- Theatre
- UK Tour
- Running Time
- 2hrs
- Age
- 12+
Overall Score
Rating Overview
Rating Summary
We were delighted to be invited to the press night of 2:22 – A Ghost Story at Theatre Royal Plymouth on Monday 9 February 2026.
Copyright: Banner Image and Photogrpahs (Helen Murray)
There is a particular kind of tension that only theatre can sustain — the sort that settles quietly across an audience and tightens almost imperceptibly as the evening unfolds. By the time the clock in 2:22 – A Ghost Story begins its steady march toward the moment promised in the title, Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Lyric auditorium is held in a grip of collective concentration that feels both fragile and electric.
“A masterclass in slow-burn tension.”
It is a reminder that the simplest ingredients, carefully handled, can still create the most affecting sense of unease.
The Story Unfolds
Danny Robins’ play arrives in Plymouth with a formidable reputation already secured. Set within a stylishly renovated London home, the narrative brings together Jenny and Sam with their dinner guests, Lauren and Ben, for what initially appears to be an evening of familiar domestic conversation. Beneath the surface, however, disagreements about belief, experience, and the possibility of the supernatural begin to sharpen the tone.
Rather than leaning into traditional horror tropes, 2:22 unfolds as a carefully structured debate, drawing the audience into weighing each glance, pause, and unexplained sound alongside the characters themselves.
“Tense without excess, unsettling without relying on cheap shocks.”
The real-time structure proves especially effective, allowing suspense to accumulate gradually. Moments of humour sit comfortably alongside friction and doubt, encouraging the audience to relax just enough before the next disturbance quietly unsettles the room. By the time the play reaches its final moments, the emotional and psychological groundwork has been so carefully laid that the impact feels fully earned.
Performances
The strength of this touring production lies firmly in its performances, which ground the supernatural premise in recognisable, often deeply relatable human relationships. Conversations feel lived-in rather than performed, and ideological clashes never lose sight of the personal histories and emotional baggage beneath them.
James Bye (best known for his role as Martin Fowler in EastEnders) plays Ben and commands the stage whenever he appears. His performance brings much-needed warmth and humour, with razor-sharp comedic timing that provides welcome relief without ever undermining the tension. Bye’s portrayal of long-standing friendship is central to the production’s emotional glue, anchoring the play in something recognisably human.
“James Bye brings warmth, wit, and grounding realism.”
Natalie Casey delivers a compelling and nuanced performance as Jenny, capturing both her vulnerability and her fierce determination to be believed. Her portrayal ensures that the character never slips into stereotype, instead offering a deeply felt exploration of fear, grief, and frustration that keeps the audience firmly on her side.
Shvorne Marks impresses with a performance marked by control and restraint, allowing unease to seep through in subtle shifts of tone and body language. Her presence adds a quiet intensity that proves vital to the production’s balance, particularly in the play’s more psychologically charged moments.
Grant Kilburn completes the ensemble with assurance, navigating humour and scepticism with ease while ensuring the interpersonal dynamics never feel forced. Together, the cast create a believable social circle, making the supernatural elements all the more unsettling when they intrude.
“Performances that make the supernatural feel disturbingly plausible.”
Design and Atmosphere
Visually, the production favours clarity and precision. The contemporary domestic set is detailed without distraction, creating a believable environment in which even the smallest disturbance feels significant. Lighting and sound are used with intelligence and restraint, subtly guiding attention and expectation rather than overwhelming the drama.
The result is an atmosphere that creeps rather than crashes, immersive, controlled, and quietly confident.
Final Thoughts
What lingers after 2:22 – A Ghost Story is not simply whether we have been frightened, but why the experience feels so resonant. The play invites reflection on belief, loss, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of uncertainty. Conversations continue long after the curtain call, with audiences comparing interpretations and reconsidering what they thought they understood, or perhaps what they thought they saw.
At Theatre Royal Plymouth, this touring production captures the delicate balance that has made the play such a sustained success: thoughtful without losing pace, unsettling without excess, and consistently engaging. Most importantly, it demonstrates theatre’s enduring ability to gather strangers in a shared space and guide them through a shared emotional journey in real time.
Book Now
With the production running in Plymouth only until Saturday 14th February 2026, audiences have limited time to experience its slow-burn tension and quietly unsettling atmosphere for themselves. Whether drawn by the mystery, the performances, or the thrill of a ghost story told live on stage, this is a visit well worth making. Book Plymouth.
For those in Plymouth, the clock is very much ticking and once it reaches 2:22, the opportunity will be gone. Hurry! For those not in Plymouth the tour continues until July 2026 so may well be coming to a theatre near you soon!
