The Woman in Black at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth Review
The Woman in Black
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
18-23 May 2015
Reviewed by Helen Wyatt
I visited Plymouth’s Theatre Royal recently to watch The Woman in Black, a two-handed stage adaptation of the ghost story of the same name originally authored by Susan Hill. The play was adapted by the late Stephen Mallatratt (playwrite) and directed by Robin Herford.
The Woman in Black is essentially a ghost story, and the key plot line is very simple; that of a mother who loses her child, and following her own death then haunts all those who wrong her. The telling of this story is achieved by the use of only 2 actors and a very simple set; the main tool used to tell the story, aside from that of the acting/lighting/sound in play, is the audience’s imagination. This is most evident in the reflection of the changes of characters, which are played by only 2 actors, however a simple change of coat or hat and the moving of some simple props easily conjures up new characters or new locations.
There is some clever use of lighting and smoke to really make the atmosphere tense at times, but this is juxtaposed with a lot of laughter due to the excellent comic timing of the actors. This was highly unexpected for ghost story but a great light relief between the times of tension.
This show is a highly recommended experience although those of a nervous disposition should be cautioned regarding the screaming and sudden unexpected events on stage!
The only criticism I would give is that sometimes it was difficult to tell whether the acting was at fault (some stuttered lines/unexpected pauses) or whether this was part of the writing due to how the play was set up.
All in all however I thoroughly enjoyed this show, despite jumping out of my seat on occasion and having to put my fingers in my ears on others! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well told story full of ghosts and tension.
The Theatre Royal Plymouth is a large modern theatre, very well presented. It is full of open spaces on a number of floors. The theatre also presents a number of pieces of art for sale, which adds an additional element of interest to your visit. The theatre boasts a number of bars, a cafe and a restaurant.
Parking for this theatre is easy as there is a multi-storey car park situated just behind. At night time it is well lit and visibly staffed which is very comforting when leaving the theatre late. The theatre even has a pay station for the car park inside the foyer.
The theatre was clean and well kept. There was no obvious rubbish anywhere, and staff cleared items away in a timely manner in the restaurant. Rubbish was collected by staff on the exit from the theatre.
This theatre has a lovely friendly atmosphere, and is very welcoming. We were seated in one of the 3 sections of the theatre, which are all designed as different performance spaces. The Woman in Black was shown in “The Lyric” which is a traditional tiered theatre. All seats appeared to have a good view of the stage.
All staff we encountered were helpful and polite. The desk staff were extremely helpful and accommodating, and the restaurant staff were efficient, friendly and helpful.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £12.50 to £27.50 (Booking fees may apply).
The Woman in Black is at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth until 23 May 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01752 267222.
Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR | 01752 267222.
