A Ghost in Your Ear at Hampstead Theatre Review

As they enter the space which is bathed in dim red light, audience members face a reflective panel and as they settle, will notice a set of headphones on their seat. Before long, the temptation to put them on is too great and a herd mentality takes over. An ethereal voice tells the listener that they will be hearing a voice in their left ear and then the right, and so it is. Then the lights go out and the play begins, which is relayed entirely through the headphones.<

We are looking into a recording studio where the voice artist (George Blagden) has arrived slightly late to complete an assignment which has been put his way by the engineer (Jonathan Livingstone). After pleasantries and apologies for the place being on an industrial estate miles from anywhere, they begin.

Centre stage is a new piece of recording technology in the shape of a stylised human head with microphones ranged about the skull which pick up his speaking voice as he begins to read aloud the words of a creepy tale told in the first person. In it, a son assigns himself the task of clearing his remote father’s home after his death. Not only is the tale itself told episodically and earnestly to build tension and suspense, but the close proximity of the visual frights when they arrive, provide seriously unsettling jolts which induce nervous giggling throughout the appreciative audience.

The conflict between incorporating elements which would be a really cool idea but incredibly difficult to stage, is always going to be at the forefront of the mind of anyone who has chosen to wear both writer and director hats. By means of the process which he deploys with his actors and technicians, Armitage finds the right balance and hits exactly the right tone, resulting in an absolute treat for anyone who enjoys traditional ghost tales but appreciates them even more then they are successfully imprinted onto a modern situation.

As we near the end of the traditional ghost story period, it is good to see the likes of Paranormal Activity (currently playing at the Ambassadors) having its run extended due to public demand. This production too must surely have a life beyond its initial run, which is scheduled to conclude on 31st January. Jamie Armitage continues to be a theatre creator worth watching, and it’s good to see that he has lost none of his early promise.