It is the gothic ghost story that never fails to thrill. Even its very name conjures up images of darkness and mystery.

The theatre adaptation of Susan Hill’s bestselling novel The Woman in Black has thrilled audiences in London for the past 20 years — and now the play has found its way to Dubai.
And so the story goes …

Somewhere beyond the Nine Lives Causeway, along the dreary English East Coast, Mrs Alice Drablow lived and died at Eal Marsh House … alone.

A junior solicitor named Arthur Kipps travels from London to sort through her papers but learns of darker secrets. While there, he catches a glimpse of a mysterious woman dressed in black with a wasted face — but no one wants to talk about her. Kipps has to unravel the secret himself.

The play is produced by Popular Productions and has been seen by more than three million people to date.

Director John Payton told Unwind that the performance has been made even scarier. “Theatre has developed over the past 20 years and with the technology we have today, it will be much more terrifying for the audience.

There is no blood or gore but it is very supernatural and the show is definitely darker.”

Popular productions have been presenting plays in Dubai for the past three years and Payton sees the city as a fresh ground when it comes to theatre.

The company has also produced hit titles such as Blues Brothers, Stones in his Pocket, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and Educating Rita.

The critically acclaimed cast members David Seddon and James Clarkson spoke to Unwind about the production and how they manage to keep alive the excitement of playing their characters.

What keeps you involved in The Woman in Black?

J.C: It has been running in the West End for 20 years and has that special something that attracts all actors. The chance to play such a role in such a famous production is something that excites me.

D.S: It’s one of the best shows I’ve ever been involved in — its effect on the audience is incredible. It’s great to be involved in a new production.

What is your character’s role?

J.C: I play Arthur Kipps, a solicitor looking back on his early life. It is his story and we see how he comes to terms with the memories of his time at Eel Marsh House, the haunted place that is the cause of much of his troubles.

D.S: I play the role of the actor who is hired by Kipps to help him present his story to an audience comprising his family and friends.

Why do you think the play has enjoyed such a long run in London’s West End?

J.C: It’s full of suspense, excitement and thrills but also some fine writing and dialogue. But I think, mostly, it’s because it is unlike any other play — its originality is its biggest selling point.

Do you have a favourite scene?

J.C: The last one — but it would spoil it for an audience to tell you why!

D.S: All the scary scenes are incredible fun because of the effect they have on the audience.

When you see the whole auditorium jump out of their seats or when you can feel the tension rising among the audience, you know you’re doing your job right.

How do you prepare for your role?

J.C: You are thinking new thoughts all the time. So though the text stays the same, the sub-text changes all the time. That is perhaps the best bit of being an actor; it is always a fresh and an ever-changing experience.

David, you have now crossed over to feature films with The Other Side of the Game — how different is that experience compared to theatre?

D.S: I like both forms of acting, although they are very different.

I suppose the principle difference between film and theatre acting is that your performance in front of a camera is much more naturalistic, whereas in theatre, it’s much more exaggerated, since you have to reach the members of the audience way back in row Z.

What should Dubai audiences expect from The Woman in Black?

J.C: Thrills, jump-out-of-your-seat moments and an exciting, different kind of performance.

First-person account

I watched the play on its opening night at the Madinat Theatre and thought the performances were brilliant.

There are really only two main characters, yet each actor has to suddenly switch into a smaller character role in order to tell Arthur Kipp’s tale.

The pure art of storytelling is on show and the audience is invited to use its imagination. By the end, we totally believe the same storage box prop is also a horse and carriage!

Lighting and sound are fundamental elements that can make or break a performance and in this case I believe they were effective.

However, anyone who has seen the London performance is likely to prefer it because the city has almost 500 years of theatre history and the theatres themselves are so old and impressive that they lend something to the ambience.

I had seen ‘The Woman in Black’ there a few years ago and felt it was far more eerie. But for first-timers, Dubai’s version is sure to please.