"The Wicked Lady"

Nottingham Theatre Royal

This is not the play version of the film but a new play based on the film.

Before the play started we were all asked not to tell anyone what the play was about or the outcome of so I'll just give you a little taster of what it's all about

There's a six year old child missing and Sergeant Sean Fenton has asked ghost dispeller, Alice Beaumont, to help locate her. Alice at first turns down Sergeant Fenton, but curiosity gets the better of her and advises that she will assist, but on her terms.

Alice finds herself in a wood, in a dilapidated old shack, in the dark.

There's an old legend around the area of sounds of horses hooves, and the appearance of The Wicked Lady, Katherine Ferrer's, who robs her victims and terrorises them.

Well you can guess what comes next!

The old shack also echoes to ghostly bell jingling and thunderous banging on the walls and the door, and then she discovers the priest holes, and one particular one which houses cloaks and clothes, and maybe some thing, or someone more sinister.

Throw in a misty woodland and a spooky hooded image at the broken window, as well as some ghoulish childish laughter, and a creepy twist, and you have a classy ghostly thriller.

For me though I was slightly confused that the exterior woodland and the interior of the cabin often became the same area, but that may be me just overthinking the stage set.

Both actors, Nicki Davy (Alice) and Saul Bache (Fenton) play their parts very well but what really adds that special atmosphere is the sound design, by Dan Clarkson, and the lighting design, by Alex Johnson, who also designed the set.

Let's just say there were a couple of parts that really made me jump. Not as many jump scares as some audience members experienced, but a couple is better than none!

Hopefully the above has given you an idea of the play, but to get the full story, the full twist, and the full experience of "The Wicked Lady" go see the play but go with a friend.

"The Wicked Lady" will be haunting the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 24 September.