The Haunting of Hill House at Theatre Royal Brighton

If you fancy a bit of gothic horror to mark the turn of the season, Theatre Royal Brighton has a fitting choice. The Haunting of Hill House, a new stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson's classic ghost story, runs at the theatre on New Road from 2 to 24 October, and it is not for the faint-hearted.

The story is one you will likely recognise. A small group of four set out to investigate Hill House, a mysterious country mansion with a long history of unexplained and supernatural phenomena. As they settle in, strange disturbances begin to chip away at their sense of security. It is a slow-burn psychological horror rather than a jump-scare fest, though the production does not shy away from the frightening. The cast is strong, with Jasper Britton as Dr Montague, Jemma Churchill as Mrs Montague, Sian Howard as Mrs Dudley, Sophie Lenglinger as Theo, Robin Morrissey as Luke and Clancy Ryan as Eleanor, and Darryl Oakley and Eleanor Hague as understudies.

Behind the scenes, the pedigree is worth noting. The play is adapted by the multi-award winning Stef Smith, who wrote Roadkill and Float, and directed by Martin Constantine, who is also the Artistic Director of Streetwise Opera and the Jane Hodge International Chair for Directing at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. It is produced by Wiltshire Creative and Theatr Clwyd and forms part of a UK tour, having previously played at Salisbury Playhouse. The original novel, published in 1959, has since been adapted into films in 1963 and 1999 and a Netflix miniseries in 2018, so this is the first time the story has landed on a Brighton stage.

Before you book, there are a few things to be aware of. The production is recommended for ages 12 and over, runs about two hours, and comes with a fair list of content warnings: flashing lights, loud noises, pyrotechnics, supernatural events, death, intense emotional anguish, blood and the illusion of blood, and scares. The box office opens 90 minutes before the performance and stays open until 15 minutes after the curtain rises, and tickets go through ATG Tickets, starting at £15.50. There are plenty of discounts to be had: £13 tickets for most performances, £25 for students, a 25% reduction for Local Heroes such as teachers, social care workers and blue light professionals, and group rates for larger parties.

The building itself adds to the atmosphere. Theatre Royal is a Grade II* listed Georgian theatre, built with assent from the Prince of Wales in 1806 and opened in 1807, with room for 952 people across four levels. For anyone who needs it, there is step-free access via ramp or lift, a hearing loop, assistance dog facilities, an accessible toilet and a designated parking space less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Whether you are a lifelong fan of Jackson's work or just looking for something suitably spooky for October, it is a solid autumn plan.