Theatre Review: 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham (2025)
AD: This Press Night Review refers to the 2025 Touring Production of 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham*
Following monumental West End success, 2:22 A Ghost Story has arrived at the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham once more, promising an evening of suspense and tension. Did it hit the spooky spot? In a bid to win line manager of the year award, I took one of my team along for the ride.
First staged in August 2021 in the West End, 2:22 A Ghost Story became known as a revolving door for celebrities trying to nudge their way into a theatre career. Yet despite this – or maybe even because of this – 2:22 A Ghost Story has garnered multiple awards and a cult following. The current celeb coupling is ex Strictly Come Dancing pro Kevin Clifton and his investigative journalist partner Stacey Dooley. Clifton has taken to the stage before, in Strictly Ballroom (typecast much?), Rock of Ages and Chicago, whilst Dooley is reprising her role as Jenny from the West End production.
It’s unusual to have a supernatural story set within a modern-day contemporary setting. Writer Danny Robins and directors Matthew Dunster and Isabel Marr have taken all the elements of a classic spine-tingler and dropped them into a relatable backdrop. The suspense builds at a solid pace, with enough unexpected twists to keep us guessing. All of the action is set in a single room, over the course of one night. The static set means that all of the focus is on the four characters and their relationships.
Completing the current cast quartet are made up of Grant Kilburn and Shvorne Marks, as Ben and Lauren. Together the foursome work closely to ramp up the tension through an intense two acts, interspersed with conversations about parenthood, love and regret.
“THERE’S SOMETHING IN OUR HOUSE. I HEAR IT EVERY NIGHT, AT THE SAME TIME”
An exhausted Jenny (Dooley) believes that the house she has recently moved into with husband Sam (Clifton) and baby Phoebe is haunted after hearing strange sounds from the baby monitor at 2:22am every morning. Her pragmatic and rationally-minded husband takes a little more convincing. They invite Sam’s old university pal Lauren (Marks) and her new boyfriend Ben (Kilburn) to dinner, but once the conversation turns to the ghostly going’s-on they extend the invitation so that their guests can experience the countdown to 2:22. Will it set Jenny’s mind at rest? Or is there really – as R. Dean Taylor once said – a ghost in my house?
I’ve seen the show previously but I was still so immersed in the storytelling that I gasped as the penny eventually dropped.
Dooley elicits sympathy as Jenny as she despairs over her lack of control and Sam’s refusal to believe her. She just wants to keep her daughter safe, and her religious upbringing begins to seep back into her. Clifton’s Sam is achingly smug and pretentious, constantly fidgeting, and portraying growing exasperation at his wife’s tales. As a scientist, he believes that there’s a logical explanation for everything. This is a production that requires a simple naturalistic acting style which suits lead performers that may not be seasoned professionals in theatre.
Kilburn plays an endearing Ben; his dislike for sceptic Sam – and vice versa – lightens the intensity of the show at times. He grows in authority as all logical explanations are dismissed. Marks’ Lauren is complex and verging on the edge of hysteria at times as she uses alcohol and pills as a crutch to get her through the evening.
At times, during the first act in particular, the cast have a tendency to talk over each other. I’ll chalk this down to a directorial decision, to create frustration amongst the quartet and the audience. Up in the dress circle we did also lose a little of the dialogue, particularly from Dooley & Clifton. An annoying hum in the background also sometimes drew my focus. Or maybe that was just in my head.
The direction, lighting, and sound design all combine wonderfully though. The abrupt glare of a security lamp through a glazed door. The scream of an urban fox. Scarlet neon lighting framing the stage. The presence of a glowing digital clock, ever counting towards 2:22am. A crackling baby monitor. It’s a production full of atmosphere. There are enough jump scares to spark a nervous giggling throughout the auditorium.
Did it scare me? I’m not particularly of a nervous disposition so nothing about ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’ really freaked me out. The sound and lighting create unsettling moments, and whilst technically impressive, these are as subtle as a brick. There’s certainly no cause for nightmares. But what it does do is gradually build the tension throughout, until you’re on the edge of your seat without even realising it. On a second viewing I could spot the set-up of the ultimate twist, which were clumsily obvious once you know.
The true heart of this story are the relationships, the interactions and exploration of each character’s beliefs. Little moments of humour. Relatable conversations. Those elements are what are most captivating about this experience. It almost doesn’t need the gimmicks.
2:22 A Ghost Story is at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until Saturday 18th October 2025. Purchase your tickets here. The tour continues until July 2026, please see the ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’ website for full details and ticket information
Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley are scheduled to perform at all venues up to 29th November 2025. New casting for the 2026 leg of the tour is to be announced.
Production images by Helen Murray
*Why is this post marked AD? I was invited to attend Press Night in exchange for an honest review. You can trust that I will always be honest and truthful on A Brummie Home and Abroad, and being an invited guest will not influence my opinion in any way.
