| 2:22 A Ghost Story | |
|---|---|
 Promotional Logo | |
| Written by | Danny Robins |
| Characters | Jenny Lauren Sam Ben |
| Date premiered | 3 August 2021 |
| Place premiered | Noël Coward Theatre, London |
| Genre | Thriller, Ghost story |
2:22 A Ghost Story is a thriller play by Danny Robins. It premiered in the West End in 2021, and received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play the following year.
On 10 June 2021, it was announced that the play would premiere at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End from 3 August running until 16 October 2021. The production was directed by Matthew Dunster, designed by Anna Fleischle, and starred Lily Allen as Jenny, Julia Chan as Lauren, Hadley Fraser as Sam, and Jake Wood as Ben. [1] [2]
The premiere production was nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards in 2022, including Best New Play and Best Actress for Allen. [3] The show was also nominated for four WhatsOnStage Awards, and won Best New Play, Best Actress for Allen and Best Supporting Actor for Wood. [4]
Following the successful run at the Noël Coward, it was announced the play would transfer to the Gielgud Theatre, running from 4 December 2021 to 12 February 2022. A new cast was announced including Stephanie Beatriz as Lauren, James Buckley as Ben, Elliot Cowan as Sam, and Giovanna Fletcher as Jenny. [5]
A third West End engagement at the Criterion Theatre, from 10 May to 4 September 2022, was announced without a casting confirmation. [6] On 29 March 2022, the new cast was announced, starring Tom Felton as Sam, Mandip Gill as Jenny, Beatriz Romilly as Lauren and Sam Swainsbury as Ben. [7] On 11 August 2022, an extension of the engagement at the Criterion was announced starring Laura Whitmore as Jenny, Felix Scott as Sam, Matt Willis as Ben and Tamsin Carroll as Lauren, running from 6 September to 8 January 2023. [8]
On 7 December 2022, the cast for its fourth West End engagement was announced. Cheryl, Hugo Chegwin, Louise Ford and Scott Karim will be playing at the Lyric Theatre, London from 21 January 2023 to 23 April 2023. [9] [10] On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Hugo Chegwin was forced to withdraw from the show due to having flu during the rehearsal period. Understudy Ben Cutler performed the role for the first four shows before Jake Wood reprised his role as Ben from January 26-April 23, 2023. [11]
On 28 March 2023, a fifth West End production was announced to start at the Apollo Theatre on the 14 May 2023, with Sophia Bush as Lauren, Ricky Champ as Ben, Clifford Samuel as Sam and Jaime Winstone as Jenny. On Friday 21 July it was announced that Sophia Bush had withdrawn from the production for health reasons and that Frankie Bridge will be taking over the role of Lauren from August. [12]
On 19 April 2024, a sixth West End production was announced with Stacey Dooley and James Buckley expected to play Jenny and Ben. The show began performances from 25 May 2024 at the Gielgud Theatre and is scheduled for a limited ten-week summer run. [13] [14] Joe McFadden and Donna Air joined the cast as Lauren and Sam respectively. [15]
The play made its U.S. premiere with a run at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles from 29 October to 4 December 2022. [16] This production would star Constance Wu as Jenny, Anna Camp as Lauren, Adam Rothenberg as Ben, Finn Wittrock as Sam, and recast the setting to Boston. [17]
On 10 February 2023, it was announced that the play will embark on a UK tour starting at the Theatre Royal, Bath on 1 September with dates until May 2024. [18] The tour cast includes Joe Absolom as Ben, Charlene Boyd as Lauren, Nathanial Curtis as Sam, and Louisa Lytton as Jenny until 2 December. From 5 January 2024 the cast will feature Vera Chok as Lauren, Jay McGuiness as Ben, George Rainsford as Sam and Fiona Wade as Jenny, with their first performance at Royal and Derngate, Northampton. [19]
On 1 May 2023, an Australian production was announced, opening at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne on 25 July for a four week season. [20] The cast featured Gemma Ward as Jenny, Ruby Rose as Lauren, Daniel MacPherson as Ben and Remy Hii as Sam. [21] [22]
The show is running in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin from June to August 2024, starring Shona McGarty, Jay McGuiness, Colin O'Donoghue and Laura Whitmore. [23]
A non-replica production ran in Singapore from 15 August 2023 to 10 September 2023, at the Singapore Repertory Theatre. It was directed by Daniel Jenkins. The cast consisted of Dominique De Marco, Shane Mardjuki, Sharda Harrison and Andy Tear. [24]
Another non-replica production opened on 8 September 2023 in Prague’s Drama Club, directed by Braňo Holiček. It features Romana Widenková as Jenny, Markéta Stehlíková as Lauren, Václav Šanda as Sam and Jan Hájek as Ben. [25]
Jenny and her husband Sam have recently bought a large house in Greater London that they are renovating. For several nights, at exactly 2:22 am, Jenny hears the sound of someone moving around the house and a man's voice crying, often via the baby monitor in her daughter's bedroom, and becomes convinced the house is haunted. Sam, being a sceptic and having been away on a work trip, insists there are more logical explanations for the noises. The couple hosts a dinner party for Lauren, an old university friend of Sam's, and Ben, her new boyfriend who has a belief in the supernatural. After discussing the strange noises, Jenny persuades the others to stay up until 2:22am to see what happens. [26] [27]
| Character | West End | West End Remount | West End Remount | Los Angeles | West End Remount | West End Remount | Melbourne | UK Tour | West End Remount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
| Jenny | Lily Allen | Giovanna Fletcher | Mandip Gill | Constance Wu | Cheryl | Jaime Winstone | Gemma Ward | Louisa Lytton | Stacey Dooley |
| Lauren | Julia Chan | Stephanie Beatriz | Beatriz Romilly | Anna Camp | Louise Ford | Sophia Bush | Ruby Rose | Charlene Boyd | Donna Air |
| Sam | Hadley Fraser | Elliot Cowan | Tom Felton | Finn Wittrock | Scott Karim | Clifford Samuel | Remy Hii | Nathanial Curtis | Joe McFadden |
| Ben | Jake Wood | James Buckley | Sam Swainsbury | Adam Rothenberg | Jake Wood | Ricky Champ | Daniel MacPherson | Joe Absolom | James Buckley |
Source: [19]
In The Guardian , Kate Wyver wrote, "With a brilliant sense of mounting dread and just the right number of jump-scares, Danny Robins' new ghost story is a slick, chilling romp of a play", adding, "You wouldn't know this is Allen's first time acting in the West End. She is strong as the frantic, afraid and exhausted Jen [...] though it's in her moments of stillness that the fear best finds its way in". [26] She described the cast as "gleaming", noting "Fraser's Sam is so realistic it's hard to believe he's acting", that Wood "revels in [his role of Ben], drawing out the humour and diving into the mysticism", and that "Chan does a brilliant balancing act, shifting Lauren's loyalties throughout the night". [26] Wyver praised Robins' script, finding it "sharp, quick, and cleverly layered with clues. While his handling of horror is nothing new, it's done smartly, toying with the tropes. In one of the most chilling scenes, absolutely nothing happens yet the grand old room is electric with the fear of expectation". [26] She was less impressed with "an overuse of deafening fox screams" and found that "arguments occasionally escalate into one-note yelling" but judged that "neither of these things do much to detract from the steadily growing tension". Overall, she decided, "This show is not scary enough to cause nightmares, nor is it gruesome or graphic or gory; it's more human than the creepiest horror movies. But there are genuinely chilling moments, scary enough that the whole theatre is tense and pin-drop quiet. [...] Scary enough, perhaps, to have you turn on the light the next time you hear an unusual sound at night, just to check the time". [26]
Reviewing the play for The Independent , Annabel Nugent wrote, "Allen is superb as Jenny. Exhaustion thrums a fraction below her palpable fear – just visible enough in her performance to have you questioning Jenny's version of events. And while it may be Allen who everyone has come to see, she isn't bearing the weight alone", adding, "Fraser embodies the role of his condescending character so fully that you come away hating him just a little", noting that "Wood steals scenes as Ben, giving the comedic character punchlines that stick, as well as an unforeseen likeability", and judging that Chan "confidently treads a delicate line in one of the more complicated parts". [29] Nugent also found Robins's script "tight and layered. On-stage action waxes and wanes but the mounting sense of dread is relentless" adding that he "is well-versed in what makes scary stories scarier, and uses that to brilliant effect here" and praising his "adept writing of emotionally charged two-handers, which provide a useful toehold into the characters’ psychological universe". [29] She concluded, "Much more than simply a successful first foray into theatre for one British singer, 2:22 stands on its own merits. Bar a handful of genuinely terrifying moments, it's hardly The Exorcist, but maybe that's for the best. There are enough scary things happening in the world right now to keep us up at night". [29]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Play | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Lily Allen | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Ian Dickinson | Nominated | ||
| Whatsonstage Award | Best New Play | Won | ||
| Best Performer In A Female Identifying Role In A Play | Lily Allen | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Performer In A Male Identifying Role In A Play | Jake Wood | Won | ||
Into the Woods is a 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.
Gavin James Creel was an American actor, singer, and songwriter best known for his work in musical theater. Over his career he received a Grammy Award, Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.
Louisa Claire Lytton is an English actress, best known for portraying the role of Ruby Allen in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and Beth Green in the ITV police procedural series The Bill (2007–2009). She also appeared as a contestant on the fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and represented the UK at the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008, finishing ninth. Her theatre credits include playing Betty Rizzo in the UK touring production of the musical Grease (2017) and Jenny in 2:22 A Ghost Story (2023).
Reeson Wayne Shearsmith is an English actor, comedian, writer and magician. He was a member of The League of Gentlemen, with Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and Jeremy Dyson. Jointly with Pemberton, created, wrote, and starred in the sitcom Psychoville and the dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9. He had notable roles in Spaced and The World's End.
Steven James Pemberton is a British actor, comedian, director and writer. He was a writer and actor for BBC's The League of Gentlemen with Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. Pemberton and Shearsmith also co-wrote and starred in the black comedy Psychoville and the anthology series Inside No. 9. His other notable television performance credits include Doctor Who, Benidorm, Blackpool, Shameless, Whitechapel, Happy Valley and Mapp & Lucia.
Sir Simon Russell Beale is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". He has received various accolades, including two BAFTA Awards, three Olivier Awards, and a Tony Award. For his services to drama, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
Jaime Margaret Winstone is an English actress, best known for her roles in Kidulthood, Dead Set, After Hours and her portrayal of Barbara Windsor in Babs.
The Lord of the Rings is a stage musical with music by A. R. Rahman, Värttinä, and Christopher Nightingale, and lyrics and book by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, based on the novel of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the most prominent of several theatre adaptations of the novel. Set in the world of Middle-earth, the musical tells the tale of a humble hobbit who is asked to play the hero and undertake a treacherous mission to destroy an evil, magic ring without being seduced by its power.
Caissie Levy is a Canadian-American actress and singer, mainly known for her work in musical theatre on Broadway and in the West End. Her early Broadway credits included Penny Pingleton in Hairspray and Sheila in Hair, a role she also played in the West End. She originated the role of Molly Jensen in the West End and Broadway productions of Ghost: the Musical, and played Fantine in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables. Levy also originated the role of Elsa in Frozen on Broadway. For her performance on the cast recording of Caroline, or Change, she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2023. Levy originated the role of Diana Goodman in the London production of Next to Normal and received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Oliver Tompsett is a British actor and singer, best known for his work in musical theatre. He originated leading roles in multiple West End productions, including Drew Boley in Rock of Ages and William Shakespeare in & Juliet. In addition, Tompsett is known for his portrayal of Fiyero in Wicked and Galileo in We Will Rock You. He also played Shakespeare on Broadway and in the west end of London.
The WhatsOnStage Awards, formerly known as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, are organised by the theatre website WhatsOnStage.com. The awards recognise performers and productions of British theatre with an emphasis on London's West End theatre.
Love Story is a musical written by Stephen Clark with music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Stephen Clark and Goodall. It is inspired by Erich Segal's best-selling 1970 novel of the same name. Love Story transferred to the Duchess Theatre in the West End in December 2010 following a critically acclaimed sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a musical based on the 1964 children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, with book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play written by Jack Thorne from an original story by Thorne, J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany. The plot occurs nineteen years after the events of Rowling's novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It follows Albus Severus Potter, the son of Harry Potter, who is now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic. When Albus arrives at Hogwarts, he gets sorted into Slytherin, and fails to live up to his father's legacy, making him resentful of his father. Rowling has referred to the play as "the eighth Harry Potter story".
Dear Evan Hansen is a coming-of-age stage musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn".
The Lehman Trilogy is a three-act play by Italian novelist and playwright Stefano Massini. It follows the lives of three immigrant brothers from when they arrived in America and founded an investment firm through the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. It has been translated into 24 languages, staged by such directors as Luca Ronconi and Sam Mendes, and was later published as a novel in English. An English translation of the play by Mirella Cheeseman was produced at the National Theatre in 2018. The production, featuring three actors and one pianist, was directed by Sam Mendes and included the cast of Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles. It earned five Laurence Olivier Award nominations.
Six is a British musical comedy in the style of a pop concert. Its music, book, and lyrics were written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. It is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, presented in the form of a singing competition. In the show, the wives take turns telling their story to determine who suffered the most from their shared husband, but ultimately seek to reclaim their individual identities and rewrite their stories.
& Juliet is a 2019 coming-of-age jukebox musical featuring the music of Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin, with a book by David West Read. The story focuses on a "what if" scenario, where Juliet does not die at the end of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Courtney Bowman is an English stage actress and singer. She originated the role of Fatimah in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Crucible and Apollo Theatre. She played Anne Boleyn in Six at the Arts Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Bowman most recently starred in Pretty Woman: The Musical as Kit De Luca at the Savoy Theatre.
Jamie Muscato is an English actor and singer.