Preview: The Haunting of Hill House

Following the story of Eleanor Vance, who is “a woman cut off from reality due to her mother’s illness”, we delve into the depths of the paranormal when she is persuaded by Dr John Montague “to spend the summer at the infamous Hill House in his attempt to prove the existence of the supernatural”.

Director Izzy Grout promises “an evening exploring the candlelit halls of Hill House, led by a host of warm and memorable characters unlike anything seen before on the Union Stage”, a testament to the passion that has gone into the passion of bringing “F. Andrew Leslie’s stage adaptation of the acclaimed gothic horror novel by Shirley Jackson” to life in Cambridge.

Image credits: Sam Bell

Commenting on the inspiration for putting on this production, Grout continues: “The story has fascinated creatives since its publication, sparking an award-winning Netflix Original and spin-off series, a testament to the power of Jackson’s storytelling.”

“Indeed, it is this storytelling that I have had the honour to bring to life. Working with a team of wonderfully talented actors and creatives, we have spent the last weeks embarking on a cathartic, hilarious and collaborative discussion, lifting the Debating Chamber into the realms of gothic horror to create a Hill House within the streets of Cambridge and to breathe life into the rich, witty and intensely complex characters that inhabit it.”

“When I pitched the production, what seems like so long ago now(!), I had a real idea of the story I wanted to tell, however, bringing this story from the realms of my imagination to the halls of the chamber has been a voyage of discovery and a real adventure.”

“There’s been a lot of focus on creative discourse, in filling a space traditionally built for debate with creative discussion to a collective aim has been a uniquely rewarding experience.”

Image credits: Sam Bell

A lot of passion has clearly also gone into this production on the parts of the production team and cast itself: “It’s been an amazing and enriching creative process working with a tale with such a strong focus on character development. Rehearsal process has been a lot of workshopping and discussion in fusing the characters with the cast’s own imagination and experiences, along with working to find creative ways to externalise those experiences on the stage.”

“The cast and crew have been simply amazing in working to understand the creative vision, and it’s been really exciting to do something that’s a little bit different and never before seen in Cambridge Theatre. Working in immersive spaces to explore the horror genre and how to connect the audience’s experiences with the experiences of the characters and indeed the creative team has been truly wonderful.”

Final words?

“Beware, the ghosts of the past may prove far more dangerous than those that rest within the walls of Hill House, those just waiting for the right person to awaken them once more…”

This thrilling production promises depth, excitement and on-stage paranormal experiences like nothing seen before – definitely not a play to be missed!

The Haunting of Hill House is showing on the 11^th – 14^th of November at 7:30 pm at the Cambridge Union Debating Chamber. Book your tickets here.

Feature image credit: Sam Bell

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