Prepare to be scared by The Mist in the Mirror

STAFF at a theatre are being given advice on how to deal with audience members gripped with fear by a new chiller from the writer of the world-famous The Woman in Black as it makes its Yorkshire debut next week.

Susan Hill’s The Mist in the Mirror takes its bow at Cast in Doncaster from March 24 to 28.

Staff at the venue are warning audiences that they should “prepare to be scared”.

Hill is widely recognised as the “mistress of suspense” and The Mist in the Mirror is her second ghost story.

The venue’s ushers are being given advice on how to deal with the effects of fright, should the production prove too scary for any faint-hearted audience members.

The show invites audiences to eavesdrop on a traditional, British ghost story. We follow restless traveller James Monmouth as he follows in the footsteps of infamous explorer Conrad Vane.

With a dusty manuscript that seems to be leading him into dangerous territory, James ignores all warnings against pursuing this quest. He brushes off talk of a malevolent curse and becomes ever more determined to unravel the mysteries of the past.

But as he soon discovers there are some secrets best left undisturbed. And who is the mysterious pale, thin little boy who haunts his every step?

Adapted by award-winning playwright Ian Kershaw, this tense and atmospheric new production is the third collaboration from Oldham Coliseum Theatre and visual theatre innovators imitating the dog (ITD).

Audiences at Cast recently enjoyed ITD's innovative production of A Farewell to Arms with its stunningly clever use of interactive video projection

The cast includes a number of familiar faces, including Paul Warriner (Mr James Monmouth), who is best known as DS Redfern on Coronation Street, and Martin Reeve (Sir Lionel Quincebridge), who played Brian Addyman in Emmerdale.

Graham Whitehead, head of marketing and Communications for Cast, said: “We're really looking forward to bringing this classic ghostly drama to Cast for our audiences to enjoy.

“It’s exciting to be the first Yorkshire date on the UK tour and to welcome back the talents of imitating the dog, who wowed audiences with their visual wizardry on the recent production of A Farewell to Arms.

“We’re also a little frightened as we’ve heard how terrifying it is and we know from The Woman in Black how good at Susan Hill is at creating a chilling, edge of your seat ghost story.

“But we’ll have smelling salts at the ready in case it proves just too scary for anyone.”

Tickets for The Mist in the Mirror are £18.50 (£15.50 concessions), with all matinee tickets £15.50, and are available on 01303 303959 or at castindoncaster.com.