The Turn of the Screw

Blackeyed Theatre are bringing The Turn of the Screw to the Derby Theatre from 16 to 20 February 2027. It's a world premiere stage adaptation of Henry James's ghost story, written by Olivier Award-winning playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and directed by Nicky Allpress. The production runs in the Main House, 15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter, DE1 2NF.

The story is set in a remote country house where a young governess is hired to care for two seemingly angelic children. What starts as an idyllic new life soon takes a turn when she begins to sense a darker presence around them. Desperate to protect them from what she believes are malevolent spirits, she descends into a world of ambiguity that asks whether the ghosts are real or a projection of something far more terrifying. It's the story that served as the inspiration for Susan Hill's The Woman in Black.

On stage, the production combines performances, illusion and stylish theatricality. The cast includes Toby Beynon as Miles and Quint, Jim Fish as The Man and The Master, Kathleen McAuley as Irvine Flora and Miss Jessel, Janita Mikkola in the ensemble, Katy Slater as Mrs Grose and Amy Tara as The Governess. Blackeyed Theatre is described by The Stage as one of the most innovative, audacious companies working in contemporary English theatre.

There are four performances: 7.30pm on Tuesday 16 and Saturday 20 February, and 2.30pm on Wednesday 17 and Saturday 20 February. The show runs for 2 hours 10 minutes, including an interval. Tickets are £31.50, £32.50 and £35, with £5 off for Friends. It's recommended for ages 12 and over, with jump scares and scenes depicting threat, death and psychological manipulation.