The Haunting of Hill House

Palace Theatre & Opera House Manchester

Curtain Up: 19:30 - *with a #SCREAM

Curtain Down: 21:30

Last night Manchester Theatrical were invited to The Haunting Of Hill House at The Palace Theatre. It was a full moon and there was a full house eagerly waiting for a night of spooky drama this Halloween week.

Let’s start at the very beginning….The show is based on the novel by Shirley Jackson adapted by Stef Smith.

Director Martin Constantine has moulded a well jelled-cast. Maybe he used some ecto-plasm or similar but you can’t knock the fact each and every cast member are truly selling what they have to work with. For me I found it a little scooby-doo in moments. It has magical elements that I won’t mention as they are spine-tingling good. Audible gasps at the weird goings on in the world created by set / costume designer Ti Green & illusion designer Will Houston.

The real stand out thing I’ll remember from this production is the mapped projection on the ever changing set & several scenic gauzes. It does create an intriguing space and having seen STRANGER THINGS on stage - there’s very much a nod to that in several ways.

A chilling tale for a 2026 audience is no mean feat. All departments have to work tirelessly to create an effortless moment. This touring show has achieved this. I can imagine if this show were in the west end for a long period more discreet illusions would add to the storytelling.

Clancy Ryan as Eleanor was onstage 95% of the time. Her inquisitive character did draw me in a little. But it just wasn’t gripping enough. I think audience being quiet with those - hearing a pin drop moment just didn’t materialise.

I was left as empty as Hill House by 21:30. I didn’t really care what was happening to any of the characters which is unusual for this reviewer to write down. I tried hard to focus on each character - the house keeper, the visitors, Dr ghost hunter but no…. They could have evaporated into thin air one at a time into the wallpaper and I wouldn’t have cared. Waiting for a gripping hook to draw me in just never materialised.

So for me with regret in some way it’s a 2** production. Maybe the original book or Netflix series would have thrilled me more. Maybe the stage isn’t the right place for this work?

Like the visitors to Hill House I’m left confused. Wondering what I witnessed. …& empty. If the producers intention was to leave me cold… I’m frozen. Check it out yourself via below link:

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-haunting-of-hill-house/palace-theatre-manchester/