Theatre Royal Brighton – 6th-11th October 2025
5 stars
Theatre Royal Brighton hosts the touring production of 2:22 A Ghost Story this week, and it’s an evening that grips from the moment the lights go down. The play might centre on things that go bump in the night, but its real power lies in the people caught in the middle of the mystery. With a small, talented cast and a script that mixes wit, tension and believable emotion, this is a production that holds its audience close and refuses to let go until the clock strikes its eerie hour.
Stacey Dooley gives an impressive performance as Jenny. She has an understated honesty that draws you in, never resorting to exaggeration. Her Jenny is not simply frightened but determined, holding onto her belief with a quiet intensity that keeps you rooting for her. Dooley’s natural delivery fits perfectly with Danny Robins’ conversational script, giving her scenes a lived-in rhythm. You feel as though you’re eavesdropping on a real couple, not watching a performance.
Kevin Clifton, as her husband Sam, is a confident foil. He embodies the sceptical rationalist with charm and a hint of arrogance, but he avoids caricature. There’s warmth and intelligence in his performance, especially as his certainty begins to crumble. Clifton’s timing and command of the stage show how much he’s grown as an actor beyond his dancing fame. Together, he and Dooley strike an entirely believable dynamic. The easy shorthand of a long-term couple mixed with flashes of irritation, affection and genuine care.
Shvorne Marks gives a quietly compelling turn as Lauren, Sam’s old university friend. She manages to suggest both authority and unease, her calm exterior hiding something unsettled beneath. Marks makes each line count, often saying more with a look than with words. Grant Kilburn brings humour and humanity as Ben, Lauren’s partner. He grounds the story, offering the audience a much-needed touch of normality amid the rising tension. Kilburn’s relaxed style and subtle humour prevent the play from becoming too heavy, giving the supernatural elements greater impact when they arrive.
The set and sound design are as sharp as ever, creating an atmosphere that builds without gimmicks. Still, it’s the performances that make this production memorable. The cast connect so naturally that when fear seeps in, it feels earned. This 2:22 A Ghost Story is about belief, trust and the way relationships strain under the weight of the unknown. Brighton audiences are in for a taut, satisfying and thoroughly human night of theatre.
