"Tom Hiccups Well" by Free Roam Theatre.

The Studio Theatre, West Bridgford.

There's something quite hypnotic about story-telling which feels one to one, and although there were many people in The Studio Theatre last night, it seemed as if the story of "Tom Hiccups Well" was being related to just me.

There's the feel of Celtic folklore, myths and mystery surrounding a the spirit of Tom Hiccup and his well. Set within Grendel Wood a man murders a young woman who he has been seeing and has to choose a method of disposing of the body, so he decides to chop up the woman's body and dump the body parts down a well in the wood. Tom Hiccups Well.

We don't know what kind of evil spirit Tom Hiccup is, but folklore around the village states that you don't upset this particular spirit and the villagers keep right away from the well, and leave Tom alone, and he will leave you in peace. What a pity that this murderer didn't heed the folklore of Tom Hiccups and his well!

Shortly after the deadly deed is done, the man returns to the local hostelry where he sometimes hires a room, if he is too drunk, or it's too late for him to travel, and on this night, that's what he decides to do, but the spirit of the murdered woman is not happy, nor is Tom Hiccup, and events take a decidedly dark turn in the hired room that night!

Written by Charlotte Ball and performed by Ellie Ball, you can see why it was the "Winner of Best New Writing and Best Performer" at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Spookies Awards. Ellie's story-telling is akin to painting pictures in your mind, allowing you to create your own visualisation of Tom, and the horrific image that visited the man that night.

It's the sort of story that you'd tell at Christmas by candlelight, but let it also serve as a warning to respect folklore and leave well alone, and not to upset the old spirits.

"Tom Hiccups Well" was at The Studio Theatre, West Bridgford for a one night only experience.