction by Laura Cubitt, video design by Sam Lisher, voice and dialect coaching by Kate Godfrey, and assistant direction by Roberta Zuric.
Visit EnfieldHauntingPlay.com.
