Audience Responses:
"An excellent one-woman play ... Go see it!" Prano Bailey-Bond (writer-director, Censor)
“This was the perfect Halloween experience. Claire Louise Amias gives a spellbinding performance of intimacy and fear that’s ideal for the live telling of ghost stories.” Jon Dear (author, No Digging Here: The Story of the BBC’s Ghost Stories for Christmas)
“A wonderful evening of ghastly tales, expertly performed by the sparkling Claire Louise Amias.” John J Johnston (editor, Unearthed: Classic Tales of the Mummy)
“Loved Haunted Shadows. Claire Louise Amias is a compelling storyteller and a brilliant performer, and her rendering of Edith Nesbit’s creepy tales was astutely directed by Jonathan Rigby.” Virginie Sélavy (editor, Electric Sheep magazine)
“No better way to spend Halloween than watching a collection of E Nesbit ghost stories, brought to life in an electrifying performance by Claire Louise Amias.” Dave Thomas (host, Due Signori in Giallo podcast)
"What a fabulous, atmospheric and chilling piece of work! It put me in mind of The Woman in Black - the unseen and unspoken more terrifying than what we see. Claire Louise Amias' performance is perfect. It properly chilled me to the bone." Rosie Fiore (author, What She Left)
“A fantastic evening, watching Claire Louise Amias in her one-woman show … A remarkable performance as two of the tales of Edith Nesbit are brought startlingly to life. Miss it at your peril!” Nige Burton (editor, Classic Monsters of the Movies)
HAUNTED SHADOWS
Edith Nesbit revisits the darkness of her own past, telling three of her Gothic tales while recalling various childhood terrors. Better known for her children's books, she was also a prolific writer of ghost and horror stories. The Shadow, The Pavilion and a rediscovered tale, A Strange Experience, are dramatised in this chilling one-woman show.
Performed and adapted by Claire Louise Amias
Directed by Jonathan Rigby
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington (only five minutes' walk from the White Bear) and spent her first seven years in the area.
Haunted Shadows launched at Grimfest at the Old Red Lion Theatre, and will transfer to The White Bear in Kennington from 28 January to 8 February 2025, at 7.30pm.
Once a Week Theatre ★★★★:
“Haunted Shadows” at the Old Red Lion Theatre - Theatre reviews by Edward Lukes
Tickets can be bought here:
Haunted Shadows | The White Bear Theatre
Reviews:
Amias’ depth and range as a performer [is] fully on display … her acting shines … The minimalist stage design – featuring just a chair, teddy bear, porcelain doll, and chest – creates a haunting backdrop that hints at forgotten memories. This bare-bones approach adds to the eerie atmosphere without overwhelming Amias’ performance … Haunted Shadows offers an intriguing, if restrained, take on Victorian horror.” Jess González (londonpubtheatres.com)
“Good old-fashioned story-telling is the key to the success of this entertaining one-woman show … Amias’ narration is superb. Director Jonathan Rigby paces both pieces expertly … it’s delicious fun to be settled comfortably and know you are going to be appalled in the next moment. The stories themselves are strong … Debate your favourite but rest assured that both are memorable … adding further substance to this small but perfectly formed evening.” Edward Lukes (onceaweektheatre.com)
“The perfect one-woman show for spooky season… Amias is a powerhouse performer. She is captivating from the moment she enters the stage, managing to convey terror, grief, and foreboding in a way that isn't overblown or melodramatic but still keeps you on the edge of your seat, frightened of seeing what she sees… She presents the very period-specific text in a way that feels entirely natural and thrillingly spooky.” (fringebiscuit.com)