“Are you brave enough to book?” This tempting tagline is one of the strongest selling points of Jeremy Dyson and AndyNyman’s Ghost Stories. Considering that virtually nothing is known about the show until the audience members take their seats, this offer of tantalising terror is enough to make any cynic quiver in anticipation.

Does the show live up to this promise? Almost, but not entirely.

Our tale follows parapsychologist Philip Goodman (Lynden Jones) as he delivers a lecture on the supernatural. Over the course of his career, Goodman has collected ghost stories in an attempt to prove that they are simple by-products of psychological trauma. He shares three tales that seem to have haunted him, each of which is enacted onstage.

Despite the jump scares that are injected into each of these three tales, only the first is particularly nerve-inducing. In this story, a nightwatchman (John Gregg) has a terrifying encounter during his graveyard shift, though Goodman naturally questions the validity of the story and proceeds to analyse it. Tension is artfully built during this narrative, the writers having no qualms with making the audience wait for the payoff.

In comparison, the other two stories – one of a young driver (Aleks Mikic) returning home from a party, and the other involving a businessman (Ben Wood)’s supernatural encounter in a nursery – seem to pale in comparison. Both are strong, interesting narratives, but they aren’t particularly scary. The heavy-handed infusion of humour throughout the show also seems to sedate the audience. Instead of lulling the viewers into a false sense of security, it acts more like a comfort.

Like any good psychological horror, there is an element of the unexpected that manifests itself by the end of the third act. It wouldn’t be fair to give it away, but it, along with the strong acting and storytelling throughout the show, makes Ghost Stories well worth checking out. It immediately makes you wonder what you may have missed and tempts you to return to the show again, but with fresh eyes.

So if you have an interest in the horror genre and want to see how it translates to the theatre in a genuinely fascinating way, Ghost Stories is well worth it. But if you’re a horror junkie who is looking for a genuine scare, you aren’t likely to find it here.

3/5 stars

Ghost Stories is playing at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House until Saturday August 15.

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