Theatre Review: 2:22 A Ghost Story
The Show: 2:22 A Ghost Story
Dates: Monday 18th August – Saturday 23th August 2025
Timing: 2 hours (including interval)
Rating: ★★★★½
Forget NYE, 2:22 is the countdown to be watching.
Last night, anticipation filled the air outside the Bristol Hippodrome as crowds gathered to see 2:22 A Ghost Story. Having already scooped Best New Play at the WhatsOnStage Awards, the production came with high expectations – further heightened by the star power of real-life couple Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, stepping into the roles of Jenny and Sam. Inside, the theatre was filled with excitement, packed to the rafters and dotted with familiar faces from the screen among the audience.
The premise is simple yet gripping: Jenny is convinced that their new home is haunted, while Sam remains firmly sceptical. The only way to settle the debate? Staying up with friends until the dreaded hour of 2:22am to find out once and for all.
Let me start by saying this: run, don’t walk, to get your tickets. This play is unmissable.
From the very beginning, the production feels meticulously crafted. The entire performance takes place in Jenny and Sam’s living room, where you truly feel like a fly on the wall, an invisible guest, living each moment alongside them.
Centre stage is a glowing digital clock on the wall, ticking away the hours and setting the pace of the play. It’s astonishing how something so ordinary can become so ominous. Throughout the play, time flew, yet stood still at the same time.
Sound and lighting play an equally powerful role. Each shift between acts is punctuated by deafening sounds and bold lighting – an assault to the senses in the best possible way, unsettling yet utterly brilliant. The effects are so realistic they leave you shaken, adding to the stifling tension that builds throughout.
Danny Robins’ script is razor sharp, every line carefully placed to heighten suspense and reveal deeper layers of character. There were a few script hiccups in delivery, but these did little to detract from the intensity of the performance. With the penetrating tension, at moments, we dared not breath, you could hear a pin drop – it was a truly hair-raising experience.
The attention to detail is quite remarkable, from costumes to subtle shifts in atmosphere that help depict the emotional shifts during the performance. With only four actors on stage, there’s nowhere to hide, and each holds their own.
Stacey Dooley, already familiar with the play from her West End run, slips convincingly into the role of Jenny. Known to many as herself, she disappears entirely into character, giving a performance that feels natural, lived-in and genuine. Kevin Clifton, who I’d previously seen in Chicago, brings intensity and vigour to Sam. Though at times his delivery felt a touch too polished and perhaps over-acted, compared to Dooley’s apparent effortless realism. Still, together they created a dynamic that was recognisable and relatable; the fatigue of new parenthood, the strain of renovating a home, the pressure of entertaining friends amid the chaos.
Grant Kilburn (Ben) and Shvorne Marks (Lauren) complete the quartet, both delivering strong performances that balanced emotion with light-heartedness. Their complicated relationship dynamic injects humour at just the right moments, offering welcome relief from the relentless suspense.
Now this play doesn’t end with the final curtain, it will stay with you. You’ll carry it with you, you’ll find yourself delving into its intricacies. It’s one of the most gripping performances I’ve watched in a long time. So, what are you waiting for? The countdown for tickets is on.
Head to https://www.atgtickets.com/ to book tickets and explore what’s on.