The Haunting of Hill House | Theatr Clwyd

From the novel by Shirley Jackson released in 1959 to the hit Netflix adaptation, The Haunting of Hill House now takes form as a brand new stage adaptation by Stef Smith with direction from Martin Constantine. And whilst this production delivers on its theatrical ambition, unfortunately it doesn't always manage to deliver the unsettling and chilling experience that its premise promises.

The story follows a group of investigators who come together to explore the strange occurrences surrounding Hill House. However, as the experiments unfold and the atmosphere turns sinister, the boundaries between the supernatural and psychological begin to blur. Beneath the ghostly happenings underlie the human desire to belong, as well as the intense emotions of grief and isolation.

Unfortunately, here is where the main issue lies. The production's relatively short run time of only two hours including an interval means that there isn't enough time to explore such a psychologically complex story. There is little opportunity for character development or to even understand their motives, and the introduction of a love triangle seems misplaced when its not fully delved into and instead only hinted at. There is undoubtedly a much richer story waiting to be uncovered and a little more time spent on developing the themes of isolation, vulnerability and the need for belonging could have made the supernatural elements more effective, giving the audience a stronger emotional connection to the people at the heart of the haunting.

The attempts to frighten the audience come from predictable jumpscares as opposed to immersive world building, with repetitive doors slamming or sudden loud noises and flashing of lights. This leads to lack of element of surprise needed to make these moments genuinely unsettling. However, an honorable mention must be made to Will Houston's illusion design, with some cleverly designed tricks which leave an eerie presence and had several audience members gasping in shock.

The production elements are where The Haunting of Hill House truly shines. Ti Green's set design perfectly captures the claustrophobic Hill House, with self-moving set, props and furniture that transport the story to different locations within the house. Together, the self-moving set alongside Duncan McLean's video design create a supernatural world in which the lines between real and paranormal are blurred. Projections of ghostly figures and character faces onto the walls are suggestive of the events unfolding, with Johnny Edwards' sound design complimenting the visuals to bring the disturbances of Hill House into the auditorium. Chris Davey's lighting design brings all the production elements together to create shifts in atmosphere and moments of ambiguity which suit the overall tone of the show.

Clancy Ryan as Eleanor does well to portray her character's journey from initially being shy and reserved to being completely riddled with guilt and grief, attempting to provide the production with much of its psychological weight. Sophie Lenglinger and Robin Morrissey are unfortunately victims of the script's lack of character development, yet both are engaging to watch. Siân Howard is delightfully sinister as the housekeeper, Mrs Dudley, yet manages to be the biggest voice of reason throughout. Jasper Britton and Jemma Churchill are wonderfully kooky as Dr Montague and Mrs Montague.

Ultimately, The Haunting of Hill House is an ambitious adaptation with flashes of theatrical brilliance, a committed cast and an intriguing psychological foundation. Although it doesn't always get under the skin as successfully as one would hope, there is enough here to appreciate, particularly for audiences who enjoy supernatural mysteries and atmospheric stagecraft.

The Haunting of Hill House plays at Theatr Clwyd until Saturday 17th October - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Pamela Raith