Regional Theatre Review: Paranormal Activity

As the lights dimmed, it was clear that this was going to be unlike any theatre show I’d experienced before. We were plunged into darkness as an authoritative voice told us to close our eyes and breathe. Easier said than done. 

“Places aren’t haunted, people are.” That’s the theory that Paranormal Activity explores in its stage adaptation currently touring the UK, combining supernatural suspense, dark humour and jump-out-your-seat moments to create an unforgettable live experience. 

Based on the Paranormal Activity film franchise, the concept was adapted for the stage by Levi Holloway and premiered at the Leeds Playhouse in 2024 before transferring to London’s Ambassador’s Theatre in 2025. Following a short break, Paranormal Activity has recently returned to its West End home for a second season and opened to huge acclaim on Broadway in August.  

The heart-pounding production is now making its way around the UK and Ireland on its first tour, heading to over 30 venues following its opening leg in Richmond Theatre on 7th September. 

A remake this is not. Think of this stage show as an extension of the Paranormal Activity family, offering audiences a new story and a totally immersive viewing experience.

The plot follows James (played by James Bye, who groups may recognise as Martin Fowler from EastEnders) and Lou (Hannah Sinclair Robinson) as they try to settle into their new life in London after escaping Chicago, but they soon find that places aren’t haunted, people are…

When we first meet James and Lou, they’re an excitable loved-up couple getting used to the quirks of English life, like strange power outlets and underwhelming customer service. The tension builds steadily at first - a blown light bulb here, a door opening on its own there - with well-timed humour woven in to cut through the suspense.  

Supernatural spooks begin to ramp up after the first couple of scenes, with chill-inducing moments that prove everything is not always as it seems. By the second act, the tone has shifted. There are no more jokes to lighten the mood, only nail-biting tension and shocking revelations that flip the story on its head. 

A master-class in live horror, the cast and crew have created an atmospheric theatre show that crawls under the skin and lingers long after the curtains have closed.

As an audience, we jumped and gasped in unison, followed by outbreaks of nervous laughter rippling through the theatre. Even as the stage was reset between scenes there was no relief. Instead we were thrown into darkness and immersed in an eerie soundscape that left me with shivers. The physical response was undeniable - I had permanent goosebumps, and on more than one occasion during this terrifying journey I found my arm wrapped across my body like a sub-conscious seatbelt. 

It’s almost a two-person show, with James and Lou joined on stage only a couple of times by medium Etheline Cotgrave (Jo Castleton) and James’ mother Carolanne (Caroline Faber). Without giving too much away - because the fun and fear-factor comes from the unknown - Carolanne’s main scene was a standout moment for me, particularly unsettling and brilliantly performed.  

We only ever see the couple at home, with the set designed as a cross-section of their house so that we can keep an eye on every room at all times. Fans of the Paranormal Activity films will recognise this as a nod to the franchise’s found footage style, which uses fixed security and home cameras to capture the action. This voyeuristic approach gives the audience an unnerving arms-length feeling. We were on one hand completely enclosed into James and Lou’s little world, yet constantly more aware of what was going on around them.  

A master-class in live horror, the cast and crew have created an atmospheric theatre show that crawls under the skin and lingers long after the curtains have closed. This pulse-raising thriller makes for a perfect group outing - because who on earth would want to experience it alone?!