THE WOMAN IN BLACK was first performed at the Theatre-By-The-Sea in Scarborough in 1987 to rave reviews. The production opened in the West End in 1989 where it has enjoyed continued success as well as numerous national tours and went on to tour the United States, South America, Tokyo and Singapore.
Over 7 million people have lived to tell the tale of one of the most terrifying and successful theatre events ever staged. In 2012, Susan Hill’s novel The Woman in Black was released as a major motion picture, starring Daniel Radcliffe (best known for his role as ‘Harry Potter’), which successfully became the highest grossing British horror film in 20 years.
Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. The borders between make believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.
For the 2014-15 UK tour, Malcolm James plays the role of ‘Arthur Kipps’ and Matt Connor plays the role of ‘The Actor’. The production is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt, lighting by Kevin Sleep and sound by Gareth Owen. Produced by PW Productions Ltd. The UK tour runs concurrently with the West End production of THE WOMAN IN BLACK which plays at The Fortune Theatre in London.
