2:22 - A Ghost Story
Photo credit: Helen Murray
Last night there was something fitting about watching 2:22 A Ghost Story unfold in a theatre as steeped in atmosphere as Bath’s, where shadow and suggestion already hang in the air. I attended the press night performance ahead of the play’s short run here in the city.
Danny Robins’ play arrives in Bath bringing its reputation for suspense and spirited debate, and on first viewing it proves an engaging piece of theatre, rich in tension and theatrical flair. While it doesn’t always linger once the lights come up, it delivers a solid and unsettling evening.
2:22 A Ghost Story is a contemporary supernatural thriller by Danny Robins. The narrative centres on Jenny and Sam, a couple who’ve just moved into a new house and begin to suspect it might be haunted when Jenny hears unexplainable noises on their baby monitor at exactly 2:22 a.m. One evening they invite friends over and, as the clock ticks toward that time, tensions rise between rational explanations and the eerie, possibly supernatural events unfolding around them.
Danny Robins’ play arrives in Bath bringing its reputation for suspense and spirited debate, and on first viewing it proves an engaging piece of theatre, rich in tension and theatrical flair. While it doesn’t always linger once the lights come up, it delivers a solid and unsettling evening.
2:22 A Ghost Story is a contemporary supernatural thriller by Danny Robins. The narrative centres on Jenny and Sam, a couple who’ve just moved into a new house and begin to suspect it might be haunted when Jenny hears unexplainable noises on their baby monitor at exactly 2:22 a.m. One evening they invite friends over and, as the clock ticks toward that time, tensions rise between rational explanations and the eerie, possibly supernatural events unfolding around them.
Photo credit: Helen Murray
Interestingly, it’s structured much like a short novel. Four characters, one setting, a compressed timeframe, and escalating psychological pressure. Readers who love chamber pieces, domestic thrillers, or claustrophobic narratives will feel right at home.
At times, the play edges into darkly comic territory, almost tipping into farce. Some performances lean toward the theatrical, favouring bold expression rather than subtlety, which suits the ghost-story energy even if it occasionally feels a little much. But above all, the whole cast succeed in bringing the story to life, making the tension, humour, and underlying fear genuinely felt.
Like a novel, every line carries weight. Casual remarks, small observations, and seemingly minor details often echo back later, gaining significance as the story unfolds and the twist is revealed. Readers who enjoy uncovering subtext, foreshadowing, and subtle narrative hints will delight in noticing these layers.
The play builds a slow, creeping tension, layering unease over every day domestic life. The twist isn’t just a sudden shock or jump scare; it’s a shift in perspective that makes you question everything you’ve been assuming about the characters, their relationships, and the situation itself. It forces you to reassess the story in a way that’s clever and unsettling.
At times, the play edges into darkly comic territory, almost tipping into farce. Some performances lean toward the theatrical, favouring bold expression rather than subtlety, which suits the ghost-story energy even if it occasionally feels a little much. But above all, the whole cast succeed in bringing the story to life, making the tension, humour, and underlying fear genuinely felt.
Like a novel, every line carries weight. Casual remarks, small observations, and seemingly minor details often echo back later, gaining significance as the story unfolds and the twist is revealed. Readers who enjoy uncovering subtext, foreshadowing, and subtle narrative hints will delight in noticing these layers.
The play builds a slow, creeping tension, layering unease over every day domestic life. The twist isn’t just a sudden shock or jump scare; it’s a shift in perspective that makes you question everything you’ve been assuming about the characters, their relationships, and the situation itself. It forces you to reassess the story in a way that’s clever and unsettling.
Photo credit: Helen Murray
If you love books that sit somewhere between domestic drama and psychological suspense, 2:22 A Ghost Story scratches exactly that itch, and then leaves you arguing about it on the way home, which is all part of the fun. 2:22 doesn’t spoon-feed, it invites you to discuss it afterwards. That post-show debate of ‘what really happened?” could basically be a book club discussion in theatrical form.
Ultimately, 2:22 A Ghost Story is an engaging piece of theatre with clever psychological tension. While the first half feels a little slower and some moments verge on over-acting, the second act picks up significantly, delivering a more compelling and suspenseful experience. For lovers of clever storytelling and atmospheric drama, it’s an enjoyable and well-crafted evening that’s memorable in the moment, even if it’s unlikely to stay with you long-term.
Ultimately, 2:22 A Ghost Story is an engaging piece of theatre with clever psychological tension. While the first half feels a little slower and some moments verge on over-acting, the second act picks up significantly, delivering a more compelling and suspenseful experience. For lovers of clever storytelling and atmospheric drama, it’s an enjoyable and well-crafted evening that’s memorable in the moment, even if it’s unlikely to stay with you long-term.
2:22 - A Ghost Story is now showing at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 January.