Danny Robins’ supernatural ‘ghost story’ has spent almost two years in the West End already and, after celebrities such as Lily Allen and Cheryl bringing much acclaim to the production, it’s now the turn of a new cast to drive chilling fear into their audiences.

It’s still a slick, unsettling production as a neon digital clock counts down to 2:22am – the exact time when Jenny (Jaime Winstone) hears footsteps around her baby’s bedroom. She’s convinced her new house is haunted but her husband Sam (Clifford Samuel) is a sceptic and has scientific theories for ghosts non-existence. The action takes place at a dinner party in their home where they’ve invited Sam’s old friend Lauren (Sophia Bush) and her new partner Ben (Ricky Champ) to prove or disprove the couple’s clashing theories.

Anna Fleischle’s naturalistic but modern set design aids the haunting tale with its unfinished painting and scattered children’s toys. Ian Dickinson’s piercing sound design is shocking yet predictable at times and Lucy Carter’s atmospheric lighting brings moments of surprise.

Matthew Dunster directs a fast-moving piece which has the audience gripped from the start. The electrifying soundtrack throughout, even as you take your seats, helps keep the adrenaline high all the way until the nail-biting, chilling finale.

Danny Robins’ up to date script, with references to social media, Alexa and Deliveroo, is sharp and witty. The plot is a little basic but the final twist is shocking and gives a good pay off. The scary moments are minimal and largely loud sound effects which become slightly repetitive so less and less startling. It’s not a production seeped in gory images or appearances of haunting figures. It’s more a psychological, thought-provoking thriller but there are a few genuinely chilling moments and a couple of clever illusions, leaving you able to hear a pin drop in the full Apollo Theatre auditorium.

The cast give good performances throughout, although some lines are often lost due to lack of volume or clarity. Winstone’s Jenny is fiery and powerful which works well with Samuel’s sarcastic, sometimes cold, Sam. Bush’s Lauren is quietly fierce and funny but most of the humour comes from Ricky Champ’s Ben, who brings some much-needed comic relief to the production and has good comic-timing & delivery. There is a nice comradery between the foursome and they give polished, energetic and slick performances.

As the cast take their bow, to a standing ovation on press night, projections stating ‘Please Don’t Tell’ give a Mousetrap-esque secretive feel to what you’ve just watched. As the long-running ‘Woman In Black’ has now ended in London’s West End, this new paranormal thriller may just take its place for a while yet…

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