A bleak October evening; a disconnected GPS and hardly a flicker of light. Looking back, the journey onto the dimly lit grounds perfectly set the tone for an eerie ghost story, just as much as the historical house itself.
Birdsall House is a stunning family-run country house in North Yorkshire, the perfect historical setting for this chilling piece of theatre. First built in the late 16th century, the estate has been well preserved and expanded to form the warm and inviting home as it stands today. An array of family portraits line the walls, above grandiose fireplaces to maintain that warmth.
The Room Upstairs was written and directed by BAFTA nominated writer Tom Needham and performed by ClapTrap Theatre. Minimal cast, minimal costume and minimal sound produced much more than minimal impact. The all-female 3 person cast allowed for various moments of fear and unease to be felt throughout, and that minimalism onstage was what set this production apart from many other ghost tellings, as it established intimacy between audience and stage with overwhelming tension.
At first, the audience was encouraged to close our eyes. Silence fell upon the room and the narrator, played by Cal Stockbridge, invited us to heighten our auditory senses and tap into silence and calmness. Armed simply with a binder and perched on a chair in the corner of the stage, Stockbridge’s tone and vibrance helped to bring the story to life.
The narrative followed the character of Becky as she house sits for homeowner Rachel, played by Florrie Stockbridge and Natasha Jones, respectively. F. Stockbridge and Jones perfectly displayed the intricate relationship between two strangers united through fear. This arrangement allows for Rachel to look after her ill grandmother. Whilst we never see this grandmother figure on stage, the detailed descriptions of her bouts of hallucination and confusion drive the story along, and ultimately reveal a generational curse.
Stockbridge’s singing was haunting and poignant, reminiscent of a lullaby and used to convey the troubled mental state of those who entered the house. A welcome addition having previously enjoyed the harmonious vocals of acoustic duo Flo&Jones, the actors at the forefront of this play.
The story was fast-paced and gripping throughout, leaving the audience constantly searching for answers. What presence could they feel in that house? Is the narrator to be trusted? And what on earth is happening in the room upstairs?…
Ultimately, culminating in a plot twist that I truly did not see coming.
Rating: ★★★★☆
The Room Upstairs played at the University of Sheffield Drama Studio on October 27th, & touring the U.K. until November 30th
