This Creepy Southwark Playhouse Thriller Delivers Plenty of Jumps – 'It Walks Around The House At Night' Review

Sarah
10 minutes ago
3 min read

⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a half

Person in a dramatic pose, wearing a purple coat, reaches forward against a dark backdrop with glowing skyline. Expressive and intense mood. — Joe played by George Naylor, Photo Credit to Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

If you enjoy theatre that makes you jump in your seat, It Walks Around The House At Night at Southwark Playhouse Borough is well worth a visit. This eerie stage thriller delivers plenty of shocks, a gripping story and just enough humour to stop the tension becoming overwhelming.

Written by Tim Foley, the show follows a struggling actor who takes a job pretending to haunt an old country house for visitors. But as the nights go on, the experience starts to feel a little too real.

What makes this production stand out is how ambitious it feels for such an intimate venue, with a sloping set, striking lighting and an immersive sound design that turns the whole theatre into a haunted house, lodge and grounds. In fact, this feels like a big production squeezed into a small theatre, and the result is seriously impressive.

The story follows Joe, a struggling actor and reluctant deputy bar manager who takes a slightly unusual job. Instead of performing in a traditional play, he’s hired to wander 'around' a grand old country house pretending to be a ghost for visitors. At first it’s just another acting gig. But as the nights pass, things start to feel increasingly strange. The house and grounds begins to take on a life of their own and Joe starts to question whether he’s the only one walking around the house after dark.

Much of the show unfolds as Joe tells the story directly to the audience, and that’s where George Naylor really shines. Holding an audience's attention for 90 minutes is no easy task, but he does it effortlessly. He’s warm, funny and completely engaging, guiding the audience through the story while slowly tightening the tension. You can feel the room leaning forward as the mystery deepens.

One of the most striking elements of the production is the design. The stage is built on angled slopes, creating a slightly off-balance world that perfectly suits the creeping unease of the story. It’s a clever piece of staging that makes the space feel much larger than it is.

The technical design is also exceptional. Lighting designer Joshua Pharo uses darkness, sudden bursts of light and shadowy corners to create a constant sense of unease. Meanwhile sound designer Pete Malkin fills the theatre with creaks, distant footsteps and unsettling noises that seem to move around the room. It’s the kind of sound design that makes you instinctively glance behind you.

For horror fans, there are plenty of well-timed jumps and bumps to keep the adrenaline going. But what stops the show becoming relentless is the script’s sense of humour. Tim Foley’s writing slips in moments of dry wit just when the tension is building, giving the audience a chance to laugh before the next eerie moment arrives.

There’s also an unsettling physical presence from Oliver Baines as The Dancer, a ghostly figure who appears at the most unexpected moments and adds an extra layer of creepiness to the story.

What makes It Walks Around The House At Night work so well is its balance. It delivers the thrills horror fans want, but it’s also a gripping story told with imagination, humour and some seriously strong technical design. It’s ambitious, atmospheric and proof that smaller theatres can deliver big theatrical experiences.

If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual London theatre offering, this clever and creepy production is well worth adding to your list.

Cast

George Naylor – Joe

Oliver Baines – The Dancer

Creatives

Writer: Tim Foley

Director: Neil Bettles

Set Design: Neil Bettles & Tom Robbins

Lighting & Video Design: Joshua Pharo

Sound Design: Pete Malkin

Associate Director: Anna Berentzen

Venue: Southwark Playhouse Borough

Address: 77–85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD