The Woman In Black At Bradford Alhambra Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Jenny Bray

Tonight I went to see something a little different. This play isn’t quite a monologue, but it only has 2 main actors in for the entire run time of around 2 hours!

The Woman in Black has been a stage production since 1987, so for nearly 40 years. It was adapted from Susan Hill’s novel by Stephen Mallatratt and is billed as being, ‘one of the most successful and longest running theatre shows in the history of London’s West End… seen by over 8 million people worldwide’.

The stage setting initially looked very plain and simple with several drapes used to depict covered furnishings in an unused property and just a few props; a chair, a large wicker basket and a coat stand. However, the drapes to the rear hid other settings that were sometimes lit up and it was also used to project an image on at one point. The wicker basket was also converted into a number of other props, including a desk, a cart and even a bed.

The two characters end up a little intertwined in the story as they are retelling the story from when the older one, Arthur Kipps (John Mackay) was a young solicitor who was sent to deal with a deceased person’s remote estate and uncovers a sad history. The Actor (Daniel Burke) has been hired in an empty theatre to bring Arthur’s script to the stage in order to tell his story. This means that The Actor is often playing the part of Arthur. The lighting is used to full effect to depict when they are stopping acting and reverting back to discussing the next steps of the story, versus softer and darker lighting generally in use when the story is being told. Sound is also used to help the plot develop, including horses running when they are utilising the wicker basket as a trap drawn by a horse.

There are minimal costume changes, generally just a change of jacket and hat or adorning an apron, but they were effective at showing the change in character.

John Mackay as Arthur Kipps seemed especially skilled at effectively switching between different roles skillfully and effortlessly, including different accents and mannerisms for different characters.

There were a couple of moments where some of the audience were visibly shocked and startled, which was mainly down to the effective use of sound and lighting during ‘scary’ bits. The sheer sound during these sections was enough to shock due to the stark contrast between that and having just 2 actors on stage and effective use of silence at times, meaning every small move and rustle in the audience could be heard during those times, while tension was being built up.

The show is approximately two hours long so must be very draining for the 2 actors, as there is normally a much larger cast for a full length play, meaning some characters get to take a break. This is not the case with this production, as they are almost constantly on the stage together the entire time! Both actors did a brilliant job of playing their characters and moving between roles to keep the story going.

Obviously the plot is slightly dark, so this isn’t your standard happy go lucky production, but it is a thought provoking one. Sounds and lights were utilised really effectively to supplement the plot, although I was temporarily blinded by the flashlight directed at the audience a couple of times!

Bradford Alhambra theatre is slightly on the outskirts of Bradford, near to the National Science and Media Museum which has parking by it.

Although it was a good production and I could tell that the actors were highly skilled, the story felt a bit slow at times, especially in the first half, and wasn’t as enthralling or as scary as I’d hoped.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tickets cost from £22 to £42

The Woman In Black is on at the Bradford Alhambra between 17th and 21st March 2026. For more information or to book tickets, visit www.bradford-theatres.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01274 432000

Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Morley Street, Bradford, BD7 1AJ