2:22 - A Ghost Story
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Apollo Theatre, London
Cast: Sophia Bush, Ricky Champ, Clifford Samuel and Jaime Winstone

Following four record-breaking seasons at the Noël Coward, Gielgud, Criterion and The Lyric Theatres, this critically acclaimed new play has become London’s must-see theatre event.

2:22 - A Ghost Story is written by award-winning writer Danny Robins, and directed by Matthew Dunster. Brilliantly funny and intriguing; 2:22 A Ghost Story is an adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear. What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth?

Written by Zoe Collins and Stephanie Heath

2:22 has taken the West End by storm the past few years, so it's no surprise that it has a new home at the Apollo Theatre. Like always, there's a stellar cast to go alongside this modern ghost story. The cast consists of Lauren (Sophia Bush), Jenny (Jaime Winstone), Ben (Ricky Champ) and Sam (Clifford Samuel). 

You may already be familiar with the story, but for those of you who are new to 2:22, it follows the journey of Jenny and Sam, who have just become new parents, as well as moving home. They're decorating their new home, but things start to go bump in the night before they know it. Every night at 2:22 exactly, something strange occurs, and Jenny is scared their new home may be haunted. However, things come to a climax when they have their friends, Lauren and Ben, over for a dinner party.

The set, staging and script all feels very familiar if you've seen the show before, and there's something comforting about that. When you revisit the show, you're purely going to experience the new cast and their fresh take on the characters. And every time, it manages to feel slightly different, which is a rare feat for such a small cast, and simple story.

While the cast is small, Jenny (Winstone) leads the narrative and tells it so grippingly, that it almost feels awkward. So much so, that you feel as though you're watching her tell the story through her kitchen window. She's passionate, believable, and what I love most about the character of Jenny, is that she's relatable. Sam (Samuel) has an air of arrogance around him which he plays extremely well, and his comedic timing was amazing.

Ben (Champ) provided some light-hearted relief through the intense production, and has the ability to make the audience laugh at every opportunity. However, the star of the show for me was Sophia Bush. Her take on Lauren was my favourite portrayal of the character I've seen. She is able to portray Lauren's mental health issues and drinking problem in such a raw and honest way.

With lights flickering, screams throughout and tension building, the atmosphere is incredibly intense from the start, and the suspense is palpable throughout. While it is a ghost play, there is some humour interwoven into the script, which is much needed (albeit to give the audience a break!).

The whole cast had the audience gripped to the edge of their seats from beginning to end; which is just what you're looking for in a ghost story. The scares within the show did well to make the audience jump (and even laugh awkwardly at some points), and when the final scene comes around and the twist is revealed, it gave me goosebumps.

If you're looking for a modern ghost story that is packed full of suspense, tension and a star-studded cast that's bursting at the seams with talent, then 2:22 is the show for you. Absorbing, gripping and the perfect play for a theatre novice, or an avid theatre goer. 

You can catch 2:22 - A Ghost Story, in the West End and it's UK tour, here.